What Can Applied Behavioral Analysis Do for My Child?
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Therapy is recognized as the most effective therapy for children with autism, developmental disabilities, and challenging behaviors. ABA focuses on understanding your child's behavior, how they learn, how they communicate, and how they are affected by their environment. All of these factors are particularly important for children with autism.
Our goal is to equip your child with behavioral tools to better handle changes in their environment. Using principles like positive reinforcement, breaking down tasks into small steps, prompting, and repeated practice, we enable your child to cope with changes in routine, develop communication, and form independent living skills.
Our Board Certified Behavioral Analysts identify your child's strengths and weaknesses and positively reinforce and reward their positive and adaptive behaviors.
A History of ABA Therapy
ABA is based on the principles developed by the scientist B.F. Skinner. Skinner studied behavior and how it can be impacted by the response to the behavior. This school of thought is called behaviorism, and Applied Behavioral Analysis came from that idea. His ideas only focused on behaviors and consequences. Applied Behavioral Analysis also focuses on how the environment impacts behavior. It also takes into account the child's individual skill level.
ABA as we know it today began to be developed in the 1970's. In the 1980's it became a much more popular treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorders. It has been proven to be the most effective treatment for children with autism. Today, ABA meets your child where they are. It continues to improve and adapt to our changing world. Your child will learn in natural settings while playing and are reinforced for their positive behaviors. ABA has been helping children for over 40 years, and ASC would love to provide your children with the same care and treatment.
ABA Can Help Your Child Develop the Skills and Behaviors Needed for Life.
ABA can be used to teach a variety of skills and positive behaviors, including:
Communication
Positive social interactions
Self-help skills, such as toileting, dressing, bathing, etc.
Academics
Fine and gross motor skills
Play and leisure skills
Life and vocational skills
The goal of ABA is to replace negative behaviors with more functional behaviors. This can help with intense behaviors such as self injury, aggression, defiance, and tantrums.
ABA Therapy Methods
Your child will have a program developed specifically for him or her based on their needs and challenges, but there are some common methods used throughoutu all of ABA
Positive reinforcement
Teaching in small steps
Prompting
Repeated Practice
Each of your child's behaviors will be assessed to determine the function of the behavior. The function could be escape, access to preferred activities, attention or automatic. This knowledge will be used to create a program to address each behavior and create pathways for your child to be able to successfully perform a daily task without disruptive behavior.
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The skills we help your child develop can be carried over into adulthood so he or she can lead a more fulfilling life. Interested in learning more? Contact our team today!