Applied Behavior Analysis
Applied Behavior Analysis is the framework on which many interventions for children with autism are based. An intervention must encompass seven necessary components to be considered ABA (Baer, Wolf and Risley, 1967). It must be Applied (addresses a socially significant behavior), Behavioral (an observable behavior that can be accurately recorded), Analytic (data needs to be collected to show that an intervention is responsible for the observed changes), Technological (interventions need to be thoroughly described and reproducible), Conceptually Systematic (based on established and accepted practices), Effective (changes are large enough to be meaningful) and Generality (effects of the intervention are maintained over time and generalize across settings and/or stimuli).
Some of the interventions you will see which are based on the principles of ABA are: discrete trial training (DTT), incidental teaching, and pivotal response training. The following diagram shows the teaching loop which is the foundation of DTT:
The Discrete Trial Training loop has been used to teach children with autism many different skills. Interventions using DTT have been proven to be very effective and encompass all necessary components to be considered based in Applied Behavior Analysis. It is important to remember that DTT and ABA are not interchangeable terms…DTT is based on the framework of ABA and is an effective intervention, but not the only ABA-based intervention available.
ABA-based interventions are very common in the autism community and have been shown to be effective in addressing (improving, stopping or teaching) specific behaviors for people with autism.