Comprehensive ABA Therapy
Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention
Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention, or EIBI, is a type of ABA for children under the age of 5.
The goal of this intervention is to improve a child’s functioning within various areas, altering the development of ASD. EIBI also helps autistic children learn appropriate and positive behavior early and continue that behavior throughout life. This includes positive social behavior, increasing self-esteem and limiting mental health problems. In addition, autistic children often experience a slower rate of learning, and EIBI aims to close the learning gap between them and their peers as much as possible. ABA through EIBI works to increase the rate of learning at an early age to keep the learning gap from expanding.
Laying a foundation during early childhood through EIBI benefits not only autistic children, but the whole family. In addition to the severity of autism diminishing over time, EIBI can also increase cognitive and adaptive functioning and help autistic children adapt and cope with their environments.
Pivotal Response Training
​Pivotal Behavioral Reinforcement, or PBR, uses some principles of ABA (e.g., reinforcement) but also uses developmental principles, such as following the child’s direction, instead of relying on structured principles. Parents are shown how to incorporate ABA teaching principles when interacting with their child to encourage learning. They are also shown how to provide clear prompts to their child and reinforce targeted skills.
PRT focuses on “pivotal areas”, which are areas we can target that result in widespread gains in other untargeted areas. For example, studies have shown that when motivation is targeted during intervention, eye contact and joint attention improve even though those skills are not being targeted. This means that in PRT, individual skills don’t need to be focused on.
Social Skills Training
Social skills training is a component of ABA therapy that aims to improve an individual’s social skills. Because those with ASD often struggle with social intuition and social conventions, children with ASD benefit from training in social cues, understanding other’s intentions, and processing how to respond and interact with others in social situations.
Verbal Behavior Therapy
Verbal Behavioral Therapy, also known as VBT or applied verbal behavior therapy, views verbal communication as learned behavior and focuses specifically on teaching verbal communication skills. People who particularly struggle in this area can benefit from VBT because it is specifically designed to develop their functional language and communication skills.
At ABA Force, we use the Verbal Behavioral Therapy to help show autistic people how to use their language skills to communicate their needs, wants, and ideas effectively.
Natural Environment Training
Natural Environment Training (NET), an instructional approach within ABA therapy, incorporates learning opportunities into the everyday situations. Where as Discrete Trial Training (DTT) is more structured, Natural Environmental Training focuses on teaching skills in everyday contexts, providing children with autism with experience for navigating real-world environments.
NET aims to engage with the autistic child’s interests, activities, objects, or topics to enable instructional opportunities. This helps motivate and engage the child, leading to more skill acquisition. Natural Environment Training also prioritizes teaching in natural contexts. This means incorporating learning opportunities in settings where they typically occur. NET also rewards the acquisition of skills with activities or prizes directly related to the behavior. For example, after sharing it with another child, a child may earn a turn using a favorite toy. Lastly, NET focuses on functional skills, which include skills that have daily practical applications and help provide a sense of independence.
Discrete Trial Training
Services
Discrete Trial Training, or DTT, was one of the first interventions for treating autism. This technique differs from Natural Environment Training in that it is a structured ABA technique, breaking down skills into “discrete” parts. Systematically, the trainer teaches each skill, using tangible reinforcements for desired behavior, such as candy or playing with a toy.
Comprehensive ABA Therapy is designed to help children effectively express themselves by encouraging independence and the development of daily living skills and social skills. A goal of the treatment is also to increase the child’s functioning level to that of neurotypical peers. Comprehensive ABA treats cognitive, communicative, social, emotional, and adaptive functioning. This includes coping strategies for dealing with emotions and treating maladaptive behaviors, such as noncompliance and tantrums, which can disrupt daily living.
Our Comprehensive ABA Therapy programs range from 5-40 hours of weekly treatment. Comprehensive ABA involves primarily 1:1 staffing and sometimes small-group formats. Additionally, caregiver training, supervision, and other necessary services may be recommended.
Young children may start with just a few hours of therapy per week which gradually increases over time. Treatment hours are increased or decreased based on the child’s response to treatment, need, and goals. Weekly hours of therapy often decrease when a child is meeting goals and moving toward discharge.