Developed at the UCLA, Los Angeles, ABA therapy makes use of a simple logic that if the autistic child is recognised and duly appreciated for a particular behaviour, they are motivated to repeat it again. Motives can be anything like asking a question or putting forth a request to which the correct response is provided. Upon performing the same, the child gets a reward like a toy or a sweet.
ABA therapy for treating autistic children was found to be so effective that studies concluded that around 47 percent of children who received this therapy achieved were able to achieve normal intellectual.
Applied Behavioural Analysis: ABA is the abbreviated form of Applied Behavioural Analysis. Based on the simple theory stated above about rewards for positive responsive behaviour, the same are actually shaped and moulded in autistic children allowing them to attain a better control.
- ABA is a combination of educational and psychological techniques that is implemented based upon the individual requirement of each autistic child. ABA has been accepted by many therapists as the best method to treat autistic children no matter what the degree of illness is.
- ABA makes sure that the child finds his session both enjoyable and productive ultimately allowing him/her to gain control over their responses and behaviour.
ABA Approaches: ABA therapy has distinct approaches to treat autistic children. The major trait in almost all the autistic children is a lack of social communication. These approaches make sure that the child would not fear socialising any more.Let us briefly observe each approach.
Discrete Trial Training: Usually conducted by a trained family therapist on a one to one basis for a rigorous period of 30-40 weeks, DTT follows the basic principle of ABA therapy which is rewarding the child.
- In DTT,the therapist would give a directive or place a request and the child’s response is measured based upon the consequent behaviour. The motivators such as food items or praises et., are evaluated based upon individual traits.
- If the child taking the sessions is less than six years old, the child’s responses would usually be appreciated with a food item. But, these rewards would have to be eventually replaced with hugs, praises et. in order to continue motivating avoiding monotony.
- Each skill required for development is mastered one by one successively by the child.
Pivotal Response Therapy: PRT is based upon the rule that the overall improvements in behaviour are only possible when there is enough initiation and motivation to respond to multiple stimuli at once.
- PRT mainly tries to improve the activities of learning and attentiveness in autistic children.
There are also other approaches like self motivation training, picture exchange communication system, et. to improve the behavioural patterns of autistic children.
ABA therapy for treating autistic patients is the most efficient therapy available today to treat autistic children.
