What Is ABA Therapy?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow ABA Therapy WorksTypesTechniques Used in ABA TherapyUsesBenefitsEffectiveness of ABA TherapyDrawbacks and Criticisms of APA TherapyThings to ConsiderHow to Get Started

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

How ABA Therapy Works

Types

Techniques Used in ABA Therapy

Uses

Benefits

Effectiveness of ABA Therapy

Drawbacks and Criticisms of APA Therapy

Things to Consider

How to Get Started

Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy is an approach to treatment that focuses on usingpositive reinforcementto improve behavioral, social, communication, and learning skills. ABA therapy utilizes behavioral principles to set goals, reinforce behaviors, and measure outcomes.

This approach has been described as the “gold standard” in the treatment ofautism. It is widely used and is associated with improvements in specific skills and decreased problem behaviors. However, it is important to note that this type of therapy is controversial because it has been seen as disrespectful and even dehumanizing.

At a GlanceABA therapy is widely used but has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years. Proponents of ABA therapy suggest that this approach can help people with autism develop new skills. Critics, on the other hand, indicate that it is traumatic and tries to force neurodivergent children to conform to society’s expectations for “normal” behavior. If you are considering this treatment, it is crucial to understand the different types of ABA therapy, how they are used, and the potential drawbacks before you get started.

At a Glance

ABA therapy is widely used but has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years. Proponents of ABA therapy suggest that this approach can help people with autism develop new skills. Critics, on the other hand, indicate that it is traumatic and tries to force neurodivergent children to conform to society’s expectations for “normal” behavior. If you are considering this treatment, it is crucial to understand the different types of ABA therapy, how they are used, and the potential drawbacks before you get started.

ABA therapy is rooted in the principles ofbehaviorism, particularly operant conditioning and the use of rewards and consequences to mold behavior. During the 1950s and 1960s, mental health professionals began utilizing principles like token economies in the treatment of conditions such as schizophrenia and developmental disabilities.

The earliest forms of ABA therapy often utilized negative reinforcement and punishment when children failed to display the desired behaviors.

More recent perspectives emphasize that autism is a form ofneurodivergence. This means that it represents a difference in how the brain processes information and suggests that autism is a disorder only because society expects people to behave in neurotypical ways.

How Behavioral Analysis Is Used as a Treatment

Types of ABA Therapy

A number of different types of interventions can be used as part of ABA therapy.

Discrete Trial Training (DTT)

When the behavior has been successfully produced, the individual will receive positive reinforcement, but will not be rewarded if they do not successfully produce the desired response.

Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI)

This approach may be used in young children to teach social, adaptive, communication, and functional skills. It is usually highly individualized, intensive, and comprehensive.

Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)

This technique is based on applied behavior analysis and is often used for children with autism between the ages of 12 and 48 months. It utilizes play activities to help foster cognitive, social, and language skills.

Natural Environment Training

After people have acquired skills through discrete trial training, they then begin learning and practicing those skills in more natural environments. For example, a child may learn a specific skill and then begin practicing it at home or in school.

ABA therapy is also often delivered in two different ways. It can be used as a comprehensive program that provides intensive intervention in many environments and situations. Or, it can be part of a more focused program that may involve only specific behaviors or situations.

Comprehensive ABA Therapy

This approach delivers treatments that usually last for several hours each day. A therapist or behavior technician works with the individual for at least several hours each week and often in different contexts, such as in both home and school settings.

Therapists work directly with the individual but may also work with parents and caregivers to teach skills that can be used outside of ABA therapy sessions.

Focused ABA Therapy

This type of treatment may focus on helping an individual in a specific situation where they are facing difficulty. It may also focus on specific skills that an individual needs to work on. The individual often works one-on-one with a therapist, but they may also practice these skills in small groups or in community settings.

ABA therapy usually involves a few different steps. Treatment plans are tailored to the needs of the individual.

Assessment

Assessment is the first step of ABA therapy. During this stage, the child or individual will meet with a therapist, who asks questions about strengths, weaknesses, needs, and goals. From this information, the professional will develop a treatment plan.

Treatment

Treatmentwill involve using different techniques to work toward the individual’s goals. Treatment sessions can sometimes be as short as an hour, but they often last for several hours at a time.

Caregiver Training

Caregiver training involves offering support and training to parents and other caregivers and family members. Therapists teach parents and family members skills and strategies that will help maintain desirable behaviors in the home, school, and community settings.

What ABA Therapy Can Help With

While ABA therapy is often discussed as an intervention for autism, it can be used for a variety of conditions. Some of these conditions include:

Benefits of ABA Therapy

ABA therapy doesn’t “treat” autism but it can be used to teach desirable behaviors and to reduce or extinguish undesirable ones.

For example, ABA may be used in autism to reduce tantrums, teach a child to sit quietly, or use words to make requests. It can also be used to reward a child for simple and complex skills, like brushing their teeth correctly or sharing a toy with a friend.

Some ways that ABA therapy can impact an individual’s life include:

ABA therapy has become a widely used treatment approach in the treatment of autism and other conditions. It has been linked to improvements in key areas including language, social skills, and adaptive skills.

How those results translate to long-term benefits throughout life is still being examined. It’s also important to note that ABA therapy doesn’t treat autism but rather aims to achieve specific outcomes, such as the modification of certain behaviors associated with autism. This remains controversial, however, since the neurodiversity perspective suggests that treatments should not focus on attempts to “normalize” autistic traits in order to conform to neurotypical expectations.

However, ABA therapy also has drawbacks that should be considered. Critics suggest that it focuses too much on modifying behaviors that are seen as problems rather than focusing on helping people develop their strengths and skills.

The effort to make neurodivergent kids act “normal” can also be traumatic and leave lasting effects on children. One study found that people who had been treated with ABA therapy were 86% more likely to have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

ABA is not the only approach to treatment, so it’s important to listen and look at how a person is responding in order to determine which treatment is right for their needs.

While ABA is widely used today, it’s not without controversy. In the past, this type of treatment involved hours of treatment each day, often done in rigid environments. Failures to produce desired behaviors were often addressed with harsh punishments, which were considered both disrespectful to those in therapy and often dehumanizing.

More recent approaches focus on either applying or withholding reinforcement and do not involve punishments. Rather than sitting at a desk doing discrete trials for hours each day, treatment is now often delivered in natural settings, including the home, school, and community settings.

ABA therapy is often focused on getting people to engage in “typical” behaviors. Today, there is a greater appreciation and value for neurodiversity.

Rather than trying to force people to fit a specific mold, newer approaches are instead focused on helping people develop and strengthen the skills that will allow them to reach their potential and live a fulfilling life.

If you are ready to try ABA therapy for yourself or your child, there are some steps that you can take to help find the best treatment for your needs.

As with othertypes of therapy, trying it and keeping an eye on how things go can be helpful. If you notice good outcomes over time, sticking with it over the longer term may be a good idea. If you or your child struggles with treatment or does not achieve good progress over time, it may be a good idea to switch to a different treatment approach.

ND-Affirming Alternatives to ABA TherapyNeurodiversity-affirming treatments for autism can be helpful. Such therapies focus on helping kids understand their neurotype and develop coping strategies to help them manage their autistic traits. Such treatments are also focused on assisting people in feeling self-compassion, building confidence, and finding supportive resources in their community.

ND-Affirming Alternatives to ABA Therapy

Neurodiversity-affirming treatments for autism can be helpful. Such therapies focus on helping kids understand their neurotype and develop coping strategies to help them manage their autistic traits. Such treatments are also focused on assisting people in feeling self-compassion, building confidence, and finding supportive resources in their community.

10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Smith T, Eikeseth S. O.Ivar lovaas: Pioneer of applied behavior analysis and intervention for children with autism.J Autism Dev Disord. 2011;41(3):375-378. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1162-0Schreibman L, Dawson G, Stahmer AC, et al.Naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions: Empirically validated treatments for autism spectrum disorder.J Autism Dev Disord. 2015 Aug;45(8):2411-28. doi:10.1007/s10803-015-2407-8Leaf JB, Cihon JH, Ferguson JL, Weinkauf SM.An introduction to applied behavior analysis. In: Matson JL, ed.Handbook of Childhood Psychopathology and Developmental Disabilities Treatment. Springer International Publishing; 2017:25-42. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-71210-9_3Mohammadzaheri F, Koegel LK, Rezaee M, Rafiee SM.A randomized clinical trial comparison between pivotal response treatment (PRT) and structured applied behavior analysis (ABA) intervention for children with autism.J Autism Dev Disord. 2014;44(11):2769-77. doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2137-3Luiselli JK.Applied behavior analysis measurement, assessment, and treatment of sleep and sleep‐related problems.Jnl of Applied Behav Analysis. 2021;54(2):654-667. doi:10.1002/jaba.774Mohammadzaheri F, Koegel LK, Rezaee M, Rafiee SM.A randomized clinical trial comparison between pivotal response treatment (PRT) and structured applied behavior analysis (ABA) intervention for children with autism.J Autism Dev Disord. 2014;44(11):2769-2777. doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2137-3Virués-Ortega J.Applied behavior analytic intervention for autism in early childhood: Meta-analysis, meta-regression and dose-response meta-analysis of multiple outcomes.Clin Psychol Rev. 2010;30(4):387-99. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2010.01.008Dawson G, Burner K.Behavioral interventions in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A review of recent findings.Curr Opin Pediatr. 2011;23(6):616-20. doi: 10.1097/MOP.0b013e32834cf082Maglione MA, Gans D, Das L, Timbie J, Kasari C; Technical Expert Panel; HRSA Autism Intervention Research – Behavioral (AIR-B) Network.Nonmedical interventions for children with ASD: Recommended guidelines and further research needs.Pediatrics. 2012;130 Suppl 2:S169-78. doi:10.1542/peds.2012-0900OKupferstein H.Evidence of increased PTSD symptoms in autistics exposed to applied behavior analysis.Adv Autism. 2018;4(1):19-29. doi:10.1108/AIA-08-2017-0016

10 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Smith T, Eikeseth S. O.Ivar lovaas: Pioneer of applied behavior analysis and intervention for children with autism.J Autism Dev Disord. 2011;41(3):375-378. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1162-0Schreibman L, Dawson G, Stahmer AC, et al.Naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions: Empirically validated treatments for autism spectrum disorder.J Autism Dev Disord. 2015 Aug;45(8):2411-28. doi:10.1007/s10803-015-2407-8Leaf JB, Cihon JH, Ferguson JL, Weinkauf SM.An introduction to applied behavior analysis. In: Matson JL, ed.Handbook of Childhood Psychopathology and Developmental Disabilities Treatment. Springer International Publishing; 2017:25-42. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-71210-9_3Mohammadzaheri F, Koegel LK, Rezaee M, Rafiee SM.A randomized clinical trial comparison between pivotal response treatment (PRT) and structured applied behavior analysis (ABA) intervention for children with autism.J Autism Dev Disord. 2014;44(11):2769-77. doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2137-3Luiselli JK.Applied behavior analysis measurement, assessment, and treatment of sleep and sleep‐related problems.Jnl of Applied Behav Analysis. 2021;54(2):654-667. doi:10.1002/jaba.774Mohammadzaheri F, Koegel LK, Rezaee M, Rafiee SM.A randomized clinical trial comparison between pivotal response treatment (PRT) and structured applied behavior analysis (ABA) intervention for children with autism.J Autism Dev Disord. 2014;44(11):2769-2777. doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2137-3Virués-Ortega J.Applied behavior analytic intervention for autism in early childhood: Meta-analysis, meta-regression and dose-response meta-analysis of multiple outcomes.Clin Psychol Rev. 2010;30(4):387-99. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2010.01.008Dawson G, Burner K.Behavioral interventions in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A review of recent findings.Curr Opin Pediatr. 2011;23(6):616-20. doi: 10.1097/MOP.0b013e32834cf082Maglione MA, Gans D, Das L, Timbie J, Kasari C; Technical Expert Panel; HRSA Autism Intervention Research – Behavioral (AIR-B) Network.Nonmedical interventions for children with ASD: Recommended guidelines and further research needs.Pediatrics. 2012;130 Suppl 2:S169-78. doi:10.1542/peds.2012-0900OKupferstein H.Evidence of increased PTSD symptoms in autistics exposed to applied behavior analysis.Adv Autism. 2018;4(1):19-29. doi:10.1108/AIA-08-2017-0016

Smith T, Eikeseth S. O.Ivar lovaas: Pioneer of applied behavior analysis and intervention for children with autism.J Autism Dev Disord. 2011;41(3):375-378. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1162-0Schreibman L, Dawson G, Stahmer AC, et al.Naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions: Empirically validated treatments for autism spectrum disorder.J Autism Dev Disord. 2015 Aug;45(8):2411-28. doi:10.1007/s10803-015-2407-8Leaf JB, Cihon JH, Ferguson JL, Weinkauf SM.An introduction to applied behavior analysis. In: Matson JL, ed.Handbook of Childhood Psychopathology and Developmental Disabilities Treatment. Springer International Publishing; 2017:25-42. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-71210-9_3Mohammadzaheri F, Koegel LK, Rezaee M, Rafiee SM.A randomized clinical trial comparison between pivotal response treatment (PRT) and structured applied behavior analysis (ABA) intervention for children with autism.J Autism Dev Disord. 2014;44(11):2769-77. doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2137-3Luiselli JK.Applied behavior analysis measurement, assessment, and treatment of sleep and sleep‐related problems.Jnl of Applied Behav Analysis. 2021;54(2):654-667. doi:10.1002/jaba.774Mohammadzaheri F, Koegel LK, Rezaee M, Rafiee SM.A randomized clinical trial comparison between pivotal response treatment (PRT) and structured applied behavior analysis (ABA) intervention for children with autism.J Autism Dev Disord. 2014;44(11):2769-2777. doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2137-3Virués-Ortega J.Applied behavior analytic intervention for autism in early childhood: Meta-analysis, meta-regression and dose-response meta-analysis of multiple outcomes.Clin Psychol Rev. 2010;30(4):387-99. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2010.01.008Dawson G, Burner K.Behavioral interventions in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A review of recent findings.Curr Opin Pediatr. 2011;23(6):616-20. doi: 10.1097/MOP.0b013e32834cf082Maglione MA, Gans D, Das L, Timbie J, Kasari C; Technical Expert Panel; HRSA Autism Intervention Research – Behavioral (AIR-B) Network.Nonmedical interventions for children with ASD: Recommended guidelines and further research needs.Pediatrics. 2012;130 Suppl 2:S169-78. doi:10.1542/peds.2012-0900OKupferstein H.Evidence of increased PTSD symptoms in autistics exposed to applied behavior analysis.Adv Autism. 2018;4(1):19-29. doi:10.1108/AIA-08-2017-0016

Smith T, Eikeseth S. O.Ivar lovaas: Pioneer of applied behavior analysis and intervention for children with autism.J Autism Dev Disord. 2011;41(3):375-378. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1162-0

Schreibman L, Dawson G, Stahmer AC, et al.Naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions: Empirically validated treatments for autism spectrum disorder.J Autism Dev Disord. 2015 Aug;45(8):2411-28. doi:10.1007/s10803-015-2407-8

Leaf JB, Cihon JH, Ferguson JL, Weinkauf SM.An introduction to applied behavior analysis. In: Matson JL, ed.Handbook of Childhood Psychopathology and Developmental Disabilities Treatment. Springer International Publishing; 2017:25-42. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-71210-9_3

Mohammadzaheri F, Koegel LK, Rezaee M, Rafiee SM.A randomized clinical trial comparison between pivotal response treatment (PRT) and structured applied behavior analysis (ABA) intervention for children with autism.J Autism Dev Disord. 2014;44(11):2769-77. doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2137-3

Luiselli JK.Applied behavior analysis measurement, assessment, and treatment of sleep and sleep‐related problems.Jnl of Applied Behav Analysis. 2021;54(2):654-667. doi:10.1002/jaba.774

Virués-Ortega J.Applied behavior analytic intervention for autism in early childhood: Meta-analysis, meta-regression and dose-response meta-analysis of multiple outcomes.Clin Psychol Rev. 2010;30(4):387-99. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2010.01.008

Dawson G, Burner K.Behavioral interventions in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A review of recent findings.Curr Opin Pediatr. 2011;23(6):616-20. doi: 10.1097/MOP.0b013e32834cf082

Maglione MA, Gans D, Das L, Timbie J, Kasari C; Technical Expert Panel; HRSA Autism Intervention Research – Behavioral (AIR-B) Network.Nonmedical interventions for children with ASD: Recommended guidelines and further research needs.Pediatrics. 2012;130 Suppl 2:S169-78. doi:10.1542/peds.2012-0900O

Kupferstein H.Evidence of increased PTSD symptoms in autistics exposed to applied behavior analysis.Adv Autism. 2018;4(1):19-29. doi:10.1108/AIA-08-2017-0016

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At a Glance#

Types of ABA Therapy#

Discrete Trial Training (DTT)#

Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI)#

Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)#

Natural Environment Training#

Comprehensive ABA Therapy#

Focused ABA Therapy#

Assessment#

Treatment#

Caregiver Training#

What ABA Therapy Can Help With#

Benefits of ABA Therapy#

ND-Affirming Alternatives to ABA Therapy#