Oliver Larholt first became aware of Applied Behavioural Analysis after his son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
After our son’s autism spectrum diagnosis, we worried he would never be able to live a life of dignity. But discovering Applied Behaviour Analysis was a sea change in our lives.
Konnie was ready to start primary school within two years of intensive, personalised therapy; something we’d never though possible.
By the age of 5, he was only a year behind his peers developmentally.
Now a young man, he is preparing to live an independent life.
We have been so moved by the transformational quality of applied behavioural therapy that Konnie’s mother even started a charity- The Giving Tree Foundation- to help other families access this lifechanging support.
What is Applied Behaviour Analysis?
Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is a therapy based on the science of learning and behaviour. It is sometimes referred to as Applied Behavioural Therapy. It has been used to help children with autism spectrum disorder since the 1960s.
ABA practitioners gather behavioural data to understand:
- How behaviour works
- How environment affects behaviour
- How learning happens
They then use that understanding to help build an individualised program to help children:
- Increase language, communication and social skills
- Improve attention, focus and memory
- Decrease problematic behaviours
How can Applied Behaviour Analysis help my child?
Behaviour analysis supports autistic children by:
- Offering intensive, personalised 1:1 teaching
- Working with mainstream schools and workplaces to develop group strategies
- Supporting teachers to develop specific skills
- Training staff in care settings to identify and minimise triggers
Every child responds differently to different stimuli. That means no two therapy programs will be the same.
However, in general practitioners will try to help children through a variety of:
- Communication strategies
- Visual support strategies
- Verbal behaviour approaches
What are the key strategies of Applied Behavioural Analysis?
Behaviour analysis can be adapted for each individual child, incorporating new techniques based on how they meet specific needs and objectives.
The most common strategies of ABA are:
- Discrete trial training
- Naturalistic teaching approaches
- Pivotal response treatment
Discrete Trial Training
Discrete trial training (DTT) helps break a skill down and learn it step-by-step. Children receive positive reinforcement when they achieve the desired outcome, but are not rewarded when they do not.
The three steps of this process are:
- The antecedent This is the trigger for a behaviour. It can be:
- A verbal command or request
- A physical object or desire
- An environmental stimulant like light, sound or other sensations
- A thought or feeling
- The behaviour This is how the person responds to the antecedent trigger. It may be:
- An action
- A verbal response
- A lack of response
- The conclusion This is what comes after the behaviour. It could be:
- Positive reinforcement of the desired behaviour
- No reaction for incorrect/inappropriate behaviours
Naturalistic teaching approaches
Naturalistic teaching weaves learning opportunities into everyday life. It usually takes place in the child’s natural environment, like their home, classroom, or local playground.
Naturalistic teaching is based on four core principles:
- Child-Led Learning
Child-led learning is when the therapist lets the child’s interests and motivations guide the process.
Focussing on what naturally motivates the child helps therapists introduce new concepts and skills in a non-threatening way.
It also gives children more ways to engage with things they enjoy- building a long-term, positive association with learning.
- Reinforcement Reinforcement is a cornerstone of ABA. In naturalistic teaching, positive reinforcement is tied directly to an activity.
The benefits of this approach include:- Making the reinforcement feel natural
- Encouring positives behaviours
- Helping connect action to outcomes
- Strengthening the learning process
- Generalization
Generalisation encourages children to apply the skills they learn across settings and situations in their daily life.
This is crucial for the long-term success of the therapy as children are more likely to apply what they learn in real-world situations.
- Embedded Learning Opportunities
Learning becomes part of everyday routines and activities, helping children to regularly practice new skills until they become second nature.
This helps to:- Normalise learning
- Make activities and behaviours a normal part of the day
- Increase confidence and retention
Pivotal response treatment
Pivotal Response Training seeks to target key areas that significantly impact developmental processes.
The key skills are:
- Motivation: Using the child’s interests to increase their desire to learn and perform social skills.
- Initiation: Encouraging the child to initiate social interactions by asking questions or getting someone else’s attention.
- Multiple cues: Training a child to respond to multiple cues rather than specific details.
- Self-management: Teaching the child to evaluate their feelings and behaviours themselves.
Drawbacks of ABA Therapy
Although my family has had great success with ABA, there are reservations about the treatment in the wider community.
Is ABA too hard on kids?
Some people believe ABA therapy is tough on the children, needlessly repetetive, and not necessarily resulting in transferable skills.
But these days, the DTT format, where the child sits at a table, is less common. Play-based naturalistic teaching is now the norm.
Does ABA push a neurotypical norm?
Another worry is that ABA prioritises the ease and comfort of neurotypical lives and attempts to erase the diverse needs, experiences and perspectives of autistic people.
However advocates reject the idea that they aim to “remove” childrens’ autism. Rather, we are trying to help children develop the skills they need to live independent lives.
Does ABA focus more on negative behaviours than positive skills?
Some critics worry that ABA discourages behaviours without acknowledging their emotional root, teaching children to feel ashamed of themselves and ignore or deny their feelings.
The concern is that focussing on behaviour stops children from learning language and communication skills to better help them express themselves.
In my experience, ABA has allowed my son to have a fuller life- not a lesser one. He can now communicate those diverse needs and experiences in a way he couldn’t possibly before. I have witnessed first hand how behavioural therapy increased his confidence and is opening up a future of dignity and independence for him.
Our family couldn’t be more grateful.
For help accessing ABA, you can reach out to some of the organisations here:
Grants to support children with ASD – Oliver Larholt
UK charities for Autism Spectrum Disorder – Oliver Larholt
Learn more with these resources:
https://uk-sba.org/this-is-aba/
https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisprograms.com/faq/what-is-naturalistic-teaching/
https://linksaba.com/discrete-trial-training-dtt-step-by-step-examples/
