a child undergoing applied behavioral analysis

What is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)?

April 18, 2025

Key Takeaways:

Applied behavior analysis employs positive reinforcement when children display healthy behaviors.
Common ABA methodologies include discrete trial training, pivotal response treatment, and the Early Start Denver Model.
ABA has many benefits, including improved communication skills, better focus, and reduced maladaptive behaviors.

While it can be overwhelming for any parent to receive an autism diagnosis for their child, there are a vast number of treatments available—including applied behavior analysis (ABA). ABA is an evidence-based therapy that helps children minimize undesired behaviors and must-learn skills for daily life.

Discover how applied behavior analysis works, what you can expect, and how to apply it in an everyday setting.

What is Applied Behavioral Analysis?

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a research-based behavior therapy for individuals with autism and developmental disorders. It focuses on rewarding children for certain positive or healthy behaviors in the hopes of reinforcing them.

Through ABA, parents, caregivers, and practitioners can better understand specific autism-related behaviors, determine how the child’s environment affects these behaviors, and study how learning occurs.

ABA is best for treating the following conditions:

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Developmental and intellectual disabilities (Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, etc.)
Attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD)
Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
Learning disabilities (dyslexia, processing disorders, etc.)
Poor skill-building and self-care

How Does ABA Therapy Work?

ABA therapy is a flexible treatment that practitioners can adapt to meet the specific needs of each unique individual. Children and teens can undergo ABA in a clinic, at home, or in school. Sessions can be one-on-one or with groups and typically involve learning skills that individuals can apply daily.

What Happens During ABA Therapy?

When a child starts ABA therapy, they’ll first meet with a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) to interview the child and determine what they need and what skills will be most beneficial to them.

After studying your child’s background and abilities, the therapist will develop an individualized behavioral intervention plan (BIP). This plan outlines strategies for teaching positive behaviors and has specific, measurable goals.

A single ABA session can last between 30 minutes and several hours, with longer sessions lasting three hours or more.

Common ABA Methodologies

BCBAs apply various methodologies when curating a treatment plan for your child. Below are three of the most common modules.

Discrete Trial Training (DTT)

Dr. Ole Ivar Lovaas developed discrete trial training (DTT) in the 1960s, and the teaching method has since evolved to allow practitioners to guide children through highly structured tasks [*].

For example, the therapist might present the child with a non-preferred activity, such as completing a worksheet. If the child throws a tantrum or refuses to complete the worksheet, the therapist will ignore the behavior or redirect them to a preferred task to reduce problematic responses.

DTT focuses on providing positive reinforcement for wanted and healthy behaviors. Over time, the child will learn to turn significant responsibilities into smaller tasks, making them more self-sufficient.

DTT is best for children who respond better to structured and predictable therapies as they follow a specific routine.

Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT)

Unlike DTT, pivotal response treatment (PRT) is less structured and focuses on play and other everyday activities. In PRT, therapists motivate the child using their interests [*].

During PRT intervention, the therapist might encourage the child to choose what toys they want to play with while prompting the child to ask for the toy using a specific, well-rounded, and respectful phrase like “May I please borrow the toy car?”

Throughout the session, the therapist will follow the child’s lead and reward them with tangible goods like candy or a preferred toy for good behavior. Focusing on these areas improves a child’s social-emotional skills and promotes independence.

While less structured, PRT focuses on motivation and initiation and inspires children to become more self-reliant. It is also naturalistic and play-based, which many practitioners consider child-centric.

Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)

The Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) is a more “modern” form of ABA that incorporates multiple goals in a single activity. For instance, the therapist might set up a role-playing scenario with action figures or dolls and encourage children to exercise their language skills while positively reinforcing creativity.

Over time, ESDM will improve skills like those developed during DTT and PRT while helping children master cognitive and motor abilities [*].

ESDM is best for younger children, as it is designed for early intervention. It takes a comprehensive developmental approach and focuses on areas like communication, cognitive skills, motor skills, and social interaction.

What are the Pros of Applied Behavioral Analysis?

Applied behavioral analysis has many proven benefits, thanks to success in multiple studies. It is proven to improve skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and also has the following advantages:

Personalized plans: ABA is highly tailored to suit your child’s needs. Thus, your therapist can help them reach the goals you have for them and the objectives they have for themselves.
Evidence-based and data-driven: ABA considers your child’s past behavior and progress in adjusting therapy according to their performance. Studies have also proven ABA to be effective. Research shows it improves language development, intellectual abilities, social skills, and daily responsibilities.
Broad application: ABA applies to dozens of mental conditions, such as depression, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

What are the Cons of Applied Behavioral Analysis?

Despite its seeming effectiveness, some valid concerns surround ABA and its applications. Specific factors to be mindful of include the following:

Forced change and normalization: Because ABA is designed to change a child’s behaviors, some believe the therapy is a coercive tool to force children to “act normally.” Some believe instead of urging children to fit societal norms, it may be more beneficial to adapt the child’s environment to cater to their specific needs.
Comparable to animal training: Some have likened ABA to animal training because it positively reinforces good behavior and negatively reinforces bad ones. However, modern variations of ABA have since eliminated the consequence system.
Applied bribery: Positive reinforcement plays a significant role in ABA, and some perceive this as bribing children to “be good.” Some children may adjust their behavior only to receive a reward.

How Long Does ABA Therapy Take?

How long your child will need ABA depends on several factors, such as how quickly they improve and how severe their symptoms are. The age at which your child starts ABA will also determine the length of their treatment.

Studies show that intensive, long-term programs of ABA, consisting of between 25 and 40 hours a week for at least one year, improve intellectual functioning, language development, and daily living skills [*].

The Bottom Line

Supporting a child with autism or problematic behaviors can be challenging, but ABA is an effective intervention tactic with many proven benefits. Through ABA, parents and caregivers can positively reinforce good behavior while reducing unwanted ones.

To support kids with high-functioning autism and anger explore our anger management worksheets to pair with your child’s ABA sessions. Pair these with our character education and social skills worksheets to help children develop important life skills that will guide their behavior in the future.

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