What You Need To Know About Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy

In this webinar, Melissa Hale, Ph.D., BCBA-D, shares information about applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy.
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[@angelNoll10]

24:59-- many people who are neurodivergent will experience some form of disordered eating and be labeled a "picky eater" as a child. However, as someone who has been through eating disorder treatment as adult and minor, it's very important to also explore the barriers to food and eating. I'm glad you mentioned these barriers such as gastroparesis, the very real physical barrier that comes with disordered eating and stomach problems as a result of that, but I think it's also important to remember that sensory issues and food aversions and executive dysfunction can all be neurodivergent barriers to food and eating.

[@gerrytrevis]

I am a lab rat that conditions myself. To quit smoking, to lose weight, to exercise, to eat healthy and to live long and prosper.

[@IcanSeeMyselfOutThanks]

.... you actually condition behavior, not the individual.... I'm kinda embarrassed for you

[@gerrytrevis]

@@IcanSeeMyselfOutThanks 😀😀Thanks because I feel no embarrassment at all lol!! Lemme follow all your comments and see where I can return the favour Mr. Perfection lol!! Even if I cared to actually do that AND I agreed with you, I'm sure I'd never find anything embarrassing that you've said or done RIGHT? 🤣🤣😂😐🤣🤣🤣

[@IcanSeeMyselfOutThanks]

@@gerrytrevis sure thing, would love to have someone to tag along and continually correct their mistakes. I'll look super smart by comparison. Let's goooo!

[@gerrytrevis]

@@IcanSeeMyselfOutThanks Did you miss the fact that YOU'RE WRONG? Lol!!! Either you're correct and millions of people are using the phrase "incorrectly" or you, solitary you, are WRONG. Lol!! Unfortunately the way language works is that once enough people do something it becomes correct even if it was wrong so either way you lose. Whatever my mom is exactly like you so, I categorically demonstrates that she's wrong but she just keeps going. You guys can hang out. Let me be clear, that was a joke. You tried to "gotcha" me, you fell flat on your face, you can't come to terms with it and just keep going. Have a good one, loser lol!!!!

[@gerrytrevis]

@@IcanSeeMyselfOutThanks My fracking God!! Every time I try to create comments linking to articles that also use the phrase "condition ...self" they get removed. No wonder you have the balls to keep talking if you can't see how much of an idiot you are and all the other people you can go tussle with about their "incorrect" use of "your" terminology. Anyway this is tiresome, you can't be too intelligent if you go trolling people online for fun, but surprise me. Do Phds and graduate student act like 13 year olds online or are you as I'd expect an actual 13 year old?

[@RBTStacy]

Random personal opinion: I think most people engage in stimming. Some call it "OCD", "tics" or "habits". Some people hum "randomly", count teeth, tap their fingers/pencil on the table etc. To a certain degree I am sure most people stim. If it starts causing negative effects on the individual or being harmful to others then it needs to be addressed. Otherwise, no need for treatment or change (unless that's your personal goal).

[@pardonmyfrench4760]

Exactly.

[@filipeflower]

​@@pardonmyfrench4760 Exactly what?

[@rajkumar-ie3oi]

Hello mam how can i get aba therapy degree

[@kimoramicheal8353]

Is the same as RBT?

[@SPARKforAutism]

RBTs sometimes use applied behavior analysis. Other titles related to applied behavior analysis are BCBA and BCBA-D.

[@Iamegotripn]

Thank you so very much for your knowledge! I’m on my way!😃

[@Neilgs]

You are on your way to precisely what?

[@filipeflower]

@@Neilgs Don't try to get yourself involved in a stranger's life. Words of advice for you.

[@Neilgs]

@@filipeflower What kind of inane reply is that and, moreover, to precisely what?

[@filipeflower]

@@Neilgs You spelled "inane", instead of insane. Pay attention to that. Also, you're the one who replied to lamegotripn and yet you're acting like you don't know? That's hard to believe.

[@amandasmith2910]

If it is a study of "general behavior" then why is it ONLY applied to autistic children? EVERYTHING I have seen about ABA therapy has been exclusively practiced on vulnerable autistic children who are considered disabled. It is not a quality "study" without a control group. You would need a group of "normal" children as well as the group of autistic children. If the study is really trying to understand behavior then it should also study every age range all the way to adult.

[@filipeflower]

Good point.

[@user-xz9hc8ht9h]

ABA is actually used in a lot of applications. From sports teams and corporations to elderly folks and vulnerable children. It has proven foundations in teaching skills and building behaviors across a broad spectrum of people. The thing is, ABA in itself is not about types of human beings, it is about behaviors. We don't describe the people, we describe the behavior. We work with a person to build functional skills to replace an over adapted one. Often the view of research is skewed towards the Autistic and ID communities because they generally are more likely to express over adapted or maladaptive behaviors. As it is pretty hard to blanket define 'Normal' we would still have to target specific demographics to create manageable data groups for accurate extrapolation. There are a good deal of studies out there on ABA in non-autistic centered groups but it is still marginal due to previously discussed study parameters. Hope this helps!

[@filipeflower]

@@user-xz9hc8ht9h Are you an ABA therapist?

[@pardonmyfrench4760]

Where did you hear ABA is only applied to autistic children? This is a common misconception. ABA is the APPLIED use of the behavioral sciences to address socially significant behaviors. It is used in business settings, sports, geriatrics, brain injuries, music...practically everywhere behavior occurs.

[@filipeflower]

@@pardonmyfrench4760 Has ABA ever been applied to yourself?

[@Neilgs]

"The science was monumental beginning in the 19th/20th century." Yes, indeed, so was "Phrenology."

[@IcanSeeMyselfOutThanks]

Hello, floor play time guy! Have you been able to find any empirical evidence to show objectively that your play time method actually addresses the issues it was designed for? Sorry again that floor play time is not evidence-based. I'm sure it is a hoot to do for a 3-year-old's birthday though. Where can I find a certified floor play person? Can they dress up like a pirate clown for my son? Thank you in advance

[@SelfMasteryPeace]

Nice lecture, if u cant restrict a child a bit for there good , u are nt making them strong enough to bear shackles of the tough world , restricting in healthy manner is important

[@filipeflower]

You already said that.

[@a.person1723]

after 40 years of stuffing my stims and masking i am DONE. DONE!!!!!!!!!! nothing has made me into such a STRANGER to myself quite like 'playing normal'. it is ABUSE. also, rediscovering my stims has led me to the realization of what a wonderful and beautiful SELF REGULATING thing it is! and with the reincorporation of all my stims ALL of my special interests have come back. edit: @ neutotypicals: don't EVER tell me how to be again.

[@user-mb8bq2jz5o]

SOME OF THE PATIENT THEY BEHAVIOR HAS CHANGED OFTEN TIME.

[@alienpix]

And we wonder why those with autism are more often abused by police. In Canada at least, the Ontario police force is trained with a free course through ABA, where their other courses are paid individually. Now, extrapolating that: I wonder what the rate is for autistic symptoms without diagnosis presenting in first Nations folks. This would explain the residential schools, and the ongoing genocide (including the sterilization of first Nations birthing people, reminiscent of nazis sterilizing any "undesirable"). It's a bunch of Stepford sociopaths trying to cure emotion and free will.

[@filipeflower]

What's your point there?

[@alienpix]

@@filipeflower that the police are trained to only identify autism post ABA, and typically presenting, as ABA is the creator of the police training on autism. ABA is harmful and repressive, and it's not something for the patients best interests but rather for the people who "have to deal with them". Society needs to stop expecting robotic NPC people, and understand there is a variety of responses and people deserve respect regardless of autism status.

[@filipeflower]

​@@alienpixOh, that I can agree with. I'm autistic myself.

[@pardonmyfrench4760]

@@alienpix what are you talking about? None of that makes sense.

[@alienpix]

@@pardonmyfrench4760 you mean you don't understand it?

[@Reticulan1]

ABA is just autistic conversion therapy. This isn't a hyperbolic statement. I mean this literally. ABA was developed by Ivar Lovaas, a Norwegian-American psychologist (not mentioned) who was also a fouding member of the feminine boys project, which used similar methods to "fix" childrens expression of gender and sex. Though todays ABA doesn't use as many restraints or punishments (shock therapy), it does reward "acceptable" behaviors. Which is just forcing them to mask more effectively. Masking may allow someone with autism to hide thier true feelings and needs in order to fit in, but will cause MORE meldowns and behavior problems as well as serious trama responses like PTSD if masking is forced long term.

[@pardonmyfrench4760]

That is incorrect and a common misconception of those who only get their information online.

[@filipeflower]

@@pardonmyfrench4760 Prove it wrong, if you can. You still haven't done that.

[@pardonmyfrench4760]

@@filipeflower I do it all the time you come poking your nose around me. Gotta say, I think you're my biggest fan. Here's some proof, let me know if you have questions! Gorycki, K. A., Ruppel, P. R., & Zane, T. (2020). Is long-term ABA therapy abusive: A response to Sandoval-Norton and Shkedy. Cogent Psychology, 7(1). Shields, K., & Beversdorf, D. (2021). A Dilemma For Neurodiversity. Neuroethics, 14(2), 125-141. Morris, E. K. (2009). A case study in the misrepresentation of applied behavior analysis in autism: The gernsbacher lectures. Perspectives on Behavior Science, 32(1), 205-240. McPhilemy, C., & Dillenburger, K. (2013). Parents’ experiences of applied behaviour analysis (ABA)-based interventions for children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder. British Journal of Special Education, 40(4), 154-161. Graber, A., & Graber, J. (2023). Applied Behavior Analysis and the Abolitionist Neurodiversity Critique: An Ethical Analysis. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 16(4), 921-937. Dillenburger, K., & Keenan, M. (2009). None of the As in ABA stand for autism: Dispelling the myths. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 34(2), 193-195. Happy reading!

[@DavidLindes]

@@pardonmyfrench4760 and what are your sources? Online can be a great way to research... a wide variety of sources to choose from. Whether online or otherwise, which exact claims are refuting, and what are your sources? Because I see several of the OP's claims that I can find sources for in reputable journals. I haven't checked all the claims, but again, which claims are you refuting, and what are your sources?

[@pardonmyfrench4760]

@@DavidLindes Hey there. Yes, online can be a great way to research...to access peer reviewed journals. Unfortunately, I see too many people taking these youtube videos and internet blogs as scientific facts. While I am not invalidating the experiences of those, you cannot deny the fact that there is a lot of attention given to the individual who claims ABA is abuse, even if they never had it or THINK they had it. Jumping on the I hate ABA bandwagon is to find the attention and acceptance some individuals might not get offline. That's a bad reason to lie about a science that has been shown to help autistics. Let's trade sources. Here are some of my favorites that refute any of these claims: Anderson (2023) - Positive experiences from autistics Dillenburger & Keenan (2009) - addresses a lot of misconceptions Gorycki et al. (2020) - refutes of ABA "abuse" Grabber & Grabber (2023) - How the neurodiversity movement is harming Autistics Leaf et al. (2022) - Dispells myths about ABA Shields & Beversdorf (2021) - Another good article about how neurodiversity movement is pushing autistics back ....just to name a few. So, what articles do you have?

[@cherry-ks9yb]

This is horrible. Restraining a child? Conditioning children to act neurotypical, this is kind of horrifying to watch. my heart goes out to all autistic people that have been forced to go through this

[@kaishawna3753]

I agree. Seeing the dreaded hand over hand and that kid being forced against his will to touch something is downright dehumanizing. To allow full bodily atonomy is to allow the individual to gain full control over their own movements. Not force them to be a fake pretend NT. Please get this Nasty ABA out of here. It is not needed for autistics.

[@MeadeSkeltonMusic]

What do you suggest? Let them roam free and smear fecal matter on the walls?

[@IcanSeeMyselfOutThanks]

I'm sorry you don't understand what ABA is

[@xo0zombiegirl0ox]

I understand how this therapy can be controversial but it's easy to point fingers than coming up with a better method of early intervention for a child who has not developed a conscience or autonomy. This is a widely used method and is not abuse, purely professional and ethical. Stop exercising the woke culture, it's more damaging than this

[@reflectedself8420]

As an ABA therapist I can tell you that we implement the least intrusive treatment possible. To my knowledge and my practice, we do not use restraints on children. I’ve had multiple trainings on not using restraints at all when dealing with challenging behavior. I haven’t listened to this entire video yet but I haven’t experienced anyone using restraints in the field. Our goal in ABA is not to have kids act neurotypical. Our goal is to help improve socially significant behavior to provide a better quality of life for the client. My clients are on toileting programs, brushing teeth, identifying and regulating their emotions, etc.

[@OccupationalPhenomenology]

What you need to know about ABA is that it should be illegal because it is harmful to autistic people.

[@boxcars10]

I'm so disappointed to see SPARK advocating for the use of ABA.

[@burrhusfredericskinner1181]

ABA is awesome, it's the science of behavior.

[@elisaelisa43]

@@burrhusfredericskinner1181 lol no

[@Nebulisuzer]

@@burrhusfredericskinner1181 fun facts: the most common punishment for misbehaving in ABA is the electric chair, it also degrades autistic people's personalty, worsens autism, makes children who went thru ABA have a 98% chance of getting PTSD, makes children who went thru it have a 72% chance of getting kidnapped and just makes children who went thru it hide there autism P.S: autistic children can talk to people but they just don't wan't to and this therapy is actually ABA

[@plantspit518]

@@Nebulisuzer the electric chair might have been common in the past but it is definitely not used anymore. Today, often reinforcement is of most focus rather than punishment. I hope one day ABA treatment can be refined enough and lose the negative connotations of practices from the past.

[@Geck_Gxng]

@@Nebulisuzer there’s one case of that

[@Neilgs]

When you "Try to figure what is motivating the child or older to engage in self-injurious behaviors" and "What is getting them to do it" you are really framing it in such dissociated and despicable manner as to evince not one iota of empathic or attempted empathic understanding from that child's perspective! Asking a child was is in autonomic distress let alone severe autonomic stress, "Is it Green or Blue" is so moronic and devoid of any connectedness of empathy on part of the clinician that I would promptly get rid of her in a heartbeat. Naturally, it is going to excaerbate the autonomic distress. It is NOT about figuring out the "function that the behavior is serving!" No, No and no! Nor for that matter is about accommodating to an easier"task" of communicating that displeasure by choosing a card that would signify/signal "I don't like this." Rather, it is about connecting where precisely he is in that particular moment, reading the affective somatic physiological distress, facially, bodily and proceeeding to cultivate not more appropriate means of communicating, but cultivating the conditions of felt (interoceptive) safety where the data if you will is shown in the shifting of physiological state ("intense adaptive sympathetic fight/flight to increased safety) as expressed by his ventral vagus striated muscles of facial expression, middle ear muscles, vocalization/inflexion tone as well as overall somatically. This requires not understanding "the function that the behavior" i.e., escape what have you "the behavior" is serving but shall we say course 101 about Neurophysiology, i.e., state autonomic regulation, associated stress hormones and a bit of empathy, empathic reciprocal engagement on your part that would convey/register much more systemically and meaningfully! It is about being with him and having him "feel" yes feel increasing safe in being, relating and becoming with another!

[@Neilgs]

@The Logic Party You my special little idiot cannot be dumber for having read it, you are alas too dumb to understand it and so, therefore, are immuned from such further insults and injuries. Congratulations!

[@IcanSeeMyselfOutThanks]

@@Neilgs what's up, floor play time guy! Sorry floor play is not deemed a medical necessity or even empirically backed. Might as well be RPM, huh? Check out the links in my info for actual research on proven methods!

[@juligriffin6115]

what is your educational background, if I may ask?

[@IcanSeeMyselfOutThanks]

@@juligriffin6115 He doesn't have any. He subscribes to an unproven, discredited and downright useless floor play time method. I forgot what the illogical fallacy this idiot keeps making, but it's something along the lines of spewing big, nonsensical words that he just Googled to sound smart. Floor play time workers aren't required to have any real education or training. I wonder why reputable colleges don't provide floor play time as a degree...hmm...I wonder why all insurances laugh in your face if you ask if they cover floor play time...hmm...

[@reflectedself8420]

In ABA we figure out the function of the behavior in order to apply the best treatment possible. Without knowing the function, we wouldn’t know how to help them. Giving them functional ways of communication helps them to be more independent and not dependent on others. These children will grow up to be adults one day … they will need to have the ability to tell someone “stop” or “I don’t like this”. Functional communication would also help them to tell their loved ones that they need affection.

[@stfuyoutube423]

what you need to know is that aba is outright fucking abuse

[@IcanSeeMyselfOutThanks]

What you need to know is that you're dumb, and get all your facts from youtube and biased yelp reviews. Pick up a scientific article for flocks sake.

[@clydewillis]

Yes! Just listen to what autistic adults who went through it have to say about it. Abuse is too light of a word - I'd say torture is more appropriate.

[@IcanSeeMyselfOutThanks]

@@clydewillis look up "Leaf et al. 2022". Let me know if you have any questions

[@clydewillis]

@@IcanSeeMyselfOutThanks that was a truly enlightening read. Thank you for sharing! Are you one of the authors? I don't have any questions, but I will most likely revisit it and I may have questions at that time. I do have some thoughts the article raised in my mind, and I'd like to share them with you. I'm not a professional in any related field, so all I have are anecdotes from one person's life, but since they are my experiences they mean the world to me. When I was younger (I'm in my 40s now) it was incredibly difficult for me to sit still. When I think back to how much time was devoted to that skill I realize that hours turned into days, which turned into weeks, etc. It was like waves of discomfort (though not pain) started from the bottom of my body and rolled upward. I couldn't explain it, and I still can't fully explain it but I am able to partially describe it now. Working on that skill was like torture, but I did get better at it - so there's that. I still have that discomfort, but now I know the source so I can control that part of my environment. Almost nobody believes me, but it was my socks. If I wear 100% cotton or 100% wool socks I'm fine - any cotton blend or synthetic type dress sock absolutely drives me crazy. I still get a tight feeling in my chest when I think back to all that effort and discomfort working on a skill when all I had to do was change my damn socks! So I'm better at it, but was it really worth it? For me the answer is a definite no. I currently work with a psychologist on a number of ASD related issues. After reading the article I realize some of what we do can probably be considered ABA, and it has honestly been super helpful. I'll admit that. However, I'm an adult. If for some reason I don't want to go to therapy that week, I just cancel my appointment - no problem. If in the middle of a session I'm at my limit I just say, "that's it, I'm done" and it is no big deal. I'm in control of the process - children are not in control, it is forced upon them. When I'm at home (I'm married with 2 children) nobody else reinforces my therapy. I'm in charge of reinforcing/punishment/reward all on my own, but even the most well-meaning parent might push it just far enough to cause emotional turmoil or distressing feelings. Perhaps that factor makes a difference in outcomes and in the way I feel about the process. I agree with the authors that therapists need to help their clients thrive in the world as it exists, not as it should be. Not everyone is as accepting as we all should be. But in my unprofessional opinion I think a lot more effort should be put into helping autistic children not only identify their strengths, but learn how to play life according to those strengths, and learn the importance of identifying those who are accepting of their differences. There are a lot of people (employers, neighbors, romantic partners) who can see the strengths and honestly don't care about things like stimming or sensory sensitivities. Once you fill your life with those people the need to change parts of yourself to fit in lessens. It's just that it can be really difficult to identify those people.

[@IcanSeeMyselfOutThanks]

@Clyde Willis I like you. You are open to intellectual conversation in a professional manner. I agree with you, ABA is not for everyone, and it can be better... however, it is moving in that direction. I'll definitely get back to your questions after work. Take it easy, buddy.

[@stephiianiemay8059]

Stop moving it's really irritating.

[@SGpotatokat]

Oh god. "Spark" for autism?! is that meant to be cute!? This is sick. What a fitting logo for something associated with shock therapy...