Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) & Verbal Behaviour (VB)
Children with autism have difficulty learning communication and social skills automatically and therefore require explicit teaching of such skills. Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) provides a means of achieving this.
Applied Behaviour Analysis
Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is the science of applying experimentally derived principles of behaviour to improve socially significant behaviour.
- ABA takes what we know about behaviour and uses it to bring about positive change (applied)
- Behaviours are defined in observable and measurable terms in order to assess change over time (behaviour)
- The behaviour is analysed within the environment to determine what factors are influencing the behaviour (analysis)
BF Skinner, in the late 1930s consolidated the earlier work of psychologists who focused on observing and recording facts regarding individuals' behaviour, and proved that 'behaviour' is governed by an individuals' environment. Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is any teaching strategy which adopts the principles of behaviour analysis, and is the only scientifically validated early intervention.
In all ABA programmes, reinforcement is used as a means of increasing skills and 'extinction' is used as a means of reducing unwanted skills. A 'reinforcer' is any stimulus (whether a preferred item, person, place or other stimulus) that increases a particular behaviour. A behaviour which is followed by a reinforcing stimulus will increase in the future, and a behaviour which is not will decrease over time.
Teaching is undertaken by breaking skills down into small achievable steps (task analysis), and learner's chances of success are enhanced by using errorless teaching and prompting. Once a learner is able to achieve a skill without any prompts, skills are then taught to fluency, ie skills become automatic for the learner.
Verbal Behaviour
Verbal Behaviour (VB) is a recent technique which uses the principles of ABA and emphasises the fundamental role that functional communication plays within a child's everyday life. Language has traditionally been broken down into 'expressive' and 'receptive'. BF Skinner, the author of "Verbal Behaviour" took this a step further and created a number of sub-categories which he called 'verbal operants'. These sub-categories allow us to understand the way in which language is used in different contexts. For example, we can use the word "drink" in the context of a request, a comment, or even as a conversational response thus showing that the same word has various functions depending on how and when it is used.
Assessment
ABA Scotland utilises the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP) to assess your child's current skills and to assist in the development of an individualised learning programme.
Areas of Assessment
Verbal Operants
- Mands (requesting): most important operant, and assesses how your child lets you know when they want or need something
- Tacts (labelling): ability to label and comment about items in their environment. This includes that ability to label and comment on what they see, smell, taste, hear, or feel
- Echoic: the ability to repeat what someone else says, similar to an 'echo'. The ability to echo another person is essential for language development
- Intraverbal: the ability to answer questions and important for developing a child's conversational skills
Non-Verbal Operants
- Receptive: ability to understand what is being said in order to follow directions or comply with a request
- Imitation: ability to copy movements without any prompts. Toy-object imitation as well as gross and fine motor skills
- Visual Preference: match to sample or complete other visual performance skills. For example, matching identical and non-identical items; matching pictures; sorting non-identical items; puzzles; block designs
Other Areas
- Play Skills
- Social Skills
- Self-help skills: dressing; eating; grooming; toileting
- Academic Skills: reading; writing; maths; spelling
- Group Instruction/Classroom Routines
ABA Scotland uses the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis to assess, develop and implement an individualised learning programme to suit your child.
