Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) is a behavioral scientific approach that is used as an interventional method for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or those with other developmental disorders to make positive changes in their behaviors. This approach depends on operant conditioning principle which is a learning process by which a stimulus or antecedent event are introduced to evoke desired response that is immediately followed by a consequent event (i.e., reinforcement or punishment) to increase desired behaviors or decrease undesired one.
Moreover, ABA concentrates on improving adaptive behaviors, communication, and language; reduction of behaviors that may negatively affect …show more content…
Discrete trial training (DTT) which depends on the understanding that for a child to master a skill, he/she needs to practice it. So, in this method each desired behavior is immediately followed by a rewarding event to increase the possibility of this behavior to occur over and over again in the future. In addition, this strategy utilizes the principle of one-to-one teaching and includes intensive learning (i.e. drill) that involves repetition for five or more times of particular behaviors in the same condition to improve long-term memory.
2. Incidental teaching or natural environment training (NET) relies on the importance of providing a real-life meaning for the skills that a child is learning by using settings naturally used by the child as those settings facilitate generalization of learned skills to everyday situations. In this strategy, the therapist, teacher or caregiver follows the child’s lead and uses prompts to induce child’s responses.
3. Verbal behavior develops a linkage between a word and its meaning to encourage the child’s ability to learn …show more content…
Moreover, most of the ABA approaches are intensive, and involves 30 to 40 therapy hours per week.
Finally, ABA approach should assess a child’s strengths and weaknesses, set goals to be achieved, design and implement treatment plan, check whether the plan is working, and assess the effectiveness of the program itself and do modification as needed.
Developmental, Individual Difference, Relationship-Based (DIR) is an emotional, social-pragmatic developmental therapy method for children with ASD.
DIR identifies six developmental milestones to achieve normal emotional and intellectual development. These milestones are:
1. Joint attention and self regulation through the use senses to remain quiet and organized, and to develop mutual interest with others
2. Relating by forming a relation with parents
3. Purposeful communication between the child and the parent by using vocalization and non-verbal communication.
4. Problem-solving through interaction with parent and experiencing emotions
5. Creative ideas usage
6. Reasonable ideas