ABA
Applied Behaviour Analysis
ABA (applied behaviour analysis) is a set of principals and guidelines based on the behaviourism principles of psychologist B.F. skinner. ABA currently has the strongest evidence base as an appropriate intervention for children with ASD. The principle is to teach children new skills through breaking each skill down into manageable steps to be taught systematically using reinforcement. Skill areas include, functional life skills, communication, social and academic skills. ABA is also effective in reducing inappropriate and undesirable behaviours and increasing communication, this is achieved by studying behaviours, analysing steps involved in producing behaviours then teaching or modifying these steps one at a time using positive reinforcement. Program sessions at home typically involve a well balanced amount of play and formal tasks to develop learning and communication skills. Play makes the sessions fun for the children and motivates them to learn.
DTT
Discrete Trial Teaching
DTT (discrete trial taeaching) this is an important subset of ABA and consists of three very specific teaching components
1. Request to perform an action
2. Response from the child
3. Reaction from the therapist.
It is designed to teach skills and to correct behaviours. Tasks are broken down into small, simple parts called trials. When a task is successfully completed the reward is given the desired behaviour is reinforced. The core components of DTT are to present the trials in a natural environment and to analyse the task by breaking it down into small steps. The use of reinforcement, prompting, visual supports, clear steps and clear expectations are central to the approach.