What is ABA?

[ihatecbeebies]

I've seen it mentioned in a lot of threads here but have googled and wasn't able to find out what it is. What benefits does it have?

Applied behaviour analysis is the full terminology, should bring up some good resources on google. Also NAS has some good basic information.

It's not rocket science. It is about not ever assuming that a child knows something but starting at the beginning and testing each developmental area and then, when you have the baseline, start teaching the skills in developmental order using the child's motivations and interests to ensure success.

It can be hard work for the 'tutor' as if the child's learning slows or stalls they have to find a way to be even MORE motivating and rewarding. The blame is on them for not achieving, not the child who has no reason to iyswim.

The child has to demonstrate consistent mastery of a skill before you can go to a higher level one i.e. learn the basics of addition before learning multiplication etc. and you can never ASSUME that a child has got to grips with it. The have to be able to demonstrate it over a range of scenarios.

hth