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Interventions based on applied behaviour analysis are considered evidence based practice for autism spectrum disorders. Due to the shortage of highly qualified professionals required for their delivery, innovative models should be explored, such as telehealth. Telehealth utilises technology for remote training and supervision. The purpose of our study was to systematically review the literature researching telehealth and ABA. We analysed intervention characteristics, outcomes and research quality in 28 studies and identified gaps. Intervention characteristics were: (1) research design (2) participants (3) technology (4) dependent variables (5) aims. Outcomes were favourable with all studies reporting improvements in at least one variable. Quality ratings were significantly low. Implications for future research and practice are discussed in light of identified methodological downfalls.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the prevalence of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in adults and children who were exposed to applied behavior analysis (ABA) autism early childhood intervention. Using an online questionnaire to survey autistic adults and caregivers of autistic children, the author collected data from 460 respondents on demographics, intervention types, and current pathological behaviors with symptom severity scales. This study noted PTSS in nearly half of ABA-exposed participants, while non-exposed controls had a 72 percent chance of being asymptomatic. ABA satisfaction ratings for caregivers averaged neutral or mild satisfaction. In contrast, adult satisfaction with ABA was lower on average and also tended to take on either extremely low or extremely high ratings. Exposure to ABA predicted a higher rate and more severe PTSS in participants, but the duration of exposure did not affect satisfaction with the intervention in caregivers.Design/methodology/approachParticipants were recruited for an online survey through social media networks, adult gatherings, social skills groups, and autism support groups nationwide. Adult inclusion criteria consisted of autism – diagnosed or self-diagnosed – and an age of 18 or older. A total of 460 respondents, consisting of autistic adults and caregivers of autistic children, completed an online survey. The caregiver entries (n=217) concerned 79 percent male children, 21 percent female children (male to female 3.80:1), and one MtF transgender child, ages 1-38, with an average age at diagnosis of 4.69 years. The adult entries (n=243) concerned 30 percent males, 55 percent females (male to female 0.55:1), and 14 percent other gender, ages 18-73, with an average age at diagnosis of 25.38 years.FindingsNearly half (46 percent) of the ABA-exposed respondents met the diagnostic threshold for PTSD, and extreme levels of severity were recorded in 47 percent of the affected subgroup. Respondents of all ages who were exposed to ABA were 86 percent more likely to meet the PTSD criteria than respondents who were not exposed to ABA. Adults and children both had increased chances (41 and 130 percent, respectively) of meeting the PTSD criteria if they were exposed to ABA. Both adults and children without ABA exposure had a 72 percent chance of reporting no PTSS (see Figure 1). At the time of the study, 41 percent of the caregivers reported using ABA-based interventions.Originality/valueThe majority of adult respondents were female, raising questions about the population of online autistic survey respondents. Further, the high numbers of reported gender other than male or female in the adult respondents, as well as at least on MtF child from the caregiver respondents indicates that future studies should consider these intersections. These accompanied significant discrepancies in reporting bias between caregivers and ABA-exposed individuals, which highlight the need for the inclusion of the adult autistic voice in future intervention design. Based on the findings, the author predicts that nearly half of ABA-exposed autistic children will be expected to meet the PTSD criteria four weeks after commencing the intervention; if ABA intervention persists, there will tend to be an increase in parent satisfaction despite no decrease in PTSS severity.

The main goal of applied behaviour analysis is to increase behaviours that are positive and helpful and decrease behaviours that affect learning negatively or are harmful. Behaviour analysis has been studied and used for decades and it has been shown that its methods can help many kinds of learners gain different skills. Therapists have been using applied behaviour analysis to help children with autism spectrum disorder and other related developmental disorders for a long time. Applied behaviour analysis can be adapted to meet the needs of each child and also be provided in different environments like school, home, and community. It can involve one-to-one teaching or group instruction and is effective at teaching skills useful in everyday life. In this paper, firstly approaches and strategies used to implement applied behaviour analysis on children with autism spectrum disorder are presented. Then, challenges related to these and emerging opportunities and software applications serving for applied behaviour analysis are reviewed. Finally, future research directions are presented.

Interventions based upon applied behaviour analysis (ABA) have been shown to be best practice for children with autism spectrum disorder. However, in many parts of the world there is a shortage of appropriately trained behaviour analysts. Telehealth is a potential solution to increasing access to ABA. Our study assessed the use of telehealth to provide parent training in naturalistic teaching strategies designed to increase child communication skills. Five parent child dyads took part in the training, utilising didactic training and synchronous coaching. Parents could be trained to a high level of fidelity and viewed the training favourably. Children showed variable gains in communication and improved positive affect. The project was cost effective in comparison with traditional training models.

The scientist practitioner model (SPM) or “Boulder Model” emphasizes training in research methods and the application of research findings to solving clinical problems. Within the science of applied behavior analysis (ABA), the scientist-practitioner model (SPM) is an integral component of the field. However, there are no data to report on the current state of the SPM within our field. A survey was administered among current Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) to evaluate the current state of the SPM and research productivity. We also evaluated BCBA’s motivations for research involvement, the number of publications per respondent, and other important variables impacting research productivity. Overall, results indicate that the majority of respondents adhere to the SPM despite the lack of high research productivity. Suggestions on bridging the gap and possible future directions are discussed.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore patients' experiences and management of pain in connection with a migraine attack in episodic migraine. Design, setting and subjects: This qualitative study used a semi-structured interview format based on functional behavioural analysis as commonly used in cognitive behavioural therapy. We interviewed eight participants and analysed their responses using systematic text condensation. Results: Participants' descriptions of their experiences and management of pain from episodic migraine were sorted into three description First physical sensations, Automatic reactions and Acts according to the interpretation. Conclusion: From a biopsychosocial perspective, a migraine attack is much more complex than just an experience of pain. The purely biological pain prompts a number of automatic reactions leading to strategies for pain management.

In the 1960s and 1970s, psychologists at the University of California, Los Angeles, operated two behaviour modification programs: one aiming to eliminate “feminine” behaviours in male-bodied children (“conversion therapy”), and one targeting autistic children’s so-called problem behaviours (applied behavioural analysis or ABA). The head of the autism program referred to his work as “building a person.” Decades later in Ontario, a radically incommensurate legal context sees conversion therapy banned while ABA receives millions of funding dollars. Drawing on legislation, case law, media, and clinical literature, I argue that the process of trans communities wresting themselves out from under conversion therapy involved discursively shifting from having a condition to being human—a process of “building a person”—still incomplete for autistic communities. While legal reforms protect some trans youth from harmful therapies, this does not extend to autistic trans youth, leading us to question at whose expense a rights-bearing trans person was built.

Limited research has explored how to best train caregivers to support their child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) despite caregivers being well suited to promote generalization and maintenance of their child’s skills in the natural environment. Children with ASD have been shown to benefit from social skill training, which is not always conducted in the natural context. This research examined the efficacy of behavioral skills training (BST) with, and without in situ training (IST), for teaching caregivers how to also use BST to support their child’s context-specific social skills. Although caregivers met mastery criterion within BST sessions, their skills did not generalize to the natural environment until IST was introduced. The implications of the findings are discussed.

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) has become a popular behavioral therapy in the special education needs (SEN) community. ABA is used to manage SEN students’ behaviors by solving problems in socially important settings, and puts emphasis on having precise measurements on physical and observable events. In this work, we present how Internet of Things (IoT) technologies can be applied to enhance ABA therapy in normal SEN classroom settings. We measured (1) learning performance data, (2) learners’ physiological data, and (3) learning environment sensors’ data. Upon preliminary analysis, we have found that learners’ physiological data is highly diverse, while learner performance seems to be related to learners’ electrodermal activity. Our preliminary findings suggest the possibility of enhancing ABA for SEN with IoT technologies.

This study investigates demographic and clinical factors associated with initiation, continuation, and adherence to behavioral health treatment (BHT) among children with autism spectrum disorder. Among 293 insured children referred for applied behavior analysis (ABA) based BHT, 23% never initiated treatment. Among those initiating treatment, 31% discontinued treatment within 1 year of treatment initiation, and only 15% received 80% or more of recommended treatment hours. Younger age at referral to treatment, private health insurance, and receiving more than 10 h/week of BHT were associated with treatment engagement. Co-occurring psychiatric and medical conditions were related to treatment discontinuation among children 5 years or older. These findings suggest specific subgroups that may benefit from additional support with engaging in recommended behavioral health treatment.