ABA means Applied Behavioral Analysis. Behavioral Analysis is the scientific study of behavior and ABA is the application of principles of learning and motivation from behavioral analysis. This techniques and principles is applied to have meaningful and positive change of behavior. ABA is a process of using intervention to improve behavior and reduces behavior that cause harm or interfere with learning. It uses to improve specific behavior such as social skills, communication, and academics.
ABA is widely accepted as safe and effective treatment for autism. ABA therapist will determine the behavior that need to change, evaluate present status, set goals and expected outcomes, create plans to bring positive behavior, learn new things to eliminate negative behaviors, and review progress.
The goals of ABA are the following:
- To retain positive behaviors including self- control, discipline, etc.
- To teach new skills like for instance the systematic instruction and reinforcement procedures, functional life skills, communication and social skills
- To increase behaviors such as reinforcement procedures to increase on-task behavior or social skills
- To minimize interfering behaviors such as self injury or stereotype
- To have behavior change that impacts the life of the person in the areas of social, communication, academics, and so on.
- To have a quality and meaningful life