Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) for Your Child: Everything To Know

Has your child recently been diagnosed with Autism? If yes, you are at the right place. 

When you visit your therapist, they will discuss many different treatment plans to help manage your child’s condition.

You may come across Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) as one of the most widely accepted therapy for patients with Autism. 

ABA as a therapy uses positive reinforcement, which will help your child improve their communication, social, and learning skills.

It is known that many experts also believe that ABA is the “gold standard” for the treatment of children with many developmental conditions, including Autism. The other conditions for which ABA is used as a treatment option include some of the following:

• Dementia.
• Anger issues.
• Anxiety, OCD, panic disorder, and phobia.
• Substance abuse.
• Borderline personality disorder.
• Cognitive impairment following brain injury.

This article will primarily focus on the use of ABA for helping children with Autism.

Have a look. 

How ABA Works

ABA includes multiple phases that will help the therapist tailor an approach that will best help your child’s specific needs.

Consultation And Assessment

This phase starts with a consultation with a trained therapist in ABA, which is called functional behavior assessment (FBA). The therapist will ask questions about your child’s abilities, strengths, and challenges.

The therapist will also interact with your child to monitor their communication level, behavior, and skills. This also includes visiting your child’s school and your house to monitor your child’s behavior during the specific day-to-day activities.

The treatment plan for every child with Autism is different. After proper examination, the therapist will mention specific measures that will fit the needs of your child. You might be asked to include some measures in your day-to-day life. 

Formulation of The Plan

The therapist will consider the observations from the first consultation and create a formal plan for your child. The plan will align your child’s unique needs and include specific treatment plans.

The goal of the therapy includes a decrease in harmful or problematic behaviors. The plan will also help in improving your child’s communication skills.

It will also include certain specific strategies that can be used by your child’s teacher, therapist, and caregiver. This will help everyone taking care of your child to be on the same page. 

Training For The Caregiver

When ABA is chosen as a treatment plan for your child, it indicates that you and the caregiver are expected to help reinforce the expected behaviors other than the therapy.

Your child’s therapist will teach your child’s teachers and you specific strategies to help reinforce the work done by them in therapy. 

Regular Evaluation

Your child’s ABA therapist will try to detect the cause for specific behaviors and assist your child in improving or changing them. During the treatment, the therapist may modify their approach based on how your child will respond to specific measures.

When your child undergoes the treatment, the therapist will monitor the progress and note what treatment plans are benefiting your child. 

So, What’s the End Goal?

The goal of the treatment will largely depend on the specific needs of your child.

These are some of the results you may notice in your child after ABA:

• Effective communication.
• Increased interest in the surrounding people.
• The increased focus at school.
• Decrease in outbursts and traumas.
• Decrease in self-harming behaviors. 

Final Word

Many children with Autism have benefited in learning developmental skills and communications skills with the help of ABA. It also helps in decreasing harmful behaviors like self-injury.

This said Applied Behavior Analysis therapy is one of the treatment plans that has proven helpful in treating Autism. You need to consult a therapist before starting treatment.

Hope our article helps you!