What is Applied Behavior Analysis? Let’s talk about it here.
Can it help analyze behavioral issues such as those related to autism spectrum disorders or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder? Does it help instill positive actions through positive reinforcement and behavior modification? Young autistic children are faced with challenges in their everyday life. With their existing developmental disorders and poor social skills, early intensive intervention is the best way to go for them. One effective treatment that could be very beneficial is ABA.
Why Is It Preferred Over Other Therapeutic Methods For Autism?
In retrospect, autism therapy is not just composed of one specific type of treatment for producing positive behaviors and social skills but is usually a collection of ABA principles and procedures that targets specific autistic behaviors. It is, however, important to note that ABA was created decades ago and is just one of the numerous types of therapies that are offered to children who are on the autism spectrum. Currently, it is considered the therapy from which all other treatments were derived and is commonly known in the therapeutic field for its positive reinforcement strategies. It is a major approach that is the origin of several other approaches. Due to a certain number of reasons, applied behavior analysis is the most renowned and suggested autism spectrum therapy. These reasons are:
Applied Behavior Analysis
- Behavior Analysis Has Been Around For Ages
It is a derivative of behaviorism. Behaviorism was an old approach that was created in the 1920s by the behavior analyst, B.F. Skinner was contemplated to be the most significant American psychologist during that time. Due to the outgrowth, It became the most well-understood and well-established strategy among others, though it is gentler, and more broad-ranging than behaviorism.
-
ABA Therapy Was Given Sufficient Focus
Programs for ABA were intensively investigated for the past few decades. ABA has become the basis for reference since it has established clear and measurable objectives that achieve positive outcomes, and is carried out and practiced in the same manner by an ABA therapist.
- Training For Applied Behavior Analysis Is Simple
Due to ABA therapists utilizing the study of behavior similarly, it is relatively more straightforward to train specific individuals for the behavioral strategies to be implemented. Usually, ABA programs are widely developed by a trained and board-certified behavior analyst; however, registered behavior technicians can be assigned to execute the technique.
The Efficacy of Behavior Therapy for Children on The Autism Spectrum
-
ABA Is Effective In Managing Problematic Behavior
The ABA therapist identifies that children who are on the autism spectrum exhibit specific behaviors which are dissimilar, and there will be moments wherein the responses shown are bordering on the challenging side much like aggression and self-destruction or abuse. This analysis is often recognized as an efficient method to minimize such adverse, injurious problem behaviors and at the same time, encourage desired behavior. Autism Speaks, the largest Autism related charity in the United States, recommends ABA for children on the autism spectrum.
-
Measurement Of Success Is Made Achievable
The reason that this analysis is set on specific, concrete objectives, measuring success has been comparatively more accessible than other therapeutic processes, making ABA the gold standard in autism therapy. Questioning whether ABA is the more effective solution does not emerge because complexities arise when comparing methods head-to-head.
Behavioral Approach- The Best Type of Autism Therapy (Recommended By ABA therapy experts)
ABA therapists adept with ABA work hard in building desirable and appropriate behaviors while ending unacceptable ones. More often than not, children who are on the autism spectrum have difficulty in cultivating specific desirable target behavior such as social interactions (social skills), communication skills, executing eye contact, and so much more. On the other hand, some of the unwanted behaviors that are focused on and eliminated by the aba procedures are kicking, flapping, spinning, or hitting.
Final Thoughts
Due to the positive reinforcement and effectiveness of applied behavioral analysis (aba techniques) in dealing with behavior change and the abovementioned issues, applied behavior analysis has been considered the best type of autism therapy for years and is widely used by autism therapists around the world.
FAQs