Peer Review Worksheet and Letter

1

ASSIGNMENT 5

Rough Draft

Teyonna M. Toppin

Capella University

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a scientific approach that is used as a treatment process for autism spectrum disorder. This process includes a team of professionals and the parents. A team of professionals could include a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analysts), BCaba (Board Certified Assistant Analysts, RBT (Registered Behavior Technician, and/or a BT (behavior technician). The ABA process has to have a lot of involvement and consistency with the parents and rest of the team. ABA treatment is more effective when started at an early age. Parents sometimes have the option of where they would like to do the service and what they feel is important in terms of the progress they want their child to make. Ultimately, parents play a serious role in the treatment process for the patient.

The very first step of this ABA process consists of the parent doing research and learning what ABA is and what occurs during this treatment. Applied behavior analysis is client specific. The things being applied are only for that client’s progress and what the parents feel is important. Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the main method a lot of ABA programs used to treat autism. EBP is making decisions based on real evidence rather than guesses (Kearney, A. J., 2015).

Focus is put on certain behaviors that can have real-life application for that individual (Kearney, A. J., 2015). The term used to describe those behaviors is target behaviors. A target behavior is not always a behavior that parents want to stop; it could also be an appropriate behavior the parents want strengthened (Kearney, A. J., 2015). Parents decide if ABA is the right choice for the child. Then they decide what behaviors and changes they would like to work on first.

Applied behavior analysis treatments are certified as the gold standard for treatment of children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) in most of North America but not in Europe (McPhilemy & Dillenburger, 2013). Families in Europe are not as exposed to ABA therapy but the parents that did take a chance on it during this study all recommend it. Fifteen families participated in the ABA process for their child with autism. Ages varied for the clients from 24 months to 20 years old. The families had a therapist do in home sessions and other professionals like school teachers or speech therapists that assisted the family had positive interactions with the ABA team.

The families took questionnaires before and after treatment to describe any progress in particular areas. According to McPhilemy and Dillenburger, “results of the study highlighted the overwhelmingly positive impact that ABA-based interventions had on their children in areas such as social skills, challenging behaviour, communication, gross and fine motor skills, concentration, interaction, independence, and overall quality of life and, most importantly, a feeling of hope for the future (2013).” The European families found that the services were helpful. The treatment did cost a lot financially but socially it made life a little easier for daily activities.

Even though ABA therapy is a well known supported treatment, everyone does not have access to these services due to geographic, economic, and time barriers (Fisher et al., 2020). The recent pandemic has also caused a problem with one on one therapy because of the risk of transmission (Fisher et al., 2020). This study emphasizes how Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) is beneficial to the parent and client while completing therapy online and in the home. With virtual therapy and early intensive behavioral intervention, parent training and communication with the team is very important.

Some studies have shown, “that internet‐based instruction; remote coaching by therapists or a combination of strategies can enhance parents' knowledge about and confidence when delivering ABA interventions (Fisher et al., 2020).” Parents found watching modules and doing role plays on ABA very helpful virtually. A 13 item social validity questionnaire was given to the parents to measure satisfaction of the training (Fisher et al., 2020). Parents found watching modules and doing role plays on ABA very helpful virtually. All satisfaction scores were high. The lowest score was because Blackboard was used for the e-modules.

The whole process of starting treatment of ABA is vital and for most families necessary. Parents are key factors to the success of the individual that is receiving services and should have knowledge of ABA and how to implement it. ABA treatment is more effective when started at an early age. Parents sometimes have the option of where they would like to do the service and what they feel is important in terms of the progress they want their child to make. Doing research on ABA should be the first step to finding the appropriate way to start the treatment process for autism.

There are resources like books or videos that break down ABA terms and things parents should know. Unfortunately ABA is not used commonly worldwide, so families in Europe have not been told much about this opportunity. This experiment helped change their daily lives. During times where people might have to rely on technology to continue ABA services, this study helped prove it is possible to keep achieving more success. Parent trainings can be so significant to the progress of a child. Parents help aide a lot of ABA teams in the success of their children. Without the parent’s assistance and willingness to go full on with therapy, the results may not be the same.

References

Fisher, W. W., Luczynski, K. C., Blowers, A. P., Vosters, M. E., Pisman, M. D., Craig, A. R., . . . Piazza, C. C. (2020). A randomized clinical trial of a virtual‐training program for teaching applied‐behavior‐analysis skills to parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 53(4), 1856-1875. doi:10.1002/jaba.778

Kearney, A. J. (2015). Understanding applied behavior analysis, second edition: An introduction to aba for parents, teachers, and other professionals. ProQuest Ebook Central https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.library.capella.edu

McPhilemy, C., & Dillenburger, K. (2013). Parents' experiences of applied behaviour analysis (aba)-based interventions for children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder. British Journal of Special Education, 40(4), 154-161. doi:10.1111/1467-8578.12038