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Applied Behavior Analysis 

Applied Behavior Analysis, better known as ABA, targets well-researched skill areas that make up the key components to building social interactions and independence in children. We aim to understand and improve a child’s behavior in a functional manner while continuing to celebrate their individuality and improve their quality of life. Our ABA center is designed to be a school and community preparatory program to improve children’s ability to successfully learn and engage in various settings. We currently service ages 2-8 for ABA services. Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) are trained in ABA treatment procedures and oversee all treatment processes. Treatment is performed one-on-one with a trained Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). A strong caregiver education component is also provided.

Our ABA center is unique to any other facility in the area. We offer our one-on-one services in a group setting, to encourage peer social interaction and team collaboration. Our large facility is an open space that includes several real-life mock settings to assist our patients in tolerance of these diverse, and often difficult, situations. This includes a dentist’s office, hair salon, library, grocery store, cafeteria, and classroom. Our ABA team assists children in easing into these various mock environments to tolerate and functionally engage age appropriately. This style of Naturalistic Teaching is implemented at the individual child’s pace, with child-led engagement, and in a fun and enjoyable manner. The two primary focus areas of ABA services are behavioral difficulties and social skills development. Both are outlined below.

ABA SERVICES 

Areas addressed by ABA

Behavioral Difficulties 

When children are acting out in a harmful manner towards themselves or others, we look at that as a form of communication.  It takes a very unique and skillful way to listen to that form of communication and then formulate treatment around it.  As a parent with a child who is struggling with these difficulties, it can be frustrating and often defeating.  You are not alone.  This may be a good indicator that support is needed to use our specialized tools to determine what is happening and how we can help.  The main tool for doing this is called a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA).  This process involves observation and data collection from multiple perspectives.  This information is compiled systematically to help provide us with the answer to what it is the child is trying to communicate.  We do this as a team.  We recognize that this can be a sensitive area and should be handled with respect and compassion. Your child processes the world differently, so we work together to learn how to listen differently. 

Would my kid benefit from this service?

Children with behavioral difficulties may engage in the following actions:

  • Aggression toward self and/or others

  • Property destruction

  • Swearing

  • Biting self or others

  • Excessive need for movement

  • Pinching/scratching self and/or others

  • Pulling own hair and/or others

  • Self-gagging – placing objects or hands in the back of the throat

  • Rectal digging

  • Mouthing – placing objects in mouth

  • Pica – ingesting non-food items

  • Dropping to the ground

  • Body slamming into people or generally heavy objects

  • Elopement and/or placing self in danger

  • Theft

  • Bullying/intimidation

  • Body rubbing – rubbing parts of the body repetitively with pressure

*This is not an all-inclusive list. If you have any questions, please give us a call!

Social Skills

The term social skills is a broad term that has many components to consider.  In ABA we break down skill areas into smaller categories and then even further into subskills for each category.  The skills we teach are very focused on the individual needs of the child.  This information is provided through the assessment process with the use of tools such as the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VBMAPP), The Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills (ABLLS), The Assessment of Functional Living Skills (AFLS), and Essentials for Living (EFL). Communication and the ability to engage in a back-and-forth interaction are key components that we focus on in ABA.  We work with other professionals, such as our speech-language pathologists, to help guide the individualized communication system needed. 

Would my kid benefit from this service?

Children with social skills deficits may have difficulty with:

  • Asking for items or actions that they want or need

  • Identifying people or objects in their environment

  • Responding to their name

  • Accurately repeating words and sounds back to another person

  • Responding to others when asked to do something or asked a question

  • Scanning an environment to determine what is socially important

  • Categorizing objects into their appropriate locations

  • Playing with toys as they are intended to be played with (i.e., cars drive, dolls talk, and kitchen sets are for imaginary play)

  • Playing and engaging with similar-aged peers. 

  • Engaging in reciprocal conversations that are developmentally appropriate

  • Imitating observed actions

  • Talking about events that are not currently present (i.e., the weather later in the week or an event that has occurred in the past week)

 

*This is not an all-inclusive list. If you have any questions, please give us a call!

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