Applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy teaches children with autism appropriate social behaviors they may not be able to acquire otherwise. The observer identifies what "triggers" inappropriate behavior, what reinforces that behavior, and then teaches the child an appropriate replacement behavior that serves the same purpose.
However, some believe that ABA does more than harm than good. Their argument is that the therapy teaches people with autism to mimic typical behavior with no understanding of it and suppresses natural behavior. The practice is barbaric, causing post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression later in life. Michelle Dawson, a person with autism, elaborates in this article (read "Ethical challenges to behavior analysis" section).
Dr. Michael Morrier of Emory University's Autism Center explains ABA here.
This website provides more information on ABA therapy.
In your opinion, is ABA an effective therapy for children with autism? Why or why not?
-Britany Barnes, Shelly Peterson, Lauren Stevenson, Cassie Stoneman, Mike Thomas
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ABA has been determined to be an effective autism intervention or therapy by many studies and reviews of those studies including reviews by the US Surgeon General, the New York State Department of Health, the Maine (MADSEC) Autism Task Force Report and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The criticisms of ABA are largely subjective and opinion based.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading both opposing sides of the argument, my personal opinion is that ABA is an effective therapy for children. The whole purpose of ABA is not to turn children into little robots to make them think and act exactly how you do. The whole point is to replace a certain (usually “bad” behavior) and reinforce it with an alternative behavior. Through intense observation people are able to find what causes the behavior and most times are able to change the behavior to an alternative behavior (hopefully for the better). I thought the article had no supporting evidence. It was really hard for me to read, because there was really only two paragraphs that even talked specifically about ABA. And the paragraphs that talked about ABA had not research to back themselves up. In the opposing article, it said that “Critics of ABA argue that ABA does not actually improve the skills of autistic people, but instead only teaches them to mimic neurotypicalbehavior without really understanding the meaning of the social cues they are using” (http://www.lumrix.net/medical/autism/ethical_challenges_to_autism_treatment.html). Who are these critics? What evidence do they have that ABA teaches mimic nerotypicalbehavior? They do not support their argument, so I do not believe anything they have to say. The Michelle Dawson controversy didn’t really have too much to say about ABA, but then again that is only one person. And I think that the parents of those that disagreed with her posted article were right when saying that there is not really a comparison because Michelle is a lot higher functioning than a lot of people with autism. The article that was for ABA had lots of research to back up their statements. It stated that, “This research includes several landmark studies showing that about 50% of children with autism who were treated with the ABA approach before the age of four had significant increases in IQ, verbal ability, and/ or social functioning” (http://autism.healingthresholds.com/therapy/applied-behavior-analysis#harmful).
ReplyDeleteIn Conclusion, I think that ABA is an effective therapy for all children. It allows teachers and parents to get to the bottom of why their child is doing a certain behavior, and what they can do to prevent it, or make it not happen as often. I think if there was more research done on the opposing side of this argument, I might have been able to see both sides, but because there wasn’t that much done, I tend to stick with ABA. I feel that people are skeptical of ABA because of the cruel practices that it once did with restraining and abusing. But people have to realize that that does not go on anymore. And if it does it is rare. Society is constantly changing. You don’t see people getting smacked by a wooden paddle at school if they are acting inappropriate anymore. And if you did, they would get in big trouble. The same goes for the ABA practices. They are not teaching horrible reinforcement with restraints and abuse anymore. ABA is only trying to help children and their parents and teachers, and I think it is doing a great job.
I think ABA is an effective treatment that should not be frowned upon, but embraced. It's a wonderful technique that allows teachers, parents, and others who are genuinely concerned about a child to understand the child better and find ways to help. When using ABA,you are trying to find out why a child is engaging in a particular behavior, and by understanding the function of the behavior, you can help the child. When a child is engaging in a behavior such as hitting, screaming, etc, they are trying to communicate a need or want,such as "I need water" or "I need the restroom" and this is the only way they know how to do it. By using ABA, we can understand the child, and understand what they are trying to communicate to us; once we understand this, we can teach the child a more appropriate and more effective way to communicate their wants and their needs with others. We are giving them more freedom by helping them to comminicate effectively. In addition, we are teaching them functional skills and behaviors. I don't believe in using ABA to change any and all behaviors; just the ones that will truly benefit the child. I believe that ABA should be used with the child's best interest at heart. We want to help them adapt socially, academically, emotionally, etc. I don't believe in extreme or aversive techniques, but simple reinforcement, just as every human being needs. We learn that when we do our homework, we get good grades. We learn that when we are polite, people are usually polite back. We learn that when we are out in the sun too long, we get sunburned, and when we put on sunblock, we don't get burned. We all learn by positive and negative reinforcement- children with autsim are no different. They are human beings too. ABA is just a way to focus that reinforcement because many children with autism do not learn the same things that typical individuals do through the environment- they usually need a little extra help. I have personally worked with several children with autism, and have seen how ABA benefits them and truly helps them to be happier. In one of the articles it mentioned that several parents of children with autism support ABA. Don't the parents know best? Don't they know their child better than anyone else? They support ABA because it truly helps ther child- they see the benefits, they see how much happier their child is. They support it, and so do I.
ReplyDeleteI agree, that applied behavior analysis is a helpful and ethical technique when used correctly. It is simply a more organized, methodical, and research-based way of doing what every parent and teacher hopes to do anyway, which is to teach children skills enabling them to succeed in life. I think that we should also be sure to teach children the why of the behavior we teach them, along with using ABA techniques.
ReplyDeleteAll human beings need to learn. We learn from the results of our choices. ABA allows parents and teachers to channel this. Whether they are trying to or not, anyone who interacts with a child reacts to the child's behavior in ways that reinforce or decrease particular behaviors. It is impossible not to influence behavior, so why not do it consciously and methodically? As the healingthresholds website said, research supports ABA.
The Michelle Dawson article mentioned a "no cure" philosophy; that we should embrace people with autism with their unique characteristics rather than trying to make them act like neurotypical people. I support the idea of embracing and enjoying their uniqueness, as long as we are doing what's best for them. I love being around people with disabilities because of their uniqueness--I find their differences interesting, refreshing, and often amusing, but if we allow students to continue acting in a way that hurts them physically, leaves them dependent on others for daily necessities, or stifles their cognitive abilities, then we are being unethical.
As with any type of behavior shaping technique, those administering the ABA must be properly trained. While there are some extreme ABA measures that should only be applied in specific and controlled instances, the technique has proven itself as both an effective and humane therapy for students with Autism as well as several other mental and emotional disabilities. I can understand how individuals with high-functioning Autism might feel that their personality is being stifled. However, one has to remember that everyone’s behavior is shaped to fit social norms whether it be through the rules of etiquette or traffic rules. Because individuals with Autism don’t process information the same way as their typically developing peers, it only makes sense that they would need additional support (ABA) to learn these social norms. I believe that ABA is an ethical and effective therapy for individuals with Autism, when used conscientiously by a trained professional.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I strongly think that ABA is an effective technique that helps change a child's behavior for the good. ABA is considered by many researchers and clinicians to be the most effective-based therapeutic approach for children with autism. ABA focuses’ on early intervention. Several case studies have proven that it is highly important to treat your child at a young age. The studies show that early intervention helps decrease the level of inappropriate autistic behaviors. Researchers have also stated that early intervention helps increase the child’s IQ, verbal ability and social functioning. I also agree with the fact; that early intervention helps decease the levels of autism or another disability. So, I think that parents should continue reaching out for interventions to help their children at a young age. By allowing an early intervention to be a part of your child's life you can help them gain a more ordinary life (which I'm sure this is what we want for all of our children), so if includes ABA therapy so be it!!
ReplyDeleteI believe that ABA is an ethical treatment for problem behaviors. When we use ABA, we are trying to determine the function of a behavior. Once we know the function we can use ABA to switch out the inappropriate behavior with an appropriate behavior. One argument against ABA said that it does not actually improve the skills of people with Autism, but instead only teaches them to mimic neurotypicalbehavior. Isn't that how we learn our social cues anyway as children, we mimic what our parents and other adults in our lives are doing? I think one problem of the critics of ABA is that they may be confusing this method with former practices of behavior modification. ABA does not use aversive procedures. It is just a way of determining the cause of a behavior, the purpose it serves, how it is reinforced and uses methods of exchanging the behaviors for socially acceptable ones. Other critics may have a problem with the types of reinforcers used, or the fact that behaviors are being reinforced. As a society we do many things just for the rewards or reinforcers. We work to get grades, to get paid, to get recognition and credit. Everything in life has a consequent, whether positive or negative. ABA is just controlling the consequent for a determined behavior.
ReplyDeleteI agree that ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) is useful and one of the best interventions that can be used to reinforce good behaviors and skills. Reinforcement is a commonly used way of encouraging a child after they have done something well using praise or some other form of reinforcement. In the same way we reinforce the good behaviors by taking away a stimulus as well, using negative reinforcement.
ReplyDeleteABA is the process of finding the core function of a behavior. We are not trying to fix the child or change the way they are. As we find the function of the behavior, it helps us to more accurately teach the child acceptable social behaviors for everyday life. We can replace that other behavior with one that has the same function to the child but will enhance their skills of learning in the classroom, and life skills.
I think if ABA is used properly (like most other things...) and in the right context it is very beneficial to children with Autism. This means the practitioner needs to be mindful that ABA is properly used analysis and assessment with healthy reinforcers opposed to popping out candy every time they can.
ReplyDeleteI believe ABA is a good way to find the function of the behavior and then to help the child modify the behavior.
I believe that ABA can be an effective treatment if the intended procedures are used. ABA has proven to help many people because of its unique capability to first find the antecedent that triggers the behavior, define the behavior, and look at the consequences of the behavior. By doing so, we are able to understand more fully all of the aspects involved in the behavior, allowing us to replace the problem behavior with a positive one.
ReplyDeleteI don’t believe that using the ABA method is inhumane. Each action (behavior) has a consequence, and by helping these children react to situations in a positive manner, we are enabling them to have more choices, and to receive positive consequences.
For example, if a child doesn’t understand the curriculum being taught during a class discussion, he may focus on talking to his neighbor, in attempts to either be ignored by the teacher, or sent away from the discussion. By finding the reason behind the behavior, and allowing the student to replace that behavior with a positive one, we are allowing him to succeed. In the case of this student, he may replace his negative behavior with sitting quietly, and having personal study time with the teacher later on. With this new positive behavior, the student is able to receive the help that he needs.
Therefore, ABA doesn’t restrict the child’s personality, or right to choose how to react, it simply gives the student a chance to execute positive behavior and receive the positive consequence he wishes to have.
I think that ABA is an effective therapy for children with autism. I agree with what others have said; there is not enough research or evidence to suggest that ABA is ineffective or causes “posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety and clinical depression later in life.” I feel like ABA therapy simply makes sense; the point is to reinforce positive behaviors and work to change negative behaviors. Although the ABA therapy is designed specifically for children with autism, it seems similar to any other method of behavioral correction one would use with a child without a disability. This idea of positive reinforcement is used with all children. If you don’t want a child without a disability to throw a tantrum, one would still correct the behavior by rewarding the child when they behaved, just as you would with the ABA therapy. I think that this therapy is effective and universal among students with autism, as well as with students without disabilities. I believe ABA therapy should be used.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I can understand both viewpoints on this issue. ABA can be used in a possitive manner helping the student learn how to communicate better or do any productive activity. It can support learning or even provide a way a student can learn. Of course there are some stipulations for ABA to be ethical and effective.
ReplyDeleteA part of me does worry how ABA is being used. These students are people with needs, desires, and personalities unlike our own. They should be treated with respect and love. In otherwords, I can see myself using ABA principles because it seems like the best way to manage a class and help students learn, even in a regular education class. I don't really think these principles taught in ABA are much different than what general education teachers use (ex- rewards for good behavior). I could see how ABA would be used unethically and even misunderstood.
I believe that ABA is an ethical practice. Using the proper protocol and techniques can be wonderful and benefit the students we work with. The great thing about ABA is that it is a personalized/individualized thing for the student. We work with that individual student on specific behaviors. If we are doing our best and using ABA to help the student replace a bad behavior with a better one, we are teaching life skills to these students whether the student has Autism or something else. This in fact is beneficial to the student.
ReplyDeleteI honestly believe that ABA can be either a positive or negative treatment for a children with autism. It can be beneficial if used under the correct circumstance, as in all therapies and treatments. I think that ABA therapy can be very influencial in shaping a child with autism's social behavior. However, at the same time, it could make the child regress instead of progress. It depends on the child. Therefore it is very hard to determine if ABA is effective or not. Opinions can become very biased. ABA can be a great positive enforcement for a child with autism. However, every child learns differently, so some may not respond to ABA as much as others. I think it is a good tool to help children with autism if used correctly. It can point out a specific behavioral problem and then can be magnified in order to come up with solutions to correct it but at the same time it can teach children to just mimic a desired behavior. Teachers and therapists must be very careful with what consequence is being created while using ABA therapy in order to actually teach the children something that will be meaningful and lasting instead of children jsut learning to mimic. For the most part, research of ABA are very opinionated and biased.
ReplyDeleteThe debate concerning Applied Behavioral Analysis is one that is very aggressive at this time. Because ABA has become a very popular treatment method fairly recently, it is a hotly debated topic with fierce supporters on both sides. Those who do not support ABA say that it in essence removes a child’s choice and forces them to act a certain way. Some even say that ABA only trains a child to behave a certain way, and does not allow for any personal expression. Personally, I disagree with this viewpoint. There are certainly cases when ABA principles and practices are severely misused and when this occurs, those practices should be stopped immediately. However, I feel that there is a lot of scientific and real-life examples that show just how effective ABA can be when used responsibly and in the correct manner. I work at a preschool where we use some ABA principles in dealing with problem behaviors, and I have seen first-hand how effective it can be. I do not feel like ABA removes a child’s ability to make decisions for him or herself. On the contrary, I feel that ABA gives the child the option to continue with the problem behavior, but also gives them a wider variety of options in that it gives them the choice of an appropriate replacement behavior as well.
ReplyDeleteI believe that ABA is a postive method for helping those with Autism accomplish simple tasks that they might not be able to do. ABA's whole purpose is to find the underlying function of a particular "inappropriate" behavior and figure out what a child is trying to communicate to us. I think that any child or human being would want to be treated the same as anybody else and with this ABA intervention it helps those with Autism be like everyone else. The debate some people make concerning ABA is that is takes away the child's free will and makes them act a certain way. I do not believe this is the case. I truly believe the purpose of ABA is to boost certain people who may be falling a little bit shorter than the rest of us and evening the playing field. I think that a child with Autism can be taught different more appropriate ways to do things or ask for things etc. and ABA is the way to help them learn that!
ReplyDelete9.21.2009
ReplyDeleteI believe that autism is both an effective and appropriate pedagogy for children with autism. While some may argue that, through ABA, we are trying to change children rather than accepting them as they are, I believe that we are merely enabling them to have more control over themselves and a greater potential for learning. Michelle Dawson and others who oppose ABA call themselves 'anti-cure'--as though we think of autism spectrum disorder as a disease to be absolved. I think that ABA is merely a specialized teaching method that is adapted to fit certain students. We are all taught to respond to incentives and to shy away from negative consequences--we use grading systems in school, we find greater talent in ourselves through consistent practicing, we feel unhealthy if we eat poorly, we go to jail if we still. All these things are ways in which we learn to make better choices in the future because of the consequences that follow our actions. In a way, ABA is just taking real principles of life and making them more conspicuous for those who might not respond to the more subtle aspects of it. Through ABA, we teachers can help students to reach greater scholastic heights.
I believe that Applied Behavior Analysis is an effective therapy for children with autism. The article presented in favor of ABA practices had many good points while the article against ABA was not effective in explaining their argument. Their one point against ABA was that children didn’t understand the learned behaviors they were mocking. To me, if they can do the right behaviors in the right situations, that’s okay and proves that ABA is effective. Does it really matter a great deal if they are just mocking correct behaviors without understanding exactly why? They are still behaving socially acceptable. I did not gather that ABA was, in any way, harmful to the individuals who encountered ABA. As ABA has not been in practice for an extended period of time, there is not a lot of concrete evidence for, or against the ethical practices of ABA, but I believe that in the short time it’s been use, it has done more good than bad and can save children with autism from institutions and other depressing fates.
ReplyDeleteI Believe the ABA is very effective for a child, although there is not enough evidence to prove other wise and some still want to say that it cause anxiety, post traumatic stree disorder and so on it is one of the most benefical effective process. With ABA they use early intervention which has been proven that it is effective because it help the children during there most critical time if there life as a little child. I believe that ABA is effective for an Autistic child because it helps target their behavioral problem. The only thing is that peope learn differently, not everyone is going to find ABA as effective as others. Which is typical because people require differen't help. But overall i feel that ABA is effective for autistic children.
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of Applied Behavior Analysis is to teach skills. Whether we mean to or not, we as adults are constantly giving reinforcement by the way we react to behaviors. With ABA, we are changing OUR behaviors to help the child recognize what types of their behaviors are appropriate and safe for them. It can be harder for the population of individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with Autism, to learn from the environment around them (whether it be social cues, or other behavior). Applied Behavior Analysis, to me, seems like a non-threatening way to help teach skills to these individuals effectively. I support ABA, however I also support the parent’s choice. Parents have the right to agree or disagree with this practice. Personally, I believe it to be an effective way to teach behavior.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the articles, I can see a valid point on both sides; for or against ABA in behalf of those with autism.
ReplyDeleteOne one hand those who are against it and feel it is infringing on the rights of autistic people have a valid concern if those trying to use ABA in traing a student are forceful and not commpasionate. They are correct in saying the treatment is inhumane, like a robot or a mouse in a maze. If the acts used to teach responses and behavior were done in a positive way or reinforced with kindness and compassion, then I believe the student would benefit from ABA. Just think, if a child/person with autism were to learn more acceptable behavior they would be able to participate in other things, get involved more in the communities they live in, enjoy a more fulfilling life and help make a difference.
However, on the other hand, if one were not responsive to the prompts and trainigs, ABA should not be forced. The student, or their family or care giver would have a choice to utilize ABA or to let the child go on naturally and learning as they grow.
It seems, if one were really wanting the austistic person to grow, and learn acceptable behavior, they would certainly look into ABA and give it a try.
I think that using ABA is a very effective technique when used correctly. As I think more about ABA I do not understand why some parents think of it as restricting their child and stifling their individuality. In reality, it gives a child more control and freedom. When problem behaviors are under control a better learning environment is created. More learning can take place. Isn’t this our main goal for these students, for their full potential and learning to be achieved? I feel that ABA is partly a way teacher’s can use bigger words to describe a positive/negative reinforcement process. There are many different parts to ABA, like ABC reports and figuring out functions of the behavior, but I believe some parts are used every day without people realizing it. Parents reinforce their children by giving them attention or saying they can go play after finishing their work. We, as adults, also have reinforcements. For example, there are consequences for everything we do, like breaking laws. Reinforcements are used in our everyday lives, so why would a classroom setting be any different? Once children leave school they must deal with different reinforcements, whether they are positive or negative. They should get used to some of these reinforcements now because it will help them transition to the work force after their schooling is completed. ABA has been proven by many to be effective with those children who have autism. I believe it is completely ethical and those who are practicing ABA are doing what is best for these children.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that Applied Behavior Analysis is an effective and a humane approach to helping children learn the skills they need to function in the world. ABA if done correctly will help teachers find the function of the behavior. The main concern from the individuals against ABA was that the students’ personalities were being stifled. However, the teacher does not want to change the reason students do things but help them find a socially acceptable way to get what they want. All human beings must learn how to function under social norms, and ABA has been proven as an effective strategy to help students do that.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing I notice in comparing the two articles is that the “Ethical challenges to autism treatment” article is weak. First of all, it does not come from a reliable source, there are spelling errors, and there are few citations or examples to back up the arguments. The video from Emory University is not very convincing either but the “Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy for Autism” article does a thorough and well-done job explaining current ABA theories and practices and how they are beneficial even though it does not address the opposing view.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what most of you have already said in your comment, that ABA is generally an effective and ethical technique as long as the interests of the students are top priority. I like what the “Therapy for Autism” article said: “Through ABA training, parents and other caretakers can learn to see the natural triggers and reinforcers in the child’s environment.” ABA should focus on techniques that are non-intrusive and natural to the student.
I agree that ABA is an effective technique for helping children with autism to learn correct behaviors and to eliminate the bad ones. I like to think of it as if the child did not have any disabilities at all. when you raise your children and they slap someone would you just let them think that that is a correct behavior because you don't want to "suppress their natural behavior"? No those kind of behaviors are not acceptable for any one and it should not be any different for children with autism they have a right to be taught how to correctly handle different situations so that later in their life they can be as independent as possible and I believe that is our goal, to make the children we teach reach their full potential and be as independent as possible.
ReplyDeleteI haven’t been able to spend years and years in the classroom but I have used ABA and I have seen its effectiveness. I can see how some may feel like they are turning into robots if you were misinformed about the whole point of ABA. ABA as far as I understand and what I read is to examine the behavior of the student, what triggers that behavior and why it is that they continue to perform that behavior (attention, escape, sensory, communication). ABA is designed to teach the child how to get the same function but in a more appropriate way (socially, physically, etc.) It is still allowing the student to express and share what they feel and think, but in a way that the function is still recognized. I have seen students with autism find ways to communicate their thoughts, needs and desires, so much better through ABA. ABA makes us as teachers, parents and leaders also more aware of what we are doing and what we can do/ change to better help these children. We have to examine what it is we are doing also. It’s a check for us and a guide for our students. Also ABA helps us to not assume why it is that our student has a certain behavior problem. It gives us a way to research it.
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