| Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA, is the most | | | | therapists worked using Dr. Lovaasí |
| common and most recommended treatment | | | | therapy, with varied degrees of success. |
| method for children diagnosed with an autism | | | | Suspecting that success was at least in part |
| spectrum disorder. Designed to allow children to | | | | related to the amount of time spend practicing |
| achieve their maximum potential by teaching | | | | ABA, Lovaas initiated a study that involved using |
| them critical thinking and learning skills as well as | | | | intensive ABA therapy for a set number of hours |
| social skills, ABA is a well researched and refined | | | | weekly among children. The study provided a |
| method of treatment that has garnered the | | | | surprising answer that is to this day one of the |
| recommendation of many of the worldís | | | | key points of the therapy. Children who received |
| most renowned autism researchers. Something | | | | at least forty hours a week of intensive ABA |
| few people are aware of, however, is the rich | | | | therapy were able to complete their first grade |
| history of ABA and how much research has been | | | | classes and function normally on an intellectual |
| put into the therapy in the last fifty years. | | | | level while none of the students who only |
| Applied Behavior Analysis therapy was first | | | | received ten hours of training weekly were able |
| developed by a psychologist name Ivar Lovaas at | | | | to do so. This revolutionized the practice of ABA |
| the University of California Los Angeles, or UCLA, | | | | therapy and led to a significant increase in |
| in the 1960ís. Lovaas held a theory that if | | | | successful treatment cases. |
| children with autism are rewarded for a particular | | | | These days, ABA treatment remains much the |
| behavior then they will be likely to repeat the | | | | same, as it is still the standard that children should |
| behavior. ABA is designed to revolve around the | | | | receive 40 hours of intensive applied behavioral |
| idea of asking the child a question or giving a | | | | analysis per week from a therapist, caregiver, or |
| command and giving the correct response. If the | | | | parent. ABA may not be a cure for autism |
| command is followed or the response repeated, a | | | | disorders, but it offers a great deal of hope. ABA |
| reward is given while all other responses are | | | | offers children a chance to live up to their full |
| ignored. Responses to each question or command | | | | potential and allows many a chance to function |
| are documented and progress is tracked closely. | | | | fully in society without others having a clue that |
| Over the next many years, a number of | | | | they have an ASD. |