Can Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) teach honesty and reduce the breaking of rules? Transgressions or the breaking of rules and lying can affect the quality of a child’s relationship with both caregivers and peers so it’s worth addressing early and effectively. The challenge is that transgressions, which may be followed by a punishment or unfavorable response from a caregiver or peer, can lead to dishonesty to avoid that harsh consequence.
Read MoreIf friendships are built on shared interests, then what happens if an individual struggles to identify the interests of others in relation to their own? Identifying a shared interest, volleying back and forth in conversation about that interest and detecting cues as to when to stop conversing on a topic are social skills a neurotypical person may take for granted.
Read MoreYelling. Raising your voice. Being stern. Call it what you may, but we’ve all done it at some point throughout the parenting journey. We yell at our children when we are frustrated, or when they do something shocking or unsafe. When we yell at our children as a form of discipline, we often overlook the consequences. Is this form of discipline effective? Does my child learn from my yelling?
Read MoreIt is common for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to lack eye contact and gaze which can hamper their ability to pick up on social cues. These cues are critical for effective communication, academic success and help facilitate social interactions. Existing research indicates that with systematic training, individuals with ASD can learn eye contact and gaze.
Read MoreSkin picking can be defined as the repetitive scratching, pulling or digging of the body with the absence of an underlying cause such as a dermatological condition. The intensity of skin picking can range from relatively mild with little to no injury, to much more severe tissue damage which presents a risk to the individual’s health.
Read MoreToe walking is relatively common in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It has been estimated that about 20% of young children with ASD have this ambulation disorder. Aside from the possible social impact of an abnormal gait, toe walking can negatively impact the physical health of the individual. For these reasons, an effective intervention is necessary.
Read MoreThere are many potential issues that could arise due to the changes that naturally come with the holiday season. This can be true for typically developing individuals but even more common for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Read MoreAt one time or another, you may have inquired as to why someone has done what they have done. What motivated them to act like that? What would drive someone to do such a thing? Understanding why people engage in specific behaviors has been an area of interest for decades. The physical form of the behavior can be easy to identify but the reason people engage in a particular behavior is often much more difficult to understand.
Read MoreThe United States is increasingly culturally and linguistically diverse. This context is important for clinicians working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) who teach functional communication to develop the language skills of children with disabilities.
Read MoreWhen compared to their neurotypical peers, individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are more likely to have difficulty in maintaining conversations. Researchers are motivated to discover and, in turn, clinicians are motivated to implement effective interventions and training procedures for building conversational skills.
Read MoreDo you ever want to keep your child’s positive momentum going? When we apply the laws of physics to human behavior, a child’s behavior itself may “stay in motion” even when conditions in their environment change due to what we call Behavioral Momentum Theory.
Read MoreAside from the more obvious benefits to one’s health, researchers recently published a study on the connection between physical activity and its effects on stereotypy, with a focus on the population of individuals with ASD.
Read MoreOne of the principal deficits which is central to the diagnostic criteria of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an impairment in social interaction. To this end, clinicians have an interest in assessing social interaction in order to improve social and play skills when working with individuals with ASD.
Read MoreThe fear of children playing with guns and unintentionally causing injury to themselves or others is a real and grave concern. Studies have found that, even immediately after being told never to touch a gun, kids do pick up and play with guns and cannot consistently discriminate between a real or fake gun.
Read MoreAs it relates to our field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), leaders in our field are thinking outside of the box to figure out alternative ways to adequately train preservice clinicians to work with individuals who exhibit challenging behaviors.
Read MoreSleep related problems are seen in both children who are typically developing and those with developmental disabilities. Sleep problems occur at a higher rate in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder.
Read MoreSpitting can be a behavior of concern for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It should be addressed because it can lead to social alienation, and is not only unappealing but it can be a health hazard given some infections and diseases are transmitted through saliva.
Read MoreWe are faced with making choices and decisions across our entire day, from what clothes to put on to how we interact with others. The outcomes of our decisions can, of course, be positive or negative. A positive outcome would most likely drive us to make that same, or similar, decision again in the future.
Read MoreAt any given moment we are faced with a choice as to how we will communicate with others. Should we be appropriate and polite? Somewhat appropriate? Not appropriate at all? Many of us are capable of communicating in various complex ways, which is a very fortunate skill to have acquired.
Read MoreBehavior Analysts often address toilet training when working with clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This can be a skill deficit in early intervention settings, with adolescents and even with adults.
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