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ABA Glossary

This glossary is a collection of ABA terms that are helpful to know as a parent.

ABA Glossary

ABA- Applied Behavior Analysis is a well-respected science that goes MUCH farther
than Autism. ABA at its core is a way to teach, manage, or reduce behaviors. Just like
the phrase Autism Spectrum Disorders, ABA is an umbrella term that can cover many
specific strategies. Some examples include Incidental Teaching, Discrete Trial
Training, and Verbal Behavior. There are many ways to “do” ABA.

ABA Therapist- Anyone who provides ABA therapy to a learner, in a direct staff role.

ABLLS Assessment- A comprehensive assessment and curriculum planning tool

created by Drs. Sundberg & Partington. This tool allows you to assess across 25 varied
domains to get a complete snapshot of a child’s functioning level, strengths, and
deficits. Domains include self-help skills, gross motor skills, receptive skills, group
instruction, etc.

ABC's of Behavior- Also known as the Three Term Contingency, ABC's of behavior is a
tool used to determine the function of any behavior. The A is for antecedent, the B is
the actual behavior, and C is the consequence.

Antecedent- In behavior analytic terms, an antecedent is simply what happened right

before the behavior.

BCBA or BCBA-D/BCaBA- This is the board certification required for a person to

become a Behavior Analyst, and it is recognized worldwide. In many states or with
insurance companies, only BCBAs are recognized as being properly authorized to
oversee, manage, or supervise ABA programs.

RBT - Registered Behavior Technician. For direct level staff, this is a credential that
denotes the person has met specific education and experience standards, and has
passed a rigorous exam.
Behavior - To be called a behavior, it must be observable and/or measurable. The
"Dead Man's Test" states: If a dead man can do it, it ain't behavior. So "being quiet" is
not a behavior because a dead person can "be quiet".

Chaining – Used to teach multi-step skills in which the steps involved are defined
through task analysis, and each separate step is taught to link together the total
"chain". Can be either done by backward, forward, or total task analyses.

Consequence- In behavior analytic terms, a consequence is simply what happens

after the behavior. Consequences can be good or bad (or nothing).

Discrete Trial Training - A specific method of instruction in which a task is isolated and
taught to an individual across multiple trials (repetition teaching). A specific
opportunity to respond is presented, and a specific response from the learner is
expected (Teacher: "Stand up". Learner: (stands up). Teacher: "Nice standing!").

Echoic- This is a Verbal Behavior term. An echoic is being able to vocally imitate upon
request.

Echolalia- "Echoing" or imitating what is heard, can be immediate or delayed. So if

you ask your child "Want to go outside?" and they respond "Go outside?", that is
echolalia.

Elopement- Elopement is wandering, or running away. This could be an adult

wandering away from the house, or a child repeatedly running away from the table
during a session.

Extinction – The withholding of reinforcement for a previously reinforced behavior,

resulting in reduction of that behavior.

Extinction burst - The increase in frequency and/or intensity of behavior in the early
stages of extinction.

Generalization - Term used to describe the ability to learn a skill in one situation and
be able to apply it flexibly to other similar but different situations.

HOH Prompting- Hand over hand prompting is a physical prompt where you place your
hands over the learner's hand to get them to comply with a motor demand or
directive.

Intervention- This is the plan of action or the strategy you will use to change a
behavior. An example of an intervention is teaching a learner to use a card to request
help instead of tantrum.
Intraverbals- Intraverbals are building blocks to conversation skills as its the ability to
discuss, describe, or answer a question about something that isn't physically present.
Example: "What did you do on your vacation last summer?"

Lead Therapist- Anyone who helps manage the ABA program, and supervises the ABA
Therapists (direct staff) while also reporting to the BCBA.

Mand- A mand is basically a "demand". This is being able to request something that
one wants or needs.

Mouthing- This refers to when inappropriately placing items/toys, etc. in the mouth.

NET- Natural Environment Training is a type of ABA where learning occurs incidentally
and often playfully in natural environments.

Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS): PECS is a communication system for

functionally non-verbal individuals. The approach is designed to help individuals with
autism learn to initiate requests and communicate their needs.

Prompt - A form of assistance or cue given to help the learner compete a task. There
are several types of prompts: physical prompt, gestural prompt, position prompt, model
prompt, verbal prompt, symbolic prompt, and visual prompt, and many more.

Punisher- Punishers can be tangible, social, physical, etc. In behavior analytic terms,
to be considered a punisher the target behavior must decrease.

Reinforcer- A reinforcer is something used to motivate a learner to complete a task,

or engage in a behavior. Reinforcement can be tangible (toy), social (praise), physical
(hugs, kisses), etc. In behavior analytic terms, to be considered a reinforcer the
likelihood of future occurrence of the target behavior must increase. Bribery (which
isn't effective) is given before the behavior, reinforcement is after the behavior.

Satiation - When a reinforcer loses it’s effectiveness due to overuse.

Scripting- This is when a learner engages in a verbal stim where they repeat, or
"script", phrases or entire sections of a TV show, movie, commercial, etc. Can also be
called “self-talk”.

Scrolling- This is when a learner responds to a demand by either receptively or

expressively linking several responses together. For example, if shown a photo of a
firefighter and asked "Who is this?" the learner responds by saying
"Doctor/Teacher/Firefighter".

Self-injurious behavior (SIB) - Self-injurious behaviors are actions that an individual

performs that result in physical injury to the body. Typical forms of self-injurious
behavior include: hitting oneself with hands or other body parts, head-banging, biting
oneself, picking at skin or sores, or frantically scratching or rubbing oneself
repeatedly to the point of bruising or other harm.

Tact- A tact is being able to label or describe an item with stimuli being present. For
example, a learner can tact if they can label the color of a ball if the ball is present.

Target Behavior- This is the behavior of interest you are trying to increase, or
decrease. You may have multiple target behaviors you are working on or just one.

Transitions - May refer to changes from one activity or setting to another such as
from an early childhood program to school or from a preferred play activity to a work
activity. Transitions are typically very difficult for individuals with ASD, particularly
unplanned or surprise transitions.

VB-MAPP Assessment- An assessment and curriculum tool created by Dr. Sundberg.

This tool focuses on verbal assessment to get a complete snapshot of verbal abilities,
strengths, and deficits. Domains include manding, intraverbals, echoics, etc.