What is ABA?
Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) has been shown through extensive research to be effective when applied to individuals with autism. No intervention has been proved to be a cure for autism, however ABA seems to teach the child to "learn how to learn".
The structured approach incorporated in ABA intervention involves breaking down skills into small discrete tasks, the teaching of which occurs in a highly structured environment. Differential reinforcement is the crucial element of successful implementation. Here the therapist reinforces/rewards positive behaviours and ignores or re-directs negative behaviours. This results in the child learning appropriate behaviours in a structured environment. These behaviours are then generalised in natural settings.
Another essential element of ABA is that in the initial stages, the teaching procedures take place on a one-to-one basis with the therapist, in a distraction free environment. Over a period of time, distracters are brought into the environment to create a more natural environment. The aim of the one-to-one instruction is to teach the range of functional skills required for the classroom or the community. Basic attention and social skills are taught from the beginning in preparation for the transition to mainstream. In addition, opportunities are developed to enable the children to practice through observational learning with a regular peer group.
The application of ABA varies for each child according to his or her individual differences, and therefore what applies to one child might not have the same impact for another. ABA intervention focuses on teaching basic imitative and self-help skills, and then builds on these skills to teach communication, play, academic skills and social skills.
Early and intensive intervention using the ABA techniques can result in dramatic improvements for children with autism. Behavioural intervention has been demonstrated to be effective for all children with autism. Research indicates that the earlier the teaching begins, then the higher the likelihood of favourable outcomes.
The intensity of the training results from the duration of the training, which is usually recommended to be around 30-40 hours per week, and the density of teaching trials. In other words, it is important for parents to note that it is not the intensity itself that determines the quality of the outcome. Of equal importance is the quality of the teaching and the number of learning opportunities.
