Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and Autism

ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis) refers to interventions that are developed from a branch of science called behaviour analysis.

ABA is much more than an intervention for children with autism. It can be used to help with anything from treating eating disorders to traffic control.

Behaviour analysts examine the causes and the consequences of behaviour. They then develop interventions based on this information.

One of the strengths of ABA for children with autism is that it can address every behaviour relevant to that child (both excesses and deficits). Behaviour Analysts are not distracted by the many different theories of the causes of autism  (along with their related treatments) and so have been able to steadily develop and refine their approach. Today’s modern ABA programmes look very different from those 20 years ago. ABA is now able to be much more flexible, functional and fun for the child.

The research shows that ABA is most effective for children with autism when used intensively (30-40 hours per week). These programmes are also known as EIBI (Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention). However, other ABA techniques e.g. PECS (picture exchange communication system), specific behaviour management techniques can also be very helpful on their own to target specific concerns without the intensive programme. Child Autism UK offers both the intensive service and short term programmes to target specific needs.

ABA programmes provide intensive teaching for children.

Typically this will initially take place in the child’s home before gradually extending into the nursery or school.

• Building skills: building on the child’s strengths with emphasis on communication, social interaction and play skills.

• Behaviour management: replacing inappropriate behaviours with alternatives that serve the same function for the child.

• For example, if the child has tantrums to get his/her needs met, teaching the child how to request would be a more appropriate replacement behaviour.

• Behaviours are prioritised according to how much they hinder learning or affect the child’s quality of life.

• Strategies based on ABA (with regular workshops from trained clinical staff).

• One-to-one instruction (from a team of tutors).

• Intensity (approximately 30-35 hours per week).

• Early intervention (Principles of ABA can be effectively applied to any age group but ‘ABA programmes’ usually refers to EIBI (Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention). Most of the research is with children who started programmes between 2 and 7 years old).

• Family involvement (programmes work best when families are involved).

These include discrete trial training, a variety of communication strategies, visual support strategies, verbal behaviour approaches (language development based on the work of Skinner), teaching to fluency, errorless learning. 

Some children respond well to more structured teaching and others to more incidental teaching.

Most children require a balance to help them initiate and respond to their full potential across all environments.

Case managers assess the individual needs of each child and make recommendations of programming and intensity according to these needs.

Child Autism UK believes that interventions should be based on scientific principles and ultimately decisions should be data driven.

Managers receive external and in-house training on the latest developments in the field. Between us, the staff have well over 50 years combined experience and so the support network within the staff team is invaluable.

All of our case managers have extensive experience in the field and have seen many children all the way through their programmes.

They are therefore quickly able to tailor teaching styles to the specific strengths of the child and are able to problem solve to overcome any specific obstacles to progress.