ABA stands for Applied Behaviour Analysis, and is a technique used to teach socially significant behaviour to individuals and to guide them to make meaningful changes, leading to fulfilling lives.
Services that are provided by behaviour analysts are individualised and specific to every individual. Commonly these may include assessing behaviour, measuring behaviour, analysing data, developing behaviour plans, developing plans to teach new skills and training others in the implementation of those plans. Behavioural services are ongoing and differentiated for each and every individual.
ABA is based on scientific evidence, established on a history of over 50 years of research. Certified behaviour analysts (BCBA’s), adhere to strict ethical guidelines that ensure their practice of ABA is based on scientific knowledge and within their boundary of competence. For more information about ethical considerations within ABA, the BACB Ethical Guidelines provide an outline of requirements.
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which is thought to affect 1 in every 100 people in the United Kingdom. It is estimated that 1 in 68 children have a diagnosis of autism and that it is 4 times more common in boys than girls.
Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning that although there are many common traits, every individual is different and has differing difficulties. Typically however, autism affects the way in which an individual interacts socially, communicates clearly and behaves appropriately.
A child is typically diagnosed with autism when they exhibit at least three traits of autism in the three deficit areas; these are commonly known as the ‘triad of impairment’ and outline deficits in social and emotional interaction, imagination and flexibility of thought and social communication and language.
If you feel that your child may be showing traits of autism, visit your GP to identify the most appropriate support for your family’s needs.
Applied Behaviour Analysis can be very effective and helping treat those with autism, and those around them continue to improve their ongoing development and behaviour. The key to success of ABA for helping autistic children and adults comes down to the systemic process the practitioner must follow, and utilising this to assess the best course of action to help the individual improve.
The overall process steps include a Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA) followed by a Behaviour Intervention Plan (BIP) or an Individual Education Plan (IEP). The BIP or EIP is then continually adapted through ongoing assessments.
This is determined through an assessment of ‘the ABCs of behaviour’:
For instance, one classic example of this might be:
A: A student with ADHD feels ignored at school.
B: The student abruptly speaks out in class, looking for attention.
C: The teacher responds, proving the student the attention they were seeking.
This process can thus be used to assess and alter problematic behaviours, as well as encourage positive ones, by identifying the causes and laying our strategies to modify behaviour.
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