Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy for Autism Spectrum
5th October 2020
Teaching has never been an easy task for the teachers, especially when they have to deal with children with autistic spectrum disorders. The Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy or ABA is one of the most used autism care and frequently described as the "gold standard" for autism aid. ABA has well-tried to be an effectual substance to assist the proper social, structural and theoretical activeness. This therapy is particularly helpful with children with autism, who have issues with communication, social interaction, and language problems and so on. This write-up will mainly focus on the use of Applied Behavior Analysis for children with autistic spectrum disorders along with explaining how it works.
What is Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)?
Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy or ABA is being used with young autistic children most of the time and is often called as Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI). It is a technical formulation to understand the changing behaviour of children with autistic spectrum disorders. However, it’s not a circumstantial therapy but with the use of different strategies, it can be used to teach autistic people new skills by reducing their difficult behaviour effectively.
ABA was first applied by Dr. Ivar Lovaas who was a behavioral psychologist in the Psychology Department at UCLA in 1987. Dr. Lovaas believed that social and behavioral skills could be taught to the autistic children deeply through the ABA method. However, with time, this therapy has been altered in most of the state of affairs and it is still in use.
The Idea behind Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)
After Dr. Ivar Lovaas, there was a follow-up acquisition by Dr John McEachin at UCLA, which was published in 1993. The major idea behind ABA was the fact that human behaviour is normally influenced by psychological features or stimuli in the environment. Another idea behind ABA was the behaviour which was followed by different positive effects which are more likely to happen once again.
The technique implements these ideas to assist autistic children to learn new and proper behaviour by providing children with constructive consequences. It refers to various states by allowing for an approach which is being tailored to the child’s specific needs.
Well, ABA has been implemented on a wide range of areas like ---
- Early behavioral identifications for autism
- Psychiatrics treatments of brain trauma
- Treating the criminal behavior
- HIV hindrance
- Health and fitness
- Language acquisition
- Different medical procedures
- Parenting
- Psychotherapy
- Severe mental disorders
- Phobias
- Care of animals
How Can Children Learn Through Applied Behaviour Analysis?
Quality research shows that ABA has constructive effects on the behaviour of autistic children. Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is a theoretical science consecrated to developing learning functions that will produce noticeable changes in behavior of the child. This method helps to decrease the effusions as well as tantrums by teaching the child effectively. Along with that, the technique also can be used to teach uncomplicated social skills frequently. ABA is normally being used in a natural environment like a playground and it is important to keep in knowledge that it is not designated to develop the emotional skills.
ABA usually involves measuring an autistic child’s innate skills along with difficulties. It also regards implementing a specific program that teaches the ‘required’ acquirement. By evaluating the program itself as well as making the changes as needed, ABA focuses on a particularized problem. The therapy can broadly develop on some growth areas like communication, self-care and play skills etc.
ABA programs teach the new acquirement using a range of teaching methods, which sometimes include Discrete Trial Training and Incidental Teaching to the children with autistic spectrum disorders. Here the children are provided with lots of chances to execute new skills and while they learn new skills, more skills are being added to their learning programs. ABA involution can be delivered to one to one, in a small group format, at home or in the community itself, depending on the children’s needs.
Who Performs Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)?
Well, various practitioners give the Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) who supervises the engagement plan of the child. The therapists or the practitioners don’t need any formal qualifications to practise ABA medical care in a country like Australia but it varies from country to country.
ABA techniques and strategies can be used by the teachers, parents, psychologists and other health workers once they’ve been disciplined by a professional individual with the expertise. As a parent, if you discover that your child needs an Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) program then you’ll have to play an active role in your child’s learning program. You’ll need to work with the ABA practitioner to germinate your child’s learning goals. Sometimes, the ABA practitioners give training to the parents, siblings as well as the extended family members if it is needed.
The End Goal of ABA
Usually, ABA lists the following characteristics:
- ABA focuses on the applied behavioural studies
- ABA focuses on the analytical behavioural approaches
- ABA is technical
- ABA is doable as well
- ABA is constructive
ABA therapy can also take place in your home, especially in today’s situation. Moreover, some kids do best with an in-home ABA therapy as they feel more homely in their accustomed environments. However, before all of these, identifying a child with a need for ABA is the decisive part and this can be learnt through the online autism courses for teachers. It’s recommended to attempt ABA at home only with the assistance of a licensed therapist, at least in the first few years. The therapy has helped numerous children living with autism by aiding them to learn different developmental skills but it is also a fact that it may not work for all children, and it is also one of your responsibilities to find that out.
Written By : Gargi Sen
