What is the ABA method and how does it work?

We could consider the ABA method as a therapy modality that focuses on developing social, learning, and communication skills. It is usually applied in cases of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), although it is also a common therapeutic alternative in other disorders.

This model was designed based on several investigations carried out by Dr. Ivar Lovaas, from the psychology department of the University of Los Angeles, in 1987. This researcher showed that the behaviors of children with autism could be modified with the ABA method. Since then, its use has expanded.

However, its implementation is currently being questioned a lot. There are several professionals and people who oppose its application and reject its use, due to the possible negative effects it could cause in those with autism.

In this article, you will learn what the ABA method is, its characteristics and its application. You will also learn some of the reasons offered by those in favor and those against its implementation in people with autism. Let’s dig deeper.

The ABA method: a facilitator of autonomy

The name of the ABA method comes from an acronym in English that corresponds to Applied Behavior Analysis. Its translation would be ‘applied behavior analysis’. Each of these elements corresponds to a principle of this type of therapy:

Analysis. It corresponds to the principle of “experimental behavioral analysis.” It refers to the fact that progress is evaluated based on interventions that are recorded and measured.Conduct. It has to do with the fact that this model is based on the principles of classical and operant conditioning, that is, behaviorism.Applied. It refers to the fact that the principles apply to observed behaviors, in contrast to models that refer to inferred behaviors.

The objective of the ABA method is to facilitate the development and autonomy of patients. It does this by designing a specific and personalized program of the skills that each individual requires to advance their development.

Emphasizes those skills that are necessary to acquire new learning: attention, cooperation and imitation. It also promotes the development of basic social skills and communication skills that guarantee adequate interaction.

The characteristics of the ABA method

In addition to the principles of the ABA method, we also There are seven characteristics that define its application. They are the following:

Success-based education. The necessary tools are provided to achieve successive successes, avoiding unnecessary frustrations. This motivates and strengthens self-confidence.Structuring. The procedure is structured and divided into achievable steps, starting from the simple to the complex, until the person achieves the development of the skill.Record. The registry is daily, systematic and includes evaluations to measure progress and collect objective information on progress. If necessary, the program can be restructured to make it more functional.Individualization. Each program must be adjusted to the specific characteristics of the person and that is why a thorough initial evaluation is necessary.Generalization. Therapeutic education begins at home and, as it progresses, it must be applied to other, increasingly broader, environments.Coordinated action with parents. The work is coordinated with the parents, who must take an active part in the intervention to reinforce and complement it.Scientific supports. The actions and therapy as a whole are supported by scientific production in this regard.

How does it apply?

What follows is the training of the therapists who will be in charge of the case. They must identify or discover research evidence that supports their intervention, improving their skills when providing support. Likewise, in the case of children, a training process is carried out with parents in which their role in the process is explained to them.

As a rule, the more detailed a program is, the better it will work. This must contain the actions, divided into steps, that will be carried out. When this part has been completed, the four basic actions of the ABA method are applied:

Discrete rehearsal. Presentation and withdrawal of supports. Search for effective reinforcers. Systematic registration.

The available data indicate that the ABA method achieves its objective: the development of cognitive, social and communication skills. However, the data in this regard is not conclusive. In some cases it offers magnificent results, while in others its implementation is barely noticeable. One way or another, what is certain is that we need more and better research to perfect it.

The controversy surrounding the ABA method

In recent years, there has been much debate about the relevance and effectiveness of this method. Many people with autism and their advocates oppose ABA-focused interventions, while others favor its use. Let’s see a little what the reasons are against and for.

Reasons against

One of the reasons many people are against ABA is that, being a behavioral intervention, It seeks the extinction of behavioral patterns that do not conform to the standard of social normality. This, according to opponents, ends up being harmful for people with ASD, as it encourages them to hide their autistic traits.

ABA therapy has been labeled as abusive, not only for the above reason, but also because it can end up being traumatic. A study published in Advances in Autism found symptoms of post-traumatic stress in almost half of the participants exposed to ABA, while those who did not receive the intervention had a 72% chance of being asymptomatic. The authors of this study noted that:

“Based on clinical observations, children exposed to ABA demonstrated fight/flight/freeze reactions to tasks that would otherwise be considered pleasurable to an unexposed peer, and these responses increased in severity depending on the duration of ABA exposure.”

Another reason why this method has been criticized is that, according to research, reduces motivation, increases dependency and lowers self-esteem in people with high-functioning autism. According to these findings, people do not get better, but get worse.

In this sense, Sandoval-Norton, in an article published in Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorder, cites two studies in which the effectiveness of ABA to treat autism is questioned. The first of them points out that the 76% of people treated with ABA have little or no change, and 9% get worse. While the second study did not find a significant correlation between the number of hours of intervention with ABA and the results obtained.

Another reason that we can highlight are the conflicts of interest in various investigations that support its effectiveness. A study published in Frontiers in Psychology indicates that There is a very high rate of conflicts of interest in researchers who approve the use of ABA.

Conflicts of interest can bias studies and cause researchers to show that their interventions have positive effects when they are actually not effective, the researchers say.

Reasons in favor

The arguments of people and professionals who are in favor of ABA to treat autism spectrum disorders are generally based on studies that support its application. Let’s look at some of them.

A meta-analysis indicates that ABA is effective for socialization, communication and expressive language. However, the researchers found no significant effects on receptive language, adaptive behavior, daily living skills, IQ, verbal IQ, nonverbal IQ, and restricted and repetitive behavior.

For its part, the Association for Science in Autism Treatment supports applied behavior analysis as an effective intervention for many people with autism spectrum disorders. Likewise, he maintains that It is effective in increasing behaviors and teaching new skills.

In line with the above, a state of the art on behavioral analysis applied to the treatment of autism also supports its effectiveness. In this study, published in Association for Behavior Analysis International’s Newsletter, you can read that:

All people who have autism receive some degree of benefit from ABA.No other treatment for autism meets the scientific proof standards that ABA meets.and there are no other scientifically approved interventions that produce similar results. More than 1,000 peer-reviewed scientific articles on autism describe the successes of ABA.

That same publication points out that early intensive behavioral intervention through applied behavior analysis improves the development and intellectual performance of children with autism.

A published article Cogent Psychology maintains that ABA comes from high-quality, well-controlled studies demonstrating its effectiveness in populations with autism. Furthermore, according to several researchers, has some of the best evidence for the treatment of ASD.

As can be seen, the debate is very close and both perspectives have research that supports their positions regarding the use of ABA. All these controversies leave us a very clear message: It is necessary to develop new research to close the gap that has opened.

Final considerations

There is no unanimity or general agreement regarding the use of this intervention for autistic people. More and more voices are being raised against it, despite the fact that various investigations and institutions support its application.

All these controversies and tensions are necessary to provide spaces for dialogue that allow us to improve and develop interventions in favor of neurodiversity, inclusion and respect for all autistic people.

We hope that this article motivates you to reflect and investigate more about the ABA method and its application in…