Temple Grandin, a doctor in the field of animal sciences who suffers from Autism, once said, “People are always looking for that single magic bullet that will totally change everything. There is no single magic bullet.” Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a general term for a group of complex disorders of brain development. The Autism Spectrum can be split into many subtypes, including Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, and Pervasive Development Disorder- Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). Starting from an age as young as infancy, symptoms of Autism may be conveyed. Repetitive behavior, any loss of speech or social skills, and attachment to parents are three of the many symptoms expressed by children with Autism (“What is Autism?”). In order to improve theses symptoms, many types of treatments have been established. First are the Behavior and Communication Approaches, which include Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), and different sorts of therapy. Other treatments include dietary approaches, medication, and Complimentary and Alternative treatments. Based on the developed treatments, the early intervention Behavior and Communication Approaches exhibit the most benefits to children diagnosed with autism. The Behavior and Communication approaches are based on structure, organization, direction, and family participation. Applied Behavior Analysis is “the science of learning and human behavior” (Atwood 35). ABA uses step-by-step progression to break down skills as well as using reinforcement and extinction. Reinforcement is the act of rewarding good behavior, while extinction is taking away these rewards. There are different forms of Applied Behavior Analysis, two of which are Disc... ... middle of paper ... ...013. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. "How Is Autism Treated?" Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013. King, Lorna J. "Sensory Integration Therapy | Autism Research Institute." Sensory Integration Therapy | Autism Research Institute. Autism Research Institute, 9 June 1996. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. Landau, Elaine. "Treatment." Autism. New York: Franklin Watts, 2001. 50-53. Print. "A Parent's Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorder." NIMH RSS. N.p., 2011. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. "Treatment." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 Dec. 2013. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. "What Is Autism?" Autism Speaks. N.p., 2013. Web. 22 Jan. 2014. Woo, Cynthia C., and Michael Leon. "Environmental Enrichment as an Effective Treatment for Autism: A Randomized Controlled Trial." Behavioral Neuroscience 127.4 (2013): 487-97. Aug. 2013. Web. 23 Jan. 2014.
Hartmann, Ashley, "Autism and its Impact on Families" (2012). Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers. Paper 35. http://sophia.stkate.edu/msw_papers/35
Baer, Wolf, and Risley wrote a great informative article. It taught much about the seven dimensions of applied behavior analysis, which are applied, behavioral, analytic, technological, conceptually systematic, effective, and generality. They went in depth and explained each dimension allowing the reader to really understand applied behavior analysis. The breakdown of these seven dimensions will allow readers to be informed and know what applied behavior analysis consist of.
Another behavioral technique used in ABA is known as shaping. Shaping is the process of modifying behavior by reinforcing approximations of the behavior that is desired. Gradually, closer approximations are reinforced until the target behavior is acquired (Brams, 7). T...
In my Behavioral Analysis class this semester, we were required to read several research articles detailing various studies conducted within the field of behavior analysis. As this is my major field of interest, I thought it both wise and prudent to share two of the more fascinating studies on my website. Behavior analysis is most commonly associated amongst the general public with rats and a laboratory setting. Pavlov’s conditioning and his dog salivating at the sound of a bell or rats being trained to press levers for food reinforcers most frequently come to mind when asked to give an example of behavior analysis’s capabilities. The field, however, is also extremely capable of creating lasting and effective treatments for people with developmental disorders and addiction.
Applied behavior Analysis (ABA) is the scientific application of set principals of operant behavior that branch off of the behaviorism philosophical approach of behavior. The core principals of Applied Behavior Analysis are to target an individual’s behavior for change that has a real life application for the individual. Moreover, of Applied Behavior Analysis seeks to discover the environmental variables that influence the individual behavior while simultaneously demonstrates a functional relationship between the manipulated environmental behavior and the target behavior.
Early intervention is effective in treating autism spectrum disorder in many ways. One important way it has been proven effective by research is by increasing a child’s cognitive skills. When a child is first diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, they will likely be diagnosed as having a cognitive delay. Research shows that early invention services, such as applied behavior analysis, occupational, and speech therapy has helped increase IQ scores in children with autism spectrum disorder. In one study, children who received up to twenty hours a week of early intervention services had an average rise in IQ points of 17.6 (Solis, 2010). This increase in cognitive skills benefited children in the classroom setting. After receiving extensive early intervention treatment, children typically performed better on standardized testing. With an increase in cognitive skills and better achievement on standardized testing, children were able to be placed in less restrictive classroom settings (Smith, 199...
Applied research deals with developing techniques or variables which can efficiently, yet effectively improve socially acceptable behavior. Baer, Wolf, and Risley (1968) describes the core principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) which is as follows: applied; behavioral; analytic; technological; conceptually systematic, effective; and generality.
Behavior analysis theory helps people to understand how human being function within the existences of the humanity people live in. Behavioral analysis applied to individuals within a spacious sort of families, schools, workplaces, residential areas, and cultures. Behavior analysis has assisted individual to develop academic knowledge and science. A variety of training and professional accomplishments. The principles of applied behavior analysis, ABA focus on behavioral intervention for youngsters diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder. Autistic children have difficulty learning basic skills and required specialized therapy to acquire normal everyday skills.
I am drawn to the field of applied behavior analysis as it is a way of understanding that allows me to address the needs of my clients and determine how to help them beyond just the label of a diagnosis. Through using applied behavior analysis effectively the origin and meaning of a behavior can be highlighted. When a behavior occurs a detailed report is created to describe the situation prior, what the behavior was and the consequences of that behavior. Furthermore behaviors within some cases can be used as a form of communication when words are not available. For this reason the study of behavior allows me to help my clients and those around me in a way that is more definite and lasting.
The best way to describe Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is to understand human behavior, what causes the behavior and how to use evidence-based techniques to shape the individual’s behavior. I also view ABA as therapy for individuals who struggle with behavioral issues, finding ways to replace problem behaviors and reinforcing the participant’s appropriate behaviors in specific settings.
As Applied Behavior Analyst, we seek to modify a behavior social significant behavior. Our effectiveness can only be measured how much the behavior we set out to modify is changed to a degree in which it makes a difference in the social situations the behavior occurs in. Baer said that this was not a scientific measurement, but a practical one: "its power in altering behavior enough to be socially important, is the essential criterion” (Cooper 17-18). The effectiveness of the research of an ABA effect both the clinical and educational applications of ABA because these cases are the bases of how ABA grows and changes. They are the way we learn and master our field. Even if modifications are later made to older experiments, without them we would not know where to
Autism is a complex condition that lacks an established method of prevention thus there is a need for research to identify its possible causative factors. Identification of environmental factors is the first step in preventing and mitigating risks by primary prevention. [1] Statistical estimates show that one out of every 88 individuals in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism. The condition may be defined as a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder that first becomes prevalent in an individual during his/her early childhood. Consequently, autism results in a patient experiencing a life that is marked by the ongoing challenge of its negative effects on communication and interaction with others. The disorder is debilitating for the patient and immensely challenging for his/her family. An initial diagnosis of autism occurs as an individual is noticeably unable to achieve certain early childhood milestones in terms of communication and socialization. Furthermore, while the incidence and the prevalence of autism also tend to rise on an ever-increasing basis, public health concerns over the diso...
Office of Communications and Public Liaison. (2013, November 6). NIH. Retrieved from National Institute of Neurological Disorder and Stroke: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm#243513082
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is known as a neurodevelopmental disorder that is capable of weakening communication, behavior and socialization. Certain types of autism might not be identified until three years of life and it happens more frequently in boys compared to girls. Autism is not curable but it can be controlled using certain type of treatments as there is no specific treatment for autism. The question arises for these articles are if the treatment used was effective? There are many types of treatments that are able to control autism and the types of treatments used in these articles were behavioral involvement which is learning system based on interference approach. This will help to lessen and uphold the target’s behavior. Complementary and alternative medicine and special diets are treatments used in autism as CAM and special diets will be able to maintain autism. Communication interventions are very useful for autism and one of the main communication treatments is speech therapy. It maintains the expressive and receptive communication of children mainly it maintains the expression and enhances symbol learning. Educational therapy plays a role in treating children with autism as it supports children through the condition of visual details.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rep. N.p., 26 Sept. 2013. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.