Precision Learning &
Behavioral Consulting

An Overview of ABA/Verbal Behavior Approach to Therapy

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ABA Therapy 

 

Precision Learning & Behavioral Consulting utilizes the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis and develops individualized programs or treatment plans that target cognitive, speech, language, academic or school readiness, behavior management, play, and social skills. Each individualized program is based on the child’s strengths and work to decrease skill deficits.

 

Applied Behavior Analysis is the study of the functional relationship between one’s behaviors and their environment. Data is collected on the stimuli that elicits, increases, decreases, or maintains the child’s behavior. The data is analyzed and a treatment plan or an individualized ABA program is implemented. As the child’s treatment progresses, data is collected and analyzed again to determine treatment effectiveness. The goal of a behavior analyst is to utilize behavioral contingencies to help the child learn more functional skills that can replace undesirable behaviors and improve quality of life. Precision Learning & Behavioral Consulting seeks to produce significant results enabling the child to adapt to their environment thus preparing them for a brighter future.

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Individualized Programming/Development

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Each child is unique and therefore we believe it is our job to design a behavior intervention program that is individualized to your child’s specific needs. Our BCBA’s and BCaBA’s continually assess each child’s needs and use ABA Therapy Solutions extensive researched based curriculum to create a specialized program for each child. Our highly skilled staff members are trained in a wide range of ABA methods so that they have many options to find the intervention that works best to meet your child’s specific needs. 

 

Verbal Behavior Therapy 

Verbal Behavior Therapy teaches communication using the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis and the theories of behaviorist B.F. Skinner. Verbal Behavior is the actions of a person that are reinforced by a listener. It is a way of understanding the different purposes of language (e.g., a child may use language to ask for things, or to label things in his environment). Each child has their own method of communication – words, signs, augmentative devices, pictures, etc., but all children need to learn to be effective communicators. All skills are examined comprehensively to see if they are emerging evenly across all operants.

 

Most traditional language approaches differentiate between receptive (listener skills) and expressive (vocal) language. Skinner’s functional analysis of verbal behavior further analyzes vocal behavior according to its function. Mand (request), Tact (label) and Intraverbal (talking about things in the absence of those things) are all components of “expressive language.” Focusing on the reasons we say words rather than the form of the response allows us to more effectively teach functional language skills to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. 

 

The Verbal Operants:  

• Mand = request (you say it because you want it)  

• Tact = label (you say it because you see, hear, smell, taste, or feel something)  

• Intraverbal = conversation, answering a question, responding when someone else talks (you say it because someone else asked you a question, or made a comment)  

• Echoic = repeating what someone else says (you say it because someone else said it)

 

Other Operants:  

Imitation = repeating someone else’s motor movements (you move because someone else moved the same way) 

Listener Responding/Receptive = following directions (you do what someone else asks you to do)

Our goal at Precision Learning & Behavioral Consulting is here to help our clients understand that communicating produces positive results.