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Applied Behavior Analysis

Heartspring offers families the opportunity to work with a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) delivering specialized services to meet unique needs. The demand for this type of service has increased substantially over the last decade, yet the number of people qualified to provide these services has not . Delivering quality Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) programs requires competent behavior analysts working alongside families and school personnel to ensure effective programming. Understanding the components of ABA leads a person well beyond Discrete Trial Training, and in fact reveals programming that is much more comprehensive. This includes teaching of social, motor and verbal behaviors as well as reasoning skills. ABA uses careful behavioral observation and positive reinforcement or prompting to teach each step of a behavior. The goal is to determine what happens before the behavior occurs, what was the antecedent, what was the trigger, and determine what happens after the behavior that actually reinforces it. Understanding these triggers and the reinforcers that support the behavior allows for the removal of both the triggers and reinforcers so that new reinforcers can be used to teach the child a different behavior in response to the same trigger. ABA treatment can include any of several established teaching tools: discrete trial training, incidental teaching, pivotal response training, fluency building, positive behavior supports and verbal behavior.