Common ABA Terms Parents Should Know, Explained Simply
Common ABA terms parents should know are the words your team uses to describe behavior, teaching steps, and progress. When you know the terms, you can read a treatment plan, ask better questions, and follow the same steps at home. Common ABA terms parents should know also help you spot what is being measured and why.
Common ABA terms parents should know in plain English
Behavior
Anything a person does that can be observed and measured. (Example: “hands on table” not “being good.”)
Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence (ABC)
What happens before the behavior, the behavior itself, and what happens right after. ABC notes help explain patterns.
Reinforcement
A consequence that increases a behavior in the future.
Reinforcement can be positive (adding something) or negative (removing something unpleasant).
Common ABA terms parents should know include this because it drives most teaching plans.
Prompt and prompt fading
A prompt is help given to get the right response. Fading means reducing that help over time to build independence.
Shaping
Reinforcing closer and closer attempts until the full skill happens.
Task analysis and chaining
Breaking a skill into steps and teaching the steps in order. (Example: toothbrushing steps.)
Generalization and maintenance
Generalization means a skill shows up in new places or with new people. Maintenance means it still happens weeks later.
Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)
A structured process that uses data to identify why a behavior happens, commonly to access attention, tangibles, escape, or sensory input.
A quick example parents recognize
In sessions, a child leaves the table after a demand and the demand stops. If leaving happens more next time, that can be negative reinforcement through escape. Common ABA terms parents should know make this clear without guessing.
Common ABA terms parents should know turn reports into usable steps at home and school. Want a one page glossary matched to your child’s goals? Call Inclusive ABA to schedule a visit. We will walk through it with you and practice the key routines. Common ABA terms parents should know are easiest to learn when you see them used in real sessions.
FAQs
Are reinforcement and bribery the same?
No. Reinforcement is planned and tied to a defined behavior after it happens.
Why do BCBAs talk about functions?
Function guides what replacement skill to teach and what to change in the environment.
What is a prompt?
Any help that increases correct responding, then is faded.
Do I need to memorize everything?
No. Start with Common ABA terms parents should know that show up in your child’s plan.
Sources
- https://www.bacb.com/bcba/
- https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BCBA-6th-Edition-Test-Content-Outline-240903-a.pdf
- https://www.nationalacademies.org/read/29139/chapter/7
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31451016/
- https://www.asha.org/njc/applied-behavior-analysis-and-communication-services/
- https://daniellock.com/abc-antecedent-behavior-consequence-model-of-change-management/
- https://courses.lumenlearning.com/waymaker-psychology/chapter/operant-conditioning/
- https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdesped/ta_fba-bip
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