According to a 2021 report by the CDC, approximately 1 in 44 children live with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis.
ASD can make it hard for people on the spectrum to develop social skills and build meaningful relationships. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a leading autism therapy that helps improve the lives of millions of people with ASD diagnoses.
But what is ABA therapy exactly, and what are its practical benefits? This guide will explain how ABA therapy techniques help foster good behavioral skills in everyday situations.
Read on to learn more about Applied Behaviour Analysis therapy.
What is ABA Therapy for Autism?
ABA is a therapy that applies learned behavioral techniques to real-life situations. It employs a tailored approach focused on positive reinforcement. This encourages the development of better social, communicative, and academic skills in people with ASD.
Some of the underpinning principles of ABA therapy include:
- Accepting that behavior is a product of its environment
- Understanding the consequences of actions
- Positive reinforcement
- A tailored approach to corrective therapy
- Scenario-based learning
ABA therapy works by identifying social or communicative issues in ASD patients by analyzing their behavior. From there, the issues can be addressed with further treatment.
Examples of ABA Therapy
ABA therapy works on a case-to-case basis. Thus, every treatment plan is different. Here are some examples of ABA therapy techniques for autism:
Communicative Therapy
The therapist invites the patient to perform a task – encourages them to ask for help. In these scenarios, the patient has to communicate with their therapist.
Coupled with positive reinforcement, these drills are beneficial for building both basic and more advanced social skills.
Trial Training
Trial training is a type of autism therapy. It involves breaking lessons down into simple tasks.
Each completed task is rewarded with positive reinforcement. This corrective technique is a fundamental aspect of ABA therapy.
Pivotal Response Training
The main aims of pivotal response training are to encourage social interactions, increase motivation, and monitor conduct.
The patient views a range of scenarios. Then, they must think about and explain what they would do in said situation.
Positive responses are rewarded. Negative behavior traits are identified and corrected.
ABA Therapy Process
The ABA therapy journey begins with an evaluation with a registered ABA therapist. The therapist will create a treatment plan to correct any issues during the assessment.
ABA therapy can occur at home, in a medical center, or in the classroom. Some patients need ABA for different reasons, meaning the practice plays out in various settings.
Check out the Apara Autism Center for more information on ABA therapy.
ABA Therapy: Explained
If you’ve been asking ‘what is ABA therapy?’, we hope this guide has underlined the value of this trusted autism therapy.
ABA has been used successfully for decades with countless positive outcomes for patients and families worldwide. If you care for someone with ASD, consider ABA therapy today.
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