ABA 101 at CPTWC

ABA stands for Applied Behavior Analysis, which a scientific approach for understanding and improving behavior. ABA relies on evidence based interventions to help guide a child’s individualized treatment plan. Applied Behavior Analysis is often applied in populations with intellectual and developmental disabilities and research supports significant effects on increasing socially appropriate behaviors. ABA is used to teach a wide variety of skills, such as communication skills, social skills, independent living skills, vocational skills, self-help skills, and more. The behaviors targeted for change are socially significant, meaning the skills taught will introduce your child to a new skill set, which will lead to meaningful outcomes in your child’s life.

ABA relies on data in order to guide your child’s plan of care and interventions. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) will regularly monitor the data recorded and make adjustments as needed based on your child’s strengths and deficits. ABA shapes behavior by utilizing positive reinforcement and manipulating the environment. Each plan of action is unique to the child being treated and each plan incorporates a child’s preferences and interests. In addition, the support plan for your child incorporates the family’s concerns and preferences. Overall, the goal of the individualized plan is to focus on your child’s strengths and weakness in order to determine the most suitable interventions for the child’s overall success, which in return benefits others in your child’s life. It is important your family understands ABA is not a “one” specific program or procedure to learn; but rather, ABA is made up of various procedures, techniques, methods which are based on empirical principles of behavior. These methods can be applied in diverse ways and it will require some effort in order to understand how to make ABA fit your child’s needs and strengths.

ABA is flexible and can be applied in a variety of ways and across various settings. ABA can be implemented in the clinic, in-home, community, and school settings. At Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center, we strive to create learning opportunities for generalization of skills across settings, people, and various exemplars. ABA sessions will work on your child’s deficits in a variety of setting in order to increase the versatility of your child’s repertoire. Therapy is not limited to only direct sessions with your child! Parent and family involvement is crucial to your child’s progress! Therefore, parent(s) are asked to partake in sessions, when able, and learn principles and methods for developing the child’s adaptive skills.

ABA programs can be intense, meaning there may be many hours of 1:1 therapy prescribed. For example, some individuals can receive up to 40 hours per week. However, we will work specifically with your family in order to determine the best and most realistic amount of therapy hours needed for your child, which is based on your needs and your child’s strengths and weaknesses. Methods of behavior analysis can be implemented throughout the day, whether it is through contrived situations or naturalistic approaches. Goals of the program will include parents learning about appropriate methodologies and approaches appropriate for expanding their child’s repertoire. Ultimately, parents will become “co-therapists” and continue these analytical approaches outside of the sessions. Some programs or skills may be taught in a more contrived context, but overtime the goal is strive towards naturalistic settings and expectations. Skills are targeted based around the age appropriate development of your child.

Research demonstrates the significant progress individuals have made with ABA services. In particular, Early Intervention services are especially well-researched, and support the benefits of conducting ABA services upon receiving initial diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Children with ASD receiving ABA yield meaningful progress and improved adaptive skills, especially when there are reports of greater intensity of therapy and intensity of therapy hours. Research indicates ABA has helped increase individual’s overall adaptive life skills, language skills, communication skills, and even cognitive skills, including increase in IQ. In addition, ABA therapy has been shown to benefit a child’s outcome in school. With ABA interventions in place, there is a greater likelihood for a child to be integrated into a school setting with minimal or without additional support systems in place. Overall, research also demonstrates the child is able to maintain his or her independence over a longer period of time. There is additional research on parent reported outcomes, in which parents report a significant increase in their child’s ability to communicate. Parent consistently report in-home services allow the whole family to partake in their child’s therapy, and there are foreseen improvements with parent-child relationships and sibling-child relationships.

At Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center, we continually strive to create a cohesive team approach for your child’s treatment plan. Please contact our office today to learn more regarding our services and how our “whole team” approach can best serve your child!