Common Mistakes in ABA Therapy For Autistic Children
The principles behind ABA Therapy are so simple that many of us tend to underestimate its importance. ABA is an acronym that stands for Applied Behavioral Analysis. This is the framework through which behavior can be examined and modified. There are three components that make up this framework.
1. Antecedent of the behavior. This refers to the trigger in the environment that causes the behavior to occur.
2. The Behavior. Example: screaming, answering a question etc. The behavior occurs after the antecedent.
3. The Consequence. The consquence can be pleasant, as in postive reinforcement. Punishment is when the consequence is unpleasant or aversive. A third type of consequence is when nothing happens at all. This is called negative reinforcement
Easy enough? The simplicity of the ABA framework is a big reason why it is not implemented correctly. Many people make the mistake of thinking that they’ve already mastered ABA because they can explain the three basic parts.
The skillful application of these principles is a whole other challenge to be dealt with. Each autistic child is vastly different from his/her peers. Their caretakers who implement ABA programs must have a solid understanding of how to utilize ABA for the child’s unique needs at any given moment. There are additional questions to consider
- what rewards should be used?
- how often should the rewards be given
- when should the rewards be used?
All the adults in the child’s environment must also act consistently and follow standard protocols that everyone is aligned with.
If you are still not experiencing the results you want, here are four likely reasons.
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