Managing Aggression with ABA

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can affect children in many different ways. The neurodevelopmental disorder is typically characterized by deficits with communication and social interactions, as well as restrictive interests and/or repetitive behaviors.

In addition, children who have autism may face other challenges, including either hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to certain stimuli. Some children on the autism spectrum display behaviors that make them seem like loners, such as a preference for playing by themselves.

Others, still, display aggressive behaviors that can be harmful to themselves and others. When these behaviors occur, it can be rather disturbing and worrisome to parents, family members and other people who witness it, as they are concerned about the well-being of the child and themselves.

Through applied behavior analysis, or ABA therapy, these aggressive behaviors can be targeted, with children being taught new skills so the instances of these harmful behaviors can be reduced.

Let’s take a look below at how ABA therapy can help children with autism manage aggression.

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Why Do Some Children with Autism Display Aggressive Behaviors?

It’s very important to remember that behaviors are a way that children express themselves. When babies cry, for instance, they are in need of something — whether they’re hungry, have a wet diaper, are tired or are too hot or too cold.

The baby cries because they have not yet learned how to properly communicate those feelings through words.

Aggressive behavior can be looked at in a similar way as a baby crying. Many children with autism struggle with communication — whether that be expressing how they feel, or telling someone else that they want or need something.

As a result, they display behaviors that sometimes aren’t typical for other neurotypical children their age. Aggression is one example of this behavior.

If a child with autism is displaying aggressive behaviors, it’s important to understand that there’s an underlying cause to it. They’re likely trying to attract attention to themselves because they need something, want something or are having difficulties dealing with sensory overload, for instance.

How Can ABA Therapy Help Manage Aggression?

The first step in managing aggression is identifying and understanding what the root causes of the aggressive behaviors are. ABA therapists can learn this through observations and by working with the child on a one-to-one basis.

Once the root cause has been identified, the therapist will work with the child to build their communication skills so that they have a replacement behavior they can draw on when they experience that root cause that typically triggered an aggressive behavior.

For example, if the child becomes aggressive when they are hungry, the therapist will work with the child to communicate that they are hungry and would like some food.

There are many different techniques that ABA therapy uses to teach children with autism new skills and how to modify their behaviors. This includes teaching skills on a step-by-step basis, using prompts that combine visuals with verbal commands, positive reinforcement and much more.

Using the example above, the therapist might have a picture of a banana available for the child to point to. When they are feeling hungry, they are shown through modeling how to point to the picture of the banana, and if they do so correctly, they are presented with an actual banana to eat.

Slowly but surely, the therapist helps the child communicate that they want a banana on their own without the prompts. As the child is learning and mastering these skills, the therapist uses positive reinforcement to reward the child for successfully exhibiting positive behavior instead of aggression.

What if the Aggression is Due to Feeling Overwhelmed?

The cause of the aggression is what will determine how the ABA therapist helps the child modify their behavior — but the approach to how they do so remains the same.

Some children with autism may exhibit aggression when they’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed or if they have a sensory sensitivity, such as problems with loud noises, strong odors or bright lights.

In these cases, the therapist will use similar processes as the above to help children manage their emotions so that they can in turn manage their aggression. This might include getting a sensory toy that helps them exhibit safe and helpful self-stimulatory behaviors, or it could include retiring to a separate quiet space where they can relax and center themselves.

This is the great part about ABA therapy. It’s an extremely flexible and customizable treatment plan that can be applied to all different issues that children with autism face.

Blue Gems ABA Helps Children with Autism Manage Aggression

Aggressive behaviors are more common in children with autism than they are in neurotypical children. Most of the time, these aggressive behaviors appear when the child has a difficult time communicating their wants or needs.

At Blue Gems ABA, we work hard to get to the root cause of aggression and other negative behaviors so that children with ASD can find replacement behaviors that are much more positive and helpful to them.

We do this by administering ABA therapy on a one-to-one basis. All of our ABA therapy treatment plans are catered specifically to each individual’s unique strengths and challenges, which results in them being more effective.

To learn more, please contact us today.