Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the most recognized and widely accepted evidence-based practice for treating Autism Spectrum Disorder that is safe, effective, and has proven results.
SOCIALLY SIGNIFICANT BEHAVIORS
“Socially significant behaviors” include reading, academics, social skills, communication, and adaptive living skills. Adaptive living skills include gross and fine motor skills, eating and food preparation, toileting, dressing, personal self-care, domestic skills, time and punctuality, money and value, home and community orientation, and work skills.
ABA methods are used to support persons with autism in at least five ways:
- To increase behaviors
- To teach new skills
- To generalize or to transfer behavior from one situation or response to another
- To restrict or narrow conditions under which interfering behaviors occur
- To reduce interfering behaviors
RELIABLE MEASUREMENT
Reliable measurement requires that behaviors are defined objectively. Vague terms such as anger, depression, aggression or tantrums are redefined in observable and quantifiable terms, so their frequency, duration or other measurable properties can be directly recorded (Sulzer-Azaroff & Mayer, 1991).
This process includes the following components:
- Selection of interfering behavior or behavioral skill deficit
- Identification of goals and objectives
- Establishment of a method of measuring target behaviors
- Evaluation of the current levels of performance (baseline)
- Design and implementation of the interventions
- Continuous measurement of target behaviors
- Ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of the intervention