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Autism Teaching Methods: Applied Behavior Analysis and Verbal Behavior Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA, is a method of teaching children with autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders. It is based on the premise that appropriate behavior – including speech, academics and life skills – can be taught using scientific principles. ABA assumes that children are more likely to repeat behaviors or responses that are rewarded (or "reinforced"), and they are less likely to continue behaviors that are not rewarded. Eventually, the reinforcement is reduced so that the child can learn without constant rewards. Research shows that ABA works for kids with autism. "Thirty years of research demonstrated the efficacy of applied behavioral methods in reducing inappropriate behavior and in increasing communication, learning, and appropriate social behavior," according to a U.S. Surgeon General's Report. The most well-known form of ABA is discrete trial training (DTT). Skills are broken down into the smallest tasks and taught individually. Discrete, or separate, trials may be used to teach eye contact, imitation, fine motor skills, self-help, academics, language and conversation. Students start with learning small skills, and gradually learn more complicated skills as each smaller one is mastered. If a therapist is trying to teach imitation skills, for example, she may give a command, such as "Do this," while tapping the table. The child is then expected to tap the table. If the child succeeds, he receives positive reinforcement, such as a raisin, a toy or praise. If the child fails, then the therapist may say, "No." The therapist then pauses before repeating the same command, ensuring that each trial is separate or discrete. The therapist also will use a prompt - such as physically helping the child tap the table - if the child responds incorrectly twice in a row. This "no-no-prompt" method is used in some traditional ABA programs. However, many ABA programs now use prompts for every trial, so the child is always correct and always reinforced by praise or a toy. This technique is called "errorless learning." The child will not be told "no" for mistakes but rather will be guided to the correct response every time. The prompts will be gradually reduced (or "faded," in ABA language), so the child will learn the correct response on his own. ABA may take place in the home or a school. A consultant or behavior analyst -- usually someone with a master's or doctoral degree in psychology -- often supervises the therapy. Some people incorrectly assume that ABA only describes the method developed by Dr. O. Ivar Lovaas, a pioneering researcher in the Psychology Department at UCLA. Lovaas developed one form of ABA. In 1987, he published a study showing that nine of the 19 preschoolers involved in intensive behavioral intervention -- 40 hours per week of one-on-one therapy -- achieved "normal functioning" by first grade. Note: Several decades ago, Lovaas described using mild physical punishment for severe behaviors during therapy sessions. He later rejected such punishment, and current behavior therapists do not use it. Dr. Lovaas, 83, died on Aug. 2, 2010. ABA programs usually draw upon Lovaas's decades of research, but they also may incorporate different methods and tools. Applied
Verbal Behavior
or VB is the latest style of ABA. It uses B. F. Skinner's
A VB program will focus on getting a child to realize that language will get him what he wants, when he wants it. Requesting is often one of the first verbal skills taught; children are taught to use language to communicate, rather than just to label items. Learning how to make requests also should improve behavior. Some parents say VB is a more natural form of ABA. Like many Lovaas ABA programs, a VB program will use errorless teaching methods, prompts that are later reduced, and discrete trial training. Behavior analysts Dr. Vincent Carbone, Dr. Mark Sundberg and Dr. James Partington have helped popularize this approach. One drawback to ABA/VB: some school districts and insurance companies do not pay for it, and it can be expensive for parents to fund. If you decide to pay for it yourself, carefully research the credentials of anyone claiming to be an ABA or VB consultant or experienced therapist. A consultant should have, at a minimum, a master's degree in psychology or ABA, or should be closely supervised by someone who does. When hiring therapists, some families find volunteers or students willing to work for lower pay in order to gain experience with autism. ABA and VB Web resources: ° AutismWeb's ABA and VB Directory of teaching materials. ° Large organizations that set up and supervise home and group-based intensive behavioral intervention programs include the Lovaas Institute for Early Intervention, the Center for Autism and Related Disorders and the Carbone Clinic (VB). Check your area for smaller, regional programs. Books about ABA:
Free downloads of ABA/VB exercises, which were developed by behavior analysts Dr. David Kuhn and Dr. Stephanie Contrucci Kuhn, are available at Play this Way Every Day. The web site is run by a pediatrician for children with speech and language disorders.
Behavioral Intervention for Young Children With Autism: A Manual for Parents and Professionals, edited by Catherine Maurice, Gina Green and Stephen C. Luce. A how-to manual for families starting a home ABA program. Includes teaching programs, a chapter on how to pay for ABA, and samples of data collection sheets.
Triumphs in Early Autism Treatment
Books about Verbal Behavior:
Books about Pivotal Response Treatment:
°
The Association for Behavior Analysis is a professional organization
for ABA and VB therapists and researchers. |
1957 analysis
of Verbal Behavior to teach and reinforce speech, along with other
skills. Skinner described
categories of speech, or verbal behavior:
by
Sandra L. Harris and Mary Jane Weiss, ABA experts from Rutgers.
A guide to Applied Behavioral Analysis methods and how they can
be used to teach speech, language, social skills and self-help
skills through repetition and rewards. The book helps parents
evaluate school programs, home ABA and center-based ABA.
, edited by Ennio
Cipani PhD, documents the cases of seven children who achieved
"best outcomes" (being indistinguishable from other kids) after
ABA. All ABA isn't equal, nor is ABA a guarantee of reaching
best outcomes, but this book helps a parent see what an
excellent ABA program should look like.
by Drs. Ron
Leaf, Mitchell Taubman and John McEachin. These psychologists,
who studied with Dr. Lovaas at UCLA, show how schools and
parents can make sure they have effective ABA classrooms,
reinforcement programs and data collection.
by Mary Lynch
Barbera, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and parent of a
child with autism, and Tracy Rasmussen. One of the few
parent-oriented books about using Verbal Behavior to teach
communication, speech, self-help skills, potty-training and
more.
by Robert 
by Lynn Kern Koegel Ph.D. (featured on The Supernanny) and
Claire LaZebnik. Koegel uses a form of applied behavior analysis called Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT). PRT targets certain pivotal skills, such as motivation, that affect development in
many other areas. Dr. Koegel says PRT is a more "child-friendly" form of
treatment. Her book includes chapters on teaching communication,
breaking the cycle of meltdowns, repetitive behaviors like flapping,
social skills, battling fears and fixations, school placement and family
life.