What is Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and how can I apply it at home?
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Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 Time: 8:30 AM
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by James Baker
The essential meaning of Applied behavior analysis is to consistently observing resulting behavior to determine whether new skills are being taught by a given instruction, request or direction. ABA is primarily applied at school, but it is a proven technique that you can use at home.
I work best with real-world examples. Here goes;
- Dad: Hi Joey! How was school today?
- Joey: (no response)
- Dad: Did you have fun?
- Joey: yes.
- Dad: What did you do?
- Joey: (no response)
- Dad: Did you play at recess?
- Joey: (no response, or perhaps an unrelated comment about his favorite video game)
If the above interaction is familar, you are not alone. Dad was unsuccessful at engaging Joey, and Joey has successfully avoided discussing current events.
Children with autism aren't born with the same kinds of intuitive understanding of state of mind or ability to engage in natural learning from the environment. ABA sets up the conditions in which these lessons can be taught.
Here's an example in how ABA could have been applied to the above interaction.
- Dad: Hi Joey! How was school today?
- Joey: (no response)
- Dad: Did you ride the bus with Jack?
- Joey: John.
- Dad: Oh, that's right, did John talk to you about his puppy? Tell me the puppy's name.
- Joey: Spot
- Dad: So what did John say about Spot. Say, John said...
- Joey: John said that he played with Spot.
- Dad: That's great! Joey and Spot played (expectant pause)...
- Joey: ...with a ball. He chases it.
- Dad: How cool! (tickle) Do you think spot or John had more fun?
- Joey: probably... spot.
- Dad: But wasn't spot all tired from that running around (silly dance)
- Joey: (laughs)
In the latter example, Joey is getting positive reinforcement and rewards (tickles and silliness) for the preferred behavior (dialog). In the first example Joey is getting rewards (avoiding frustrating challenges) by exhibiting the non-preferred behavior (disengagement).
Discrete trial training is also closely related to ABA. A discrete trial is a single cycle of a behaviorally-based instruction routine. It consists of;
- a discriminative stimulus (the instruction or environmental cue that you want your child to respond to)
- the prompting stimulus (a hint, if necessary)
- the appropriate response
- reinforcement
- a pause between instructions.
The key is that the teacher (or parent) does not proceed to the reinforcement unless they've gotten the appropriate response. The reinforcement can be a praise, a snack or any other form of reward.
This kind of teaching style does not come naturally to a parent. We are predisposed to reward, nurture and reinforce our children independently from their appropriate responses. For children with autism, this isn't a reliable approach to assuring that they develop the social skills and appropriate environmental awareness to succeed.
For more information, see http://www.dietandautism.com
About the Author
James is an engineer and a stay-at-home dad to a child with autism.
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