Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) is one of the most effective and modern techniques for changing challenging behaviors in a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It’s evidence-based and emphasizes consistency and routine, functioning as a behavior intervention.
ABA uses prompts and conditioning to evoke change. These strategies are only as effective as the clinics and behavioral therapists applying them, and prospective clients often wonder, “what does an ABA therapist do?”
In this blog, we’ve outlined what you should be looking for in a clinic and therapist to best help your child achieve progress in positive behaviors.
What Can You Expect From ABA Therapy?
When enrolling a child in ABA therapy, it’s essential to understand what behaviors you are trying to develop and how. There is no one-size-fits-all methodology to help a child with autism, and a good ABA therapist will work with you and your child to create programming that targets specific actions and responses commonly in their environment.
Similarly, having a good chain of communication and clear treatment goals will go a long way for the relationship between you, your clinic, your provider, and your child. Ask any questions you might have for clarity before enrolling in any treatment.
Is ABA Therapy the Best Treatment for Autism?
Many experts consider applied behavioral analysis the premier treatment for children with autism. This doesn’t mean it will always be successful or should always be prescribed. However, there has been an increasing trend in its use and success.
The typical ABA goals and therapy results focus on teaching children to show interest in common social stimuli, communicate more clearly, reduce harmful behaviors, and increase desired behaviors.
One element of ABA that has led to the effectiveness of treatment is isolating and analyzing data about smaller behaviors before changing them and re-integrating these changes into everyday life.
This leads us to believe that if a child requires more structure, routine, and behavioral development, then ABA is the leading therapy option for Autism.
What Does an ABA Therapist Do?
While a BCBA creates the most appropriate ABA program for your child, a quality ABA technician is there to implement the program. Their job (and our passion) is to create a plan that helps communication between parents, educators, therapists, and children.
The outcome of a positive ABA experience should be sustainable long-term growth in behavior. Following are some things that you can expect from your ABA technician.
Create a Positive Environment
This pertains to the overall behavioral flow between home, clinic, school, and other social settings. It’s vital that cues and responses can translate from any location, and the environment created by a good ABA technician will help to teach this.
Create Goals for Your Child
With data and targeted response to it, it’s easy to construct goals using ABA. There should be short-term behavioral changes and benchmarks that measure them, and each behavior should contribute to your child’s long-term growth, happiness, and well-being.
Use Practices Like Pairing and Reinforcement
This methodology is when an ABA technician connects with the learner’s favorite items and activities and then creates positive reinforcement actions to develop behavior. Through these teaching channels, a technician will establish themselves as an actor of change, allowing more rapid growth as your child learns to trust them.
Collect Data
Data is collected during every therapy session to ensure that your child is progressing or mastering each goal/target of their program. The data must be present so the BCBA can use it to drive programming and continue success for your child.
Encourages and Assists in Child Development and Learning
Like any relationship between a client and a patient, there is an integral human element. The theory of ABA alone will not lead your child to success — you should look for a positive technician who will encourage your child and establish a connection with all elements of your child’s life.
Ultimately, encouragement and structure are two of the most valuable things for changing behavior, and your child will look to learn from their practitioner.
We always recommend having a thorough discussion with a potential technician about their viewpoints on ABA and how they will help your child accomplish the goals you agreed on. This will allow you to be on the same page from start to finish in a successful therapy routine.
Works Themselves Out of a Job
ABA technicians must focus on encouraging long-term growth. Any quality practitioner agrees with that notion, and the hope is that your child will no longer need this type of therapy.
Another vital component of any ally to a child with autism (and primarily their provider) is adaptability. As we have seen a need for different settings, communication methods, and timelines, a quality practitioner should still be able to prescribe ABA in a manner that shows consistent results.
ABA Therapy at Ally Pediatric
Having established the difference between an ABA therapist and an ABA technician, what they do, and the realistic expectations for implementation, it’s time to consider if ABA treatment is best for your child. We highly recommend this treatment for children with autism, and at Ally Pediatric Therapy, we pride ourselves on our ABA programs.
If you think this is the best path for you and your family members, please contact us today to start a conversation. We’d love to discuss the best future possible for your child.
