Frequently Asked Questions

ABA stands for Applied Behavior Analysis. It's a way of teaching that looks closely at what happens just before and just after a behavior, and uses that to build skills that matter in your child's day — communicating, playing, taking care of themselves and handling changes in routine.

A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) designs your child's program around goals you help choose, and the team tracks progress so you can see what's working. Our What Is ABA Therapy? page goes into more detail.

ABA is one of the most studied approaches for young autistic children. Research reviews find that many children make real gains in communication, daily living and learning skills, but progress varies a lot from child to child. It depends on the child, the number of hours, the quality of the program and how involved the family can be.

We can't promise a particular result. What we can do is set clear goals with you, track your child's progress, and change the plan when something isn't working. Learn more about ABA therapy.

Often, yes, and it's one of the most common reasons families reach out to us. Your child's BCBA starts by working out why the behavior is happening — what it gets your child, or what it helps them get away from. This is called a functional behavior assessment.

From there, we teach your child a safer way to meet the same need, and we show you how to respond at home so the new skill holds up outside of sessions. If safety is a worry right now, tell us when you reach out.

No. The research is strongest for starting early, and much of our work is with young children, including toddlers through our early intervention program. But ABA's methods work at any age. Older children and teens simply work on different goals, such as independence, self-advocacy, friendships and school routines.

Our services are for children and teens. If you're not sure whether we're the right fit for your child, call us and we'll tell you honestly.

ABA teaches new skills and helps reduce behaviors that get in the way of learning or safety. With the families we work with, goals usually fall into four areas: communication (asking for what they need, conversation and self-advocacy), independence (daily routines, self-care and transitions), social and play skills (engaging with peers and cooperative play), and behavior support (understanding why a behavior happens and teaching a better replacement).

Which goals come first is decided with you, based on what would make the biggest difference for your child and family.

ABA grew out of behavioral psychology in the mid-1900s. The field was formally described in 1968, in the first issue of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, and researchers such as Dr. Ivar Lovaas began applying it with autistic children in the 1960s.

Lovaas's 1987 study of early, intensive ABA, and the 1993 follow-up by McEachin and colleagues, shaped many of the early intervention programs that came after.

Yes, quite a bit. Early programs were mostly structured, adult-led teaching at a table, and some methods used decades ago are no longer used. Today, good ABA is individualized and often play-based. It builds on your child's interests, pays attention to whether your child is comfortable and engaged, and includes parents throughout.

The field is also more regulated than it once was. The Behavior Analyst Certification Board was established in 1998 to certify behavior analysts, and since 2009 New Jersey has required fully insured, state-regulated health plans to cover medically necessary ABA for autism.