Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is It?BenefitsTechniquesABA At-HomeExamplesSuccess RateDrawbacksWhen to Stop ABA
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is It?
Benefits
Techniques
ABA At-Home
Examples
Success Rate
Drawbacks
When to Stop ABA
Advocates of ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy for autism cite its success in helpingautistic peoplelearn behaviors and skills to navigate everyday life. ABA uses a variety of techniques to reinforce positive behaviors and reduce negative ones. These techniques can help children express their needs, develop social skills, regulate their emotions, and become more independent.
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What Is the ABA Method for Autism?
ABA targets a wide range of areas and can improve the following in children:
Part of what makes ABA therapy for autism successful is its adaptability and highly personalized approach. It can be practiced in different settings, from home to school, and modified to meet the evolving needs of the child.
What Does ABA Therapy Do for Autism?
ABA therapy for autism is based on the science of learning and behavior. It relies heavily on data collection, allowing therapists and caregivers to track progress and create measurable goals.
ABA can have many benefits for children with autism. It is designed to:
ABA therapy can be adapted to any individual’s strengths and challenges. This means it can be good for children withhigh-functioning autismas well as children with greater support needs.
ABA Therapy Techniques
Common ABA techniques include:
Can ABA Therapy Be Done at Home?ABA therapy is often done at home with parent-implemented interventions (PIIs). These interventions enable parents to engage their children in a familiar, comfortable environment, and typically involve training and collaboration with an ABA therapist.
Can ABA Therapy Be Done at Home?
ABA therapy is often done at home with parent-implemented interventions (PIIs). These interventions enable parents to engage their children in a familiar, comfortable environment, and typically involve training and collaboration with an ABA therapist.
How Do You Do ABA Therapy at Home?
These tips can help you implement a successful ABA strategy at home:
Caregivers and family members should remember that ABA therapy takes time, and progress is rarely linear. Patience and consistency are key to preventing frustration and helping your child succeed.
ABA Therapy Examples
These examples depict common ABA techniques and strategies applied in different settings:
At What Age Is ABA Therapy Most Effective?ABA is most effective when it’s started as early as possible—preferably when a child is between 2 and 6 years old.
At What Age Is ABA Therapy Most Effective?
ABA is most effective when it’s started as early as possible—preferably when a child is between 2 and 6 years old.
What Is the Success Rate of ABA Therapy?
A 2018 review in the journalResearch in Autism Spectrum Disordersfound that ABA is moderately to highly effective overall, and brings significant benefits to children with autism.
Specifically, the review found ABA to be:
With that being said, rates of ABA discontinuation, in which a child stops receiving ABA therapy, are somewhat high. One review of 334 children enrolled in ABA found that less than half of the children remained in the therapy at 24 months.
The review noted that children were more likely to discontinue ABA if it was their first time participating in special education. Having a single parent was also associated with ABA discontinuation.
ABA Drawbacks and Controversy
ABA is not without controversy. Many autistic adults who had ABA therapy as children say that the treatment is harmful. Some describe ABA as compliance training that forces children to ignore their instincts.
Drawbacks of ABA include:
These concerns have led to some changes in ABA therapy. Now, therapists focus on managing behaviors rather than attempting to change an autistic person’s feelings or thoughts. The goal is to help autistic people live as independently as possible, not try to “fix” them.
When to Stop ABA Therapy
According to the Council of Autism Service Providers, ABA therapy should be reviewed or stopped in the following instances:
ABA can be helpful for some autistic children but it may not be the right therapy for your child. Talk to your child’s provider or therapist about any concerns you have. They can help your child transition to another treatment if needed.
Summary
Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy aims to reinforce desired behaviors in autistic people. It can help some autistic people, but the treatment is not without drawbacks and controversy.
Autism advocates often feel that ABA tries to change behaviors without respecting the needs of the autistic person and that it may even harm them.
ABA therapy has evolved over the years. Today, the focus is not on “curing” autism; rather, it’s helping autistic people live independently.
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Choi K, Bhakta B, Knight E, et al.Patient outcomes after applied behavior analysis for autism spectrum disorder.J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2022 Jan;43(1):9-16. doi:10.1097/DBP.0000000000000995Cihon J, Ferguson J, Milne C, Leaf J, McEachin J, Leaf R.A preliminary evaluation of a token system with a flexible earning requirement.Behav Anal Pract. 2018 Dec;12(3):548–556. doi:10.1007/s40617-018-00316-3Goldstar Rehabilitation.ABA therapy and positive behavior supports unveiled.Prospera.How ABA therapy develops self-care & independence.Above & Beyond Therapy.Four functions of behavior in ABA therapy.Chicago ABA Therapy.Teaching emotions in pediatric ABA therapy: A comprehensive guide.Discovery ABA Therapy.Backward chaining in ABA.Goldstar Rehabilitation.ABA in schools & the classroom.Magnolia Autism Center.ABA therapy techniques.Hidden Talents ABA.13 common ABA therapy techniques.Virginia Department of Education’s Training & Technical Assistance Center.Prompts and prompt fading for building independence.Carruthers S, Pickles A, Slonims V, Howlin P, Charman T.Beyond intevention into daily life: A systematic review of generalisation following social communication interventions for young children with autism.Autism Res. 2020 Apr;13(4):506-522. doi:10.1002/aur.2264Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) for children with autism.Makrygianni M, Gena A, Katoudi S, Galanis P.The effectiveness of applied behavior analytic interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analytic study.Res Autism Spectrum Dis. 2018 Jul;51(1):18-31. doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2018.03.006Kennedy Krieger Institute.Applied Behavior Analysis From the Neurobehavorial Unit (NBU).Spectrum News.The controversy over autism’s most common therapy.Kupferstein H.Evidence of increased PTSD symptoms in autistics exposed to applied behavior analysis.Adv Autism. 2018;4(1):19-29. doi:10.1108/AIA-08-2017-0016Council of Autism Service Providers.Applied behavior analysis treatment of autism spectrum disorder: practice guidelines for healthcare funders and managers.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Choi K, Bhakta B, Knight E, et al.Patient outcomes after applied behavior analysis for autism spectrum disorder.J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2022 Jan;43(1):9-16. doi:10.1097/DBP.0000000000000995Cihon J, Ferguson J, Milne C, Leaf J, McEachin J, Leaf R.A preliminary evaluation of a token system with a flexible earning requirement.Behav Anal Pract. 2018 Dec;12(3):548–556. doi:10.1007/s40617-018-00316-3Goldstar Rehabilitation.ABA therapy and positive behavior supports unveiled.Prospera.How ABA therapy develops self-care & independence.Above & Beyond Therapy.Four functions of behavior in ABA therapy.Chicago ABA Therapy.Teaching emotions in pediatric ABA therapy: A comprehensive guide.Discovery ABA Therapy.Backward chaining in ABA.Goldstar Rehabilitation.ABA in schools & the classroom.Magnolia Autism Center.ABA therapy techniques.Hidden Talents ABA.13 common ABA therapy techniques.Virginia Department of Education’s Training & Technical Assistance Center.Prompts and prompt fading for building independence.Carruthers S, Pickles A, Slonims V, Howlin P, Charman T.Beyond intevention into daily life: A systematic review of generalisation following social communication interventions for young children with autism.Autism Res. 2020 Apr;13(4):506-522. doi:10.1002/aur.2264Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) for children with autism.Makrygianni M, Gena A, Katoudi S, Galanis P.The effectiveness of applied behavior analytic interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analytic study.Res Autism Spectrum Dis. 2018 Jul;51(1):18-31. doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2018.03.006Kennedy Krieger Institute.Applied Behavior Analysis From the Neurobehavorial Unit (NBU).Spectrum News.The controversy over autism’s most common therapy.Kupferstein H.Evidence of increased PTSD symptoms in autistics exposed to applied behavior analysis.Adv Autism. 2018;4(1):19-29. doi:10.1108/AIA-08-2017-0016Council of Autism Service Providers.Applied behavior analysis treatment of autism spectrum disorder: practice guidelines for healthcare funders and managers.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Choi K, Bhakta B, Knight E, et al.Patient outcomes after applied behavior analysis for autism spectrum disorder.J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2022 Jan;43(1):9-16. doi:10.1097/DBP.0000000000000995Cihon J, Ferguson J, Milne C, Leaf J, McEachin J, Leaf R.A preliminary evaluation of a token system with a flexible earning requirement.Behav Anal Pract. 2018 Dec;12(3):548–556. doi:10.1007/s40617-018-00316-3Goldstar Rehabilitation.ABA therapy and positive behavior supports unveiled.Prospera.How ABA therapy develops self-care & independence.Above & Beyond Therapy.Four functions of behavior in ABA therapy.Chicago ABA Therapy.Teaching emotions in pediatric ABA therapy: A comprehensive guide.Discovery ABA Therapy.Backward chaining in ABA.Goldstar Rehabilitation.ABA in schools & the classroom.Magnolia Autism Center.ABA therapy techniques.Hidden Talents ABA.13 common ABA therapy techniques.Virginia Department of Education’s Training & Technical Assistance Center.Prompts and prompt fading for building independence.Carruthers S, Pickles A, Slonims V, Howlin P, Charman T.Beyond intevention into daily life: A systematic review of generalisation following social communication interventions for young children with autism.Autism Res. 2020 Apr;13(4):506-522. doi:10.1002/aur.2264Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) for children with autism.Makrygianni M, Gena A, Katoudi S, Galanis P.The effectiveness of applied behavior analytic interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analytic study.Res Autism Spectrum Dis. 2018 Jul;51(1):18-31. doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2018.03.006Kennedy Krieger Institute.Applied Behavior Analysis From the Neurobehavorial Unit (NBU).Spectrum News.The controversy over autism’s most common therapy.Kupferstein H.Evidence of increased PTSD symptoms in autistics exposed to applied behavior analysis.Adv Autism. 2018;4(1):19-29. doi:10.1108/AIA-08-2017-0016Council of Autism Service Providers.Applied behavior analysis treatment of autism spectrum disorder: practice guidelines for healthcare funders and managers.
Choi K, Bhakta B, Knight E, et al.Patient outcomes after applied behavior analysis for autism spectrum disorder.J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2022 Jan;43(1):9-16. doi:10.1097/DBP.0000000000000995
Cihon J, Ferguson J, Milne C, Leaf J, McEachin J, Leaf R.A preliminary evaluation of a token system with a flexible earning requirement.Behav Anal Pract. 2018 Dec;12(3):548–556. doi:10.1007/s40617-018-00316-3
Goldstar Rehabilitation.ABA therapy and positive behavior supports unveiled.
Prospera.How ABA therapy develops self-care & independence.
Above & Beyond Therapy.Four functions of behavior in ABA therapy.
Chicago ABA Therapy.Teaching emotions in pediatric ABA therapy: A comprehensive guide.
Discovery ABA Therapy.Backward chaining in ABA.
Goldstar Rehabilitation.ABA in schools & the classroom.
Magnolia Autism Center.ABA therapy techniques.
Hidden Talents ABA.13 common ABA therapy techniques.
Virginia Department of Education’s Training & Technical Assistance Center.Prompts and prompt fading for building independence.
Carruthers S, Pickles A, Slonims V, Howlin P, Charman T.Beyond intevention into daily life: A systematic review of generalisation following social communication interventions for young children with autism.Autism Res. 2020 Apr;13(4):506-522. doi:10.1002/aur.2264
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) for children with autism.
Makrygianni M, Gena A, Katoudi S, Galanis P.The effectiveness of applied behavior analytic interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analytic study.Res Autism Spectrum Dis. 2018 Jul;51(1):18-31. doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2018.03.006
Kennedy Krieger Institute.Applied Behavior Analysis From the Neurobehavorial Unit (NBU).
Spectrum News.The controversy over autism’s most common therapy.
Kupferstein H.Evidence of increased PTSD symptoms in autistics exposed to applied behavior analysis.Adv Autism. 2018;4(1):19-29. doi:10.1108/AIA-08-2017-0016
Council of Autism Service Providers.Applied behavior analysis treatment of autism spectrum disorder: practice guidelines for healthcare funders and managers.
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