Autism occurs on a very broad spectrum. To accommodate the variety of forms that autism takes, there are a variety of autism therapies to help people cope. As autism has become more widely understood and diagnosed, applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy has in turn become one of the most common autism therapies available. At ACES ABA we are dedicated to helping the lives of people impacted by autism. One of the main ways we do this is through ABA therapy. Here is a quick deconstruction of the principles that guide this essential service.

Antecedent

In technical terms, antecedents of behavior are stimulus events, situations, or circumstances that precede an operant response (Miltenberger, 2004).
In Laymen terms, an antecedent is what was happening or what/who was present right before the behavior occurred.

Why is this important for ABA Therapy?

To understand and modify behavior, it's important to analyze the antecedents and consequences. When we understand the antecedents of a behavior we have information on the circumstances in which the behavior was reinforced and was punished (Miltenberger, 2004).
Since behaviors tend to occur more in situations in which it has been reinforced and less in situations where it has been punished, having this valuable information helps us to predict the situations and environments the behavior will be more likely to occur.

Response

The principle of response is focused on teaching an autism patient how to respond to particular situations. Our licensed staff guides them through traditional social skills for certain interactions with their peers, strangers, and advisors. This prepares them to wait patiently in line and gives them an understanding of how to play nicely. The response element of ABA therapy also teaches them reasonable behaviors that are appropriate in specific contexts too. For example, it would be inappropriate to jump on the table during school hours.

Reinforcement

Reinforcement means giving patients rewards when they demonstrate appropriate behaviors. For example, autism therapists might give their patients points for completing homework successfully, and then let them use those points to choose a reward or privilege later on. This is paramount to autism therapy because the condition leads to issues with motivation and following directions. But reinforcement can be both powerful and simple, so ABA therapists will show autism patients how they can lead happier lives by using rewards instead of punishment when it comes to behavior.

Generalization

For those impacted by the condition, autism therapies are more likely to be successful if therapists show parents and family members how autism affects behaviors outside of school hours as well-and teach them how to apply ABA principles at home. The concept that autism patients should be able to apply what they learn at home or school to other situations outside of the classroom is generalization. For example, our professional therapists teach their clients how to read cues from other people, so they can decide how to act appropriately in any situation. This makes scenarios such as family dinners or shopping trips easier for everyone.

These four basic principles can greatly improve autism spectrum disorder symptoms like communication issues, social skills, self-help skills, and more. To learn more about how ABA therapy and other autism therapies that apply to your situation, contact ACES ABA today!