ABA Therapy

Applied Behavior Analysis is the science of human behavior focused on improving behaviors of social significance. By utilizing basic principles of behavior, techniques and positive reinforcement, ABA therapy can bring about significant, measurable change. It’s a way to shape and mold actions for effective communication and learning. It has been proven to improve attention, focus, communication, life skills, social development, as well as decrease unwanted behaviors such as aggression, self-injury and disruptions. ABA methods help individuals replace hindering behaviors so they learn “what to do,” not just “what not to do.”

Therapy is delivered by a team of technicians and designed and overseen by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and/or an International Behavior Analyst. Therapy can take place in the home, center, school, and community, or a combination, depending on your needs. English and Arabic services are available.

  • Improving attending and listening

  • Developing cooperation

  • Developing play and leisure skills

  • Improving communication

  • Decreasing frustration and difficult behaviors when communication is a challenge

  • Building skills to develop meaningful relationships

  • Improving sleep

  • Increasing food intake

  • Toilet training

  • Increasing safety awareness

  • Executive functioning

  • Vocational and Job Skills

  • Overcoming fears and anxiety

Fun Fact: ABA is not only used as a treatment for Autism! Today, ABA is an evidence based and highly effective treatment for behavior change of all kinds: smoking cessation, gamblinging, sustainability, vocational performance improvement, study habits, weight loss and fitness goals, organizational behaivor, life skills/adaptive functioning, communication, literacy, seatbelt use, and so much more!

If yes, your child may benefit from behavioral intervention focused on the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA). ABA can help develop your child’s language, as well as improve behavioral concerns.

If not, your child may benefit from ABA therapy to provide increased learning opportunities to catch up to same age peers.

These are called executive functioning skills and are important life skills. Executive functioning skills help individuals live, work, and learn with an appropriate level of independence and competence for their age. ABA can help give you or your child the tools to improve executive functioning.

The effectiveness of ABA-based intervention has been well documented. Children who receive early and intensive behavioral treatment have been shown to make substantial, sustained gains in IQ, language, academic performance, social and adaptive behavior. The outcomes have been significantly better than those of children who did not receive such services. Additionally, existing research documents the effectiveness of ABA-based intervention in improving sustainability, leadership, productivity, anxiety, fitness, etc.

Reinforcement is something that makes a behavior more likely to occur in the future and punishment is something that makes a behavior less likely to occur in the future. It is important to understand whether our responses to an individual’s behavior are reinforcing (increasing) or punishing (decreasing) that behavior.

Some individuals may exhibit a variety of dangerous, maladaptive, or inappropriate behaviors such as tantrums, elopement, self-harming, aggression, poor social skills, inability to be toilet trained, etc. These individuals may also experience academic failure or difficulty, especially in areas of attention, impulsivity, attending, and generalizing. ABA at its core is a method to help improve learning. Any behavior that  can be learned, ABA can help unlearn, strengthen, or maintain.

The A-B-C’s of behavior is a basic tool used in ABA to determine the function, or motivation of a behavior. Intervention that is created based on the function of a behavior will be more successful than if the function is not known.

A=Antecedent. This means what occurred before the behavior.
B=Behavior. This is the actual behavior.
C=Consequence. This means what happened after the behavior.

Functions of behavior refers to the reason someone is engaging in a behavior. Understanding the ‘why’ is essential to aim to change that behavior. In the field of ABA, it is believed that there are four functions, or reasons, that behavior may occur.

  1. ATTENTION
    (from others)
  2. ACCESS
    (to an item or activity)
  3. ESCAPE
    (from a demand)
  4. SENSORY
    (a feel-good sensation)

Example:

A=Antecedent: mom tells child to get his shoes
B=Behavior: child screams
C=Consequence: mom gets his shoes for him
The function here may be escape, as the child was asked to complete a task/instruction
and then it was removed following the problem behavior.

There has been some recent controversy surrounding ABA. Some of the criticism includes that ABA is forcing autistic people to appear “normal,” forcing eye contact and other neurotypical behaviors. ABA is too demanding and teaches compliance in a repetitive unrealistic manner. ABA is punishment based. Over the years, ABA has progressed becoming more flexible, individualized, play based, and focused on improving independence to improve their quality of life.

ABA therapy has been around since the 1960’s. The belief and theory behind ABA has been around since the 1930’s. However, the science of behavior analysis has since continued to evolve and adapt with decades of empirical evidence to support its efficacy at teaching necessary skills and reducing maladaptive behaviors.

We use the science of learning to identify your child’s developmental priorities, create a program that teaches your child skills and behaviors that are lacking, and manage the evolution of Your child’s progression.

How to identify when you or your child needs help

If you are an adult seeking help, we are also here for you. We are here to help no matter your age!

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