Running head: Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy for Autistic children 1

Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy for Autistic Children

Katie Brogan
Wayne State University, SW 4810

Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy for Autistic children 2

Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy for Autistic Children

Macomb Oakland Regional Center (MORC) provides Applied Behavioral Analysis

therapy for children eighteen months to six years of age that have been diagnosed with autism
spectrum disorder under the autism waiver benefit provided by Medicaid. Children are referred
to MORC from the Community Mental Health department after testing has confirmed they have
autism. Upon admittance to MORC they are seen by the Board Certified Behavior Analyst
(BCBA) assigned to them to assess them. At MORC under the supervision of a BCBA , college
students that major in psychology, social work, and nursing work one on one with clients
providing ABA therapy that was prescribed to them by the BCBA. ABA therapy works by using
positive reinforcement to alter a childs behavior to help them in their daily lives. After x amount
of trials, which will vary depending on the child, the child is given an reinforce. Reinforcers can
be anything from edibles, electronics, bubbles, tickles, or free play. Positive reinforcement is
anything that is done or given to make a desired action occur again. As a child builds skills
reinforcers are faded out as they have become part of the childs daily life
Autism is defined as having deficits in social communication and social interactions,
restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities. The symptoms of autism
significantly impair important areas of functioning. Children can be diagnosed with Autism in
some cases before their first birthday; other children can take up to their third birthday to start
showing signs of autism. Early signs of autism are social impairment along with repetitive and
stereotyped behaviors. Social impairments observed are make little eye contact, do not respond
to other people, look and listen to people in their environment infrequently, are reclusive, and

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have difficulty responding to another persons emotions. Repetitive and stereotyped behaviors
observed are be overly focused on objects such as wheels on a car, or line up toys in a line and
become upset if someone moves their toys, other behaviors include repeatedly walking in the
same route of flapping arms. (Health, 2014) ABA therapy helps works with kids using operant
conditioning. Children start off with small tasks, gradually adding more to a task until the entire
task is completed independently. It has been shown in studies that children that receive intense
ABA therapy for 2 years or more during their preschool years have made remarkable
improvements not only with standardized testing but also their social and communication skills.
The improvements can be seen as early as the first grade.
My survey is looking to replicate the findings of studies done prior such as the Lovaas
studies. (Smith, Eikeseth, Klevstrand, & Lovaas, 1997). The study in the article followed 21
children for 2 years, 11 children received the ABA therapy and the other 10 were placed in the
control group receiving minimal therapy. The therapy the children received was based in home
and within the community. At the end of the trial the children were evaluated to see the
difference from before and after the therapy. It was found that the group that received the intense
ABA therapy had improvement in all areas from the majority of the members of the group. The
control group did not show such promising results. My survey would hopefully show the same
improvements in the children receiving the ABA therapy. Both my survey and the article listed
above place an importance on a childs ability to communicate. The desirer outcome of my
survey is to see the area of communication, attending skills, and social question to improve
greater with an increase in ABA therapy a child has received. A child gaining these three
important skills will help the child attain more knowledge, have more friends, and enjoy a more
successful life. These three skills are the basic building blocks for a child with autism, with these

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skills they can communicate their needs, recognize other people and objects around them, along
with answer simple questions such as what is your name or phone number keeping them safe.

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Bibliography
Health, N. I. (2014, October). National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved from National
Institute of Mental Health: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrumdisorders-asd/index.shtml
Smith, T., Eikeseth, S., Klevstrand, M., & Lovaas, I. (1997). Intensive behavioral treatment for
preschoolers wit severe mental retardation and pervasive development disorder.
American Journal on Mental Retardation, 238-249.