Applied Behavior Analysis or ABA therapy is one of the most utilized forms of therapy for children with autism, and its focus is on modifying behavior. This type of behavior modification is facilitated through a clinician or therapist who works with the children in their home environment or in a therapy center.
The process of pairing within the context of ABA therapy is where the therapist works to pair well with the child or to build a positive relationship with that client. By pairing effectively or maintaining that highly effective, positive relationship, then children associate that therapist with things like their preferred items, fun, and safety.
This stands apart from a therapist who might otherwise be viewed as the person who gives a child demands or makes them do things on a regular basis. The idea behind this type of naturalistic relationship or pairing is that the therapist follows the key signals they get from the client while using those signals to build rapport. Watching some of their favorite items can help the therapist associate themselves with those items before they start any formal teaching.
When our clinicians work with your children, ABA therapy pairing is an essential first step, making sure that the relationship our clinicians have with your children comes off naturally and becomes a positive one before they start using the personalized plan set out by the BCBA to start skill building.
How Pairing Works
ABA therapy pairing works when the therapist starts to learn what each of their individual Learners really love, things like specific music, specific toys, bubbles, sequin pillows, or other items.
This is a very crucial first step, as these pairing sessions are there to:
- Help build trust with a therapist
- Reduce the likelihood of escape behaviors when therapy starts
- Increase motivation for compliance
Understanding what the individual child loves most helps the therapist to provide those things freely, like playing music that a child loves without requiring the child to earn it, letting them play with a sequin pillow throughout a therapy session, or blowing bubbles outside for fun.
As the therapist participates in things like playtime with the given child, those positive interactions can increase the positive association with the things a child loves.
For example, a child who loves playing with the alternating sequence on a sequin pillow might start to develop a positive reinforcement not only of that activity but of their therapist when, during therapy sessions, they are allowed to play with that sequin pillow and the therapist plays with that sequin pillow as well. During this initial stage, the therapist doesn’t require things of the child, just works to better understand and associate with the things the child loves most. This ensures that each child learns to continue loving their favorite things rather than associating them with hard work or stress.
Find Help
ABA therapy pairing is an essential first step, focusing on making sure that the therapist can build a positive relationship with each client before they start skill-building. Following guidelines set out by the BACB, the activities and strategies used during these preliminary pairing sessions can set the tone for the effectiveness of that therapist and the personalized treatment plan your child receives moving forward.
To learn more about ABA therapy pairing, or to start an evaluation, call Caper ABA Services at (847) 996-9832.
FAQ
How Do I Start ABA Therapy Pairing With My Child?
If you are ready to start ABA therapy with your child, it’s important that you find a qualified provider. At Caper ABA Services, we offer board-certified behavior analysts and licensed therapists to work with each of our children. We also provide center and at-home services depending on age and needs, ensuring that all children are able to access the care that is best for them.
Are There Benefits to ABA Therapy Alone?
Yes, there can certainly be benefits to using ABA therapy, but pairing is an essential process in achieving success. With ABA therapy, with a positive relationship between your child and the caregiver or therapist, the benefits can extend to improved social skills like making eye contact or taking turns, as well as enhanced communication, whether that’s verbal or nonverbal.
What is the ABC of ABA Therapy?
“ABC” in different types of ABA therapy refers to a three-part framework that is used to analyze behavior and, from there, make appropriate changes.
The “A” stands for “Antecedent,” and this refers to what happens immediately before a behavior takes place, something that might regularly result in an unwanted behavior that a therapist is trying to change. The “B” stands for the action a person takes due to that antecedent.
The “C” stands for the consequence, or what happens after they have taken their specific behavior. A therapist working with a client might employ a positive or negative consequence based on the behavior that took place in order to encourage or discourage that same behavior.
Who Provides ABA Therapy?
ABA therapy is typically provided by a team. The key member of that team is the board-certified behavior analyst, someone who is a master ‘s-level professional. That professional is responsible for designing the treatment plan for each client and subsequently supervising the plan. The registered behavior technician is the therapist who works one-on-one with each child to implement the plan created by the board-certified behavior analyst.
It is the registered behavior technician who implements daily sessions, but progress is still supervised by the BCBA.
How Old Does a Child Have to be for ABA Therapy?
Children of any age can benefit from ABA therapy; however, the best results come from therapy started at an earlier age, usually before the age of four. By starting ABA therapy at the age of four, children can make significant developmental gains by leveraging their early brain plasticity.
Nonetheless this does not mean that children cannot benefit if they are older than the age of four when they start ABA therapy as one of the most important aspects to long-term success is having things like parent or active caregiver training so that parents and caregivers can be involved in replicating the same things that are learned during ABA therapy sessions at home and in other environments.