ABA offers a variety of effective strategies for reducing challenging behaviors, based on understanding why those behaviors occur and how they can be replaced with more appropriate alternatives. By using positive reinforcement, functional analysis, and other techniques, significant progress can be achieved, improving the quality of life for both individuals exhibiting these behaviors and their families and caregivers.

What Are Challenging Behaviors?

Challenging behaviors encompass a variety of actions that can be difficult for those around the individual exhibiting them. Common examples include tantrums, aggression, self-injury, excessive screaming, or resistance to certain demands or changes. These behaviors are often manifestations of frustration, anxiety, an inability to communicate needs, or a way of escaping an undesirable situation.

ABA focuses on understanding why a behavior occurs, which allows for the creation of a personalized plan to effectively address it.

Main ABA Strategies for Reducing Challenging Behaviors

1. Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)
   Before implementing any intervention, ABA professionals conduct a functional behavior assessment to determine the reason behind the problematic behavior. Identifying the function of the behavior is key to addressing it appropriately. Behaviors usually serve one of four main functions: to gain attention, to escape a task or situation, to obtain a desired object or activity, or to seek sensory stimulation.
2. Positive Reinforcement
   One of the most powerful strategies in ABA is positive reinforcement, which involves rewarding desired behaviors so they occur more frequently. For example, if a child is learning to ask for a break instead of yelling when feeling overwhelmed, every time they appropriately request a break, they are rewarded with the break.
3. Extinction
   Extinction involves stopping the reinforcement that typically strengthens the undesired behavior. If the maladaptive behavior does not receive the expected response (e.g., a child yells for attention but does not receive it), the behavior should decrease over time. It is important that this approach is combined with teaching appropriate alternatives.
4. Teaching Alternative Skills
   Often, challenging behaviors arise because the individual lacks an appropriate way to communicate their needs or desires. ABA teaches alternative skills to replace the undesired behavior. For instance, a child can be taught to use visual cards to communicate that they are tired instead of having a tantrum.
5. Stimulus Control
   Stimulus control involves modifying the environment to reduce the likelihood of a problematic behavior occurring. This could be as simple as structuring a workspace to be free of distractions or using visual cues to signal what will happen next, helping the individual prepare and reduce anxiety.
6. Systematic Desensitization
   For challenging behaviors associated with fears or phobias, such as resistance to haircuts or dentist visits, systematic desensitization can be helpful. This technique involves gradually exposing the individual to the feared stimulus in a controlled manner until the fear decreases.
7. Differential Reinforcement of Other Behaviors (DRO)
   This technique involves rewarding the individual for not engaging in a problematic behavior for a specified period of time. The focus is on reinforcing the absence of the challenging behavior rather than the behavior itself.

Importance of Consistency and Monitoring

For ABA strategies to be effective in reducing challenging behaviors, consistency in their application is essential. Therapists, caregivers, and family members must be aligned and follow the intervention plan in all environments (home, school, community). Additionally, it is crucial to monitor progress and adjust strategies as needed, as behaviors can evolve or change over time.

References

Autism Learning Partners. (no date). Utilizing ABA to Address Challenging Behaviors. https://autismlearningpartners.com/utilizing-aba-to-address-challenging-behaviors/#:~:text=1.-,Decrease%20challenging%20behaviors,(BIP)%20for%20the%20individual.

Kind Behavioral Health. (2023, November 23). Coaches Corner: The First Step to Behavior Reduction. https://kindbh.com/coaches-corner-the-first-step-to-behavior-reduction/

Wonderway.  (2024, May 21). Understanding Behavior Reduction Techniques in ABA Therapy: What You Need to Know. https://wonderwayaba.com/understanding-behavior-reduction-techniques-in-aba-therapy/