Children on the autism spectrum have additional developmental needs when compared with non-autistic children. There are various ways that parents of children with special needs can help their children to gain their full potential and learn vital communication and behavioral skills. These include actions both inside and outside of the home, such as specialized therapy and support.
Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA therapy, is a trusted and effective solution favored by professionals and parents. Within ABA therapy, ABA modeling is a technique that can help children with autism to develop.
ABA Therapy Overview
Personalized for each child, ABA therapy centers around how children learn during their life and reinforces positive behaviors. It can enhance communication and social skills, reduce problematic behavior, develop fine motor skills and improve memory.
Techniques used in ABA therapy include:
- Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT)
- Picture Exchange Communication System (PECT)
- Reinforcement systems
- Modeling
Therapists choose the most appropriate techniques depending on the individual child and create tailored therapy plans with specific positive outcomes in mind.
What is ABA Modeling?
In ABA Modeling, a learner is expected to copy an action, either spoken or physically. The actions show certain target behaviors so that the learner will imitate and follow the examples in everyday life. As the name suggests, this technique literally provides a model for suitable speech and gestures.
Therapists adapt modeling to match children’s existing abilities. Actions are repeated regularly to reinforce outcome goal behaviors.
Modeling can be used both to teach a behavior and to prompt a behavior. As a prompt, children attempt to use the target behavior and the model provides additional support.
Learner Suitability for Modeling
While most children with autism can benefit from modeling therapy, there are certain skills a child should already possess for effective modeling.
They should:
- Be able to imitate the behavior of others
- Have existing skills necessary to complete the target skill (for example, a learner should be able to speak if phrases are targeted and should be able to perform certain motions if actions are targeted)
- Have the required attention span to watch or listen to the model
Examples of Modeling
Essentially, modeling can be used to teach any behavior. Examples may include:
- Phrases to ask for something
- Phrases to give thanks when given something
- Phrases to indicate a need to go to the bathroom
- Actions to shake hands when meeting somebody
- Actions to wave when a person is leaving
- Actions to raise a hand to speak in class
- Actions to use a knife and fork to eat
- Actions to hold a pencil
Types of ABA Modeling
There are three main types of ABA modeling:
- In person
- Pre-recorded audio
- Pre-recorded video
In-Person Modeling
In-person, or in-vivo, modeling is where a person demonstrates the target behavior in front of the autistic child.
Children often copy others, and modeling can therefore be performed by anyone in the child’s circle. Siblings can be coached to act in certain ways and parents can use modeling with their autistic child.
Trained therapists also use in-person modeling as part of ABA therapy. In therapy, certain target actions are selected and modeling is used to reach goal behaviors.
Audio Modeling
Pre-recorded audio clips can be an effective way for children with special needs to learn appropriate phrases and responses.
Audio can be a simple as key phrases or include sample conversations and role play for diverse situations and events.
A major benefit of audio modeling is that children can listen to the same audio clips over and over again, with no change in intonation or word order. Pre-recorded audio provides consistency.
Video Modeling
Video modeling has been shown to be very effective for visual learners. Children can learn appropriate behaviors, including how to interact with people and how to act in various settings and situations, as they watch others.
Examples include watching children playing together, watching a child eating and displaying appropriate table etiquette, watching children in a classroom, and watching children greet each other.
Modeling is also useful at helping children to learn routines, for example by watching a child brush their teeth correctly or wash the dishes properly.
The aim is that after seeing certain behaviors in practice, a child will replicate those target behaviors.
Some modeling videos have audio and some are silent. Research suggests that both are similarly effective, but that learners tend to prefer videos that have sound.
Videos can also show the child performing the target skill. Known as self-modeling, this is usually achieved by first using in-person modeling and recording the child imitating the behavior. The video then allows the child to watch themselves back (minus the original model), with the aim of reinforcing the behavior.
Similar to pre-recorded audio modeling, the benefits of video modeling include the fact that the child can re-watch the video at any time and that there is consistency. Videos also show nuances that aren’t possible simply with explanations.
Research suggests that learning may be faster when using video modeling over real-life modeling, particularly for children who already enjoy watching TV and movies.
Benefits of ABA Modeling
By learning appropriate behaviors through imitation, children with autism can develop many skills. These include:
- Communication
- Language
- Social
- Play
- Fine motor
- Self-help
- Academic
- Perspective
- Independence
As with other techniques used in ABA therapy, modeling aids with a child’s early development, growth, and functioning. In essence, ABA modeling helps to equip autistic children with the tools to thrive in the real world. As a child learns, it can also help parents to feel more empowered and less overwhelmed.
Enrolling Your Child for Therapy
If your child has an autism spectrum disorder or other special needs, as a parent you’ll want to do everything in your power to support your child. Enrolling your child in the best program is likely a major concern for you.
Path2Potential is a trusted and well-known choice if you want the best for your child. Trained professionals use modeling and other techniques of ABA therapy to support children’s development, with both in-person and remote therapy options available.
Contact Path2Potential for a free consultation and to enroll your child for success-building services.