Challenging behaviors are a common concern for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In-home Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy provides parents with evidence-based techniques to effectively address these behaviors. The core of the ABA approach is not just to stop a behavior but to understand why it is happening and teach the child a more appropriate way to communicate that need. This proactive and functional approach leads to lasting behavior change and a more harmonious home environment.
In-Home ABA Therapy: Understanding the Function of Behavior
The first step in managing any challenging behavior is understanding its function—the “why” behind the action. In-home ABA therapy uses the ABC Model (Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence) to analyze behavior.
- Antecedent: What happens immediately before the behavior?
- Behavior: The challenging behavior itself (e.g., throwing a toy, screaming, hitting).
- Consequence: What happens immediately after the behavior?
By systematically tracking this information in the home environment, parents can determine the purpose of the behavior. There are four primary functions of behavior:
- Escape/Avoidance: The child wants to get away from a task, person, or situation.
- Attention: The child wants a reaction, even if it’s negative attention (scolding, “no”).
- Access to Tangibles/Activities: The child wants a specific item, toy, or to engage in a preferred activity.
- Sensory/Automatic: The behavior provides sensory input that the child finds pleasing or calming.
In-Home ABA Therapy: Proactive Strategies (Before the Behavior)
Proactive strategies aim to prevent challenging behaviors by modifying the environment and setting clear expectations.
- Establish Clear Routines and Schedules: Use visual schedules (pictures of the day’s activities) to provide predictability and reduce anxiety around transitions.
- Use “First, Then” Language: The Premack Principle uses a preferred activity as a reward for completing a non-preferred task: “First, eat three bites of dinner. Then, you can have your tablet.” This makes the difficult task a pathway to a desired reward.
- Offer Choices: Giving limited choices provides the child with a sense of control, which can reduce power struggles and non-compliance (e.g., “Do you want to put on your blue pajamas or your red pajamas?”).
- Set the Environment for Success: Remove highly tempting items that are not for use at that time. If a child usually tantrums for a specific toy when they come home from school, put that toy out of sight until the appropriate time.
In-Home ABA Therapy: Reactive Strategies (During the Behavior)
Reactive strategies are what you do when the challenging behavior is occurring. The goal is to ensure the behavior does not yield the desired result, while remaining calm and consistent.
- Extinction: Once you know the function of the behavior, you withhold the reinforcement for that specific behavior.
- Example: If the child’s screaming is for attention, the parent safely and calmly ignores the screaming (no eye contact, no verbal response) until the child uses an appropriate way to seek attention.
- Redirection and Prompting: Calmly redirect the child to an appropriate alternative behavior. Do not engage in a power struggle or lecture during the challenging behavior.
In-Home ABA Therapy: Teaching Replacement Behaviors
A key element of ABA behavior management involves teaching a child an appropriate, alternative behavior that serves the same function as the challenging behavior.
- Functional Communication Training (FCT): Teach the child a functional way to communicate their need. For instance, if a child screams to escape a task, teach them to use a “break card” or a phrase like “I need a break.” When they use the appropriate communication, respond immediately to show them it is the effective way to get their needs met.
- Reinforce the Replacement Behavior: Make sure that using the new, appropriate behavior is more effective for the child than the challenging behavior was.
In-Home ABA Therapy: Collaboration and Consistency
Managing challenging behaviors requires consistency among all caregivers in the home.
- Parent Training: The BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) leading the in-home ABA therapy program should provide structured parent training to ensure everyone is using the same approach.
- Team Communication: Maintain open communication with the therapy team. Share observations, track the ABC data together, and adjust strategies based on data.
- Patience and Persistence: Behavior change takes time. There might be a temporary increase in the challenging behavior (an “extinction burst”) when you first start withholding reinforcement. Consistency and a calm approach are important during this process.
Implementing these techniques can help parents manage challenging behaviors, create a calmer home environment, and empower their child to communicate their needs appropriately and effectively.