ABA Terms for Parents: A Simple Guide to Autism Therapy

If your child is receiving ABA therapy, you may hear a lot of new words and phrases. Understanding these key terms can make it easier to stay engaged and work with your child’s therapist to support their growth.

To help you get up to speed, we’ve created a list of 20 essential ABA terms that are frequently used in autism therapy and early interventionprograms.

1. Antecedent

The antecedent is what happens before a behavior occurs. In ABA, understanding the antecedent helps us figure out what triggers certain behaviors in children with autism. For example, asking a child to do a task might be the antecedent that leads to them either complying or engaging in challenging behavior.

2. Behavior

Simply put, behavior refers to any action your child takes that can be seen and measured. In ABA therapy, we focus on positive behaviors (like communication) and work to decrease behaviors that can get in the way of learning and daily life.

3. Consequence

A consequence is what happens after a behavior. This can either encourage the behavior to happen more often (positive reinforcement) or discourage it (negative reinforcement). For example, giving praise when a child follows instructions is a positive consequence that increases good behavior.

4. Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is a key tool in behavior management. It involves offering something rewarding after a desirable behavior to encourage it in the future. Examples include verbal praise, tokens, or extra playtime when a child exhibits positive behavior.

5. Negative Reinforcement

Negative reinforcement is the process of removing something unpleasant after a behavior, which in turn increases the likelihood of that behavior happening again. For example, a child may work harder to finish a task if it allows them to escape a loud noise.

6. Prompt

A prompt is a cue or assistance provided to help your child complete a task. This can be verbal, physical, or visual. For instance, a teacher might say “point to the red ball” as a prompt to help a child choose the correct item.

7. Fading

Fading refers to gradually reducing the level of assistance or prompts over time. The goal is to encourage independent skills development so that your child can perform tasks without as much help.

8. Task Analysis

In ABA, task analysis involves breaking down a complex skill into smaller, manageable steps. For example, teaching your child how to brush their teeth might be broken down into steps like “apply toothpaste” and “brush top teeth.” This makes it easier for children with autism to learn step-by-step.

9. Generalization

Generalization means teaching your child to use a skill in different settings, with different people, or across various situations. For example, your child may learn to greet people at home and then apply that same greeting skill at school or in public.

10. Mand

A mand is a type of request, usually for something your child wants or needs. Encouraging your child to ask for things, whether through speech, signs, or picture cards, is a key focus of ABA therapy. It’s part of building functional communication skills.

11. Tact

A tact is when your child labels or comments on something in their environment. For example, saying “ball” when they see a ball is using a tact. It helps develop language and expand your child’s vocabulary.

12. Discrete Trial Training (DTT)

DTT is a structured teaching method where skills are taught in small, repetitive steps. Each trial involves a clear instruction (cue), a response from the child, and a consequence (either reinforcement or corrective feedback).

13. Pairing

Pairing refers to associating something enjoyable with therapy sessions, making the environment fun and motivating for the child. When your child learns to associate the therapist with something positive, they are more likely to engage in the therapy process.

14. Latency

Latency measures the amount of time between a cue or prompt and your child’s response. Short latency is desirable, as it shows the child is responding quickly to prompts, but some children may take longer, which can help therapists adjust their strategies.

15. Behavior-Contrast

Behavior-contrast refers to when a behavior that’s reduced in one environment (such as home) increases in another (such as school). ABA therapists track these shifts to ensure that skills learned in one setting are generalized to other areas.

16. Conditioned Reinforcer

A conditioned reinforcer is something that gains its reinforcing power because it’s associated with a primary reinforcer (like food or praise). For instance, a token or sticker system becomes motivating because the child knows they can exchange tokens for a bigger reward.

17. Extinction

Extinction is when a behavior is ignored or no longer reinforced, causing it to decrease over time. For example, if a child used to get attention by engaging in tantrums but now no longer gets attention, the tantrum behavior will eventually stop.

18. Extinction Burst

An extinction burst is when a behavior temporarily increases in intensity before it eventually stops. If a child is used to receiving reinforcement for a certain behavior (like yelling), they might escalate the behavior before it decreases once reinforcement is withheld.

19. Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)

An FBA is a process used by ABA therapists to identify the cause or function of a child’s behavior. By understanding why a behavior happens (e.g., to gain attention, avoid a task), therapists can develop a plan to address it effectively.

20. Behavioral Momentum

Behavioral momentum refers to the idea of building up a “momentum” of small, easy tasks to increase a child’s engagement and motivation. By starting with easy tasks and gradually progressing to harder ones, a child is more likely to succeed and stay motivated.

These 20 ABA terms are essential for parents navigating autism therapy and early intervention. Understanding these terms can help you stay involved in your child’s therapy sessions, track progress, and better communicate with your child’s ABA team.

At Milestone Achievements, we’re dedicated to supporting families through every step of their ABA therapy journey. Our team is here to guide you and your child toward success with customized, compassionate support.

Ready to get started with ABA therapy in Georgia? Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your child thrive!

Sources:

• https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisedu.org/what-is-an-antecedent-based-intervention/
• https://www.autismspeaks.org/applied-behavior-analysis
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6411560/
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10907925/
• https://www.autismspeaks.org/expert-opinion/what-discrete-trial-training
• https://online.regiscollege.edu/blog/task-analysis

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