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ABA: APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS INFORMATION SHEET

1. What is ABA?
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is based on the belief that behavior
rewarded is more likely to be repeated, and behavior that is not rewarded
is less likely to be repeated. ABA is empirical in that it is data based, and
it provides direct measures of performance to determine progress. It's
systematic in that the environment is manipulated. At its simplest, ABA is
a tool to help children with ASD learn.
Once called “Loovas Therapy”, after Dr. Ivar Loovas from the
University of California, ABA began in the late 1960’s as a therapeutic
method to use with ASD children. In 1987, Dr. Loovas led a
groundbreaking research study involving children with Autism and he
found that large, substantial, intellectual and academic improvements
could be gained from an intensive (40 hours per week) and early
intervention ABA program. Since that time, ABA has become the leading
research supported therapeutic treatment for ASD children. Much has
been contributed to this early research, and many improvements have
been made to how ABA therapy is used. (Note: The original study used
both reinforcement and punishment to bring about learning in ASD
children. Based on further studies we now know that children learn better
and more effectively with a combination of rewards and consequences,
and that punishment can actually impair learning).

2. What does ABA look like?

ABA is an umbrella term, used to refer to a way to maximize learning
and minimize inappropriate behaviors. ABA may also go by: Discrete
Trial Training (DTT), Natural Environment Training (NET), Pivotal
Response Therapy (PRT), Verbal Behavior (VB), and more.

3. How long has ABA been around?

ABA therapy has been around since the 1960’s. The belief and theory
behind ABA has been around since the 1930’s.
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4. What theory/belief is ABA based on?

ABA is based on the theories of Behaviorism, and Operant
Conditioning. Operant conditioning basically states that an organism
performs deliberately to produce a desirable outcome. Behaviorism
basically states that pleasant experiences (such as rewards or praise) are
positive reinforcers. They cause learners to make desired connections
between stimuli and responses. Unpleasant experiences (such as
punishment) are negative reinforcers. They cause learners to avoid
undesirable responses to stimuli. A lack of any reinforcement can also
shape behavior. If people receive no acknowledgement of their behavior,
they will likely change that behavior until they receive some kind of
reinforcement.

5. What populations can benefit from ABA?

ABA is the most research supported therapy treatment for children
with Autism at this time. ABA therapy is intended to be administered
early (children under 5) and in an intensive manner to be most effective.
However, ABA has also been shown to produce varying degrees of
success in adolescents, adults, individuals with special needs other than
Autism, and typically developing children.

6. How effective is ABA?

The effectiveness of ABA-based intervention has been well
documented. Children who receive early and intensive behavioral
treatment have been shown to make substantial, sustained gains in IQ,
language, academic performance, and adaptive behavior as well as some
measures of social behavior, and their outcomes have been significantly
better than those of children who did not receive such services.

7. What are the A-B-C’s of behavior?

The A-B-C’s of behavior is a basic tool used in ABA to determine the
function, or motivation (from the child’s perspective) of a behavior. A
behavior intervention that is created based on the function of a behavior
will be more successful than if the function is not known.
A= Antecedent. This means what occurred before the behavior
B=Behavior. This is the actual behavior
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C=Consequence. This means what happened after the behavior

8. How can ABA help me?

Children and adolescents on the Autistic Disorders spectrum may exhibit
a variety of dangerous, maladaptive, or inappropriate behaviors such as
tantrums, elopement, self harming, aggression, poor social skills, inability to
be toilet trained, etc. These individuals may also experience academic failure
or difficulty, especially in areas of attention, impulsivity, attending, and
generalizing. ABA at its core is a method to help children learn. Any
behavior that a child can learn, ABA can help them unlearn, strengthen, or
maintain. The future and quality of life for an individual with Autism who
can reduce inappropriate behaviors and “learn how to learn” is greatly
improved.