Applied Behavior Analysis

The Child Study Center provides behavior analytic services to children with developmental disabilities who either display difficult behaviors such as noncompliance, tantrums, property destruction, self-injury and aggression or lack desirable skills such as self-help, social, play, academic and language.

It has been documented that children with developmental disabilities do not learn as readily from the natural environment compared to normal children. It has also been demonstrated that applied behavior analytic techniques are effective at teaching skills to children with developmental disabilities, especially when done at a young age. The Child Study Center can assist parents with the development and supervision of behavioral programs so each child can reach his or her full potential.

Treatment of problematic behaviors frequently involves actively teaching and reinforcing desirable behaviors that serve the same function as the problematic ones. For example, a child is taught to make a verbal request for a preferred snack as opposed to the child receiving it by throwing tantrums.

Applying the behavior analytic principles derived from findings of rigorous scientific research, the behavior analyst at the Child Study Center makes treatment recommendations based on a direct assessment of each individual child, develops and supervises early intervention programs for young children with development disabilities such as Autism (i.e., ABA programs) and trains and provides consultation to parents and teachers. Program development and revisions are based on assessment, baseline or current information of each individual child. Outcomes are assessed and compared to baseline measures to determine the success of interventions.

For more information about behavior analytic services at the Child Study Center call: 817.390.2900.