Why is Consistency Important in ABA Programs?

Consistency is key to reinforcing new skills and behaviors that all children learn. It’s especially so for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who often thrive on routine and predictability.

This is a major reason why consistency is one of the cornerstones of ABA therapy, or applied behavior analysis. When skills and behaviors are taught in a consistent way, using the same strategies and tools, across multiple environments, it’s more likely that those skills and behaviors will stick.

Most ABA therapy programs will have a “home base,” whether that be a clinical setting or the child’s home, where the skills and behaviors are taught initially. The true measure of success in this treatment program, though, is the ability for children to generalize those skills for all environments and situations in their life.

To do this, consistency is necessary. We’ll describe this in more depth below.

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Why is Consistency Important in ABA Therapy?

In regard to ABA therapy, consistency means that all aspects of a treatment plan are carried out in the same way — in every session, outside of sessions and in all environments. This refers to how strategies and tools are used, and how reinforcements are applied in a uniform way, no matter what.

As mentioned before, generalization is a major goal for all patients, regardless of the specific goals they have in relation to particular skills or behaviors. That’s because in order for the skill or behavior to be completely mastered, the child needs to be able to display the ability to apply what they learn in ABA therapy sessions to real-world scenarios.

By taking a consistent approach with the child at all times, it helps them to understand that the skill or behavior needs to be carried out in a certain way all the time.

Being consistent also results in more effective reinforcement of desired behaviors. When children are rewarded in the same way for the same actions all the time, they are more likely to repeat those behaviors over time — even if it’s in a different setting.

In addition, consistently helps to prevent the child from regressing and losing progress that they make in therapy sessions. This is why it’s so important to integrate parents, caregivers and other family members into the ABA therapy plan, so that the strategies, tools and reinforcement can be carried out consistently.

What Happens When There is  Inconsistency in ABA Therapy?

First and foremost, inconsistency in any teaching environment can cause confusion. This is especially true of children with ASD, who often struggle with communication and social skills, and who may face challenges when it comes to generalizing skills.

If you reinforce behaviors in different ways, or reinforce different behaviors, based on the setting, for instance, the child can become uncertain as to what they’re supposed to do or how they’re supposed to act.

Many times, this could result in them becoming frustrated, which could lead to them not complying and/or throwing a tantrum.

Inconsistent application in ABA therapy can also slow progress quite considerably. If parents don’t consistently apply the techniques and reinforcements that are applied during treatment sessions, for example, the child may make a lot of progress with the therapist, but then quickly regress when the therapist leaves.

Consistent application in this sense amounts to practice. When a child practices a sport, a dance or other skill at home when they are not with the coach, instructor or teacher, they are more likely to not only maintain but build on those skills.

Finally, inconsistent ABA therapy can lead to many missed opportunities that could have been used to reinforce valuable skills and behaviors. In order for children to truly make lasting progress, they must be able to display the skills and behaviors they learn to multiple contexts and environments.

And to do this, there must be consistency in the approach, application and reinforcement of ABA therapy.

Blue Gems ABA Helps Children with ASD Build Long-Term Skills

Consistency is key in ABA therapy, which is a major reason why parental involvement is so crucial to its success. By creating consistent strategies and approaches, and using consistent tools and reinforcements, therapists and parents can help their child with autism build long-term skills and behaviors.

At Blue Gems ABA, we work hand-in-hand with all of our patient’s families, caregivers, family members and other support professionals to ensure consistency in application of ABA therapy. In this way, we help children with autism build the skills and modify behaviors that are needed to thrive in life.

To learn more, please contact us today.