When supporting individuals with communication needs, two approaches are often compared: Speech- Language Therapy and Traditional Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). While they both may work on enhancing communication skills, the methodologies and philosophies are significantly different. Let’s look at a quick comparison of the two methods.
What is Speech Language Therapy?
Speech language therapy is often referred to as Speech Therapy, focuses on improving communication through various modes of communication (verbal communication, gestures, sign language, communication devices, etc) and interventions (based on scaffolding methods, play-based learning, total communication).
What is Traditional Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)?
ABA is a behavior- focused approach that targets modifying behaviors through rigid interventions. ABA addresses many behaviors and skills while targeting communication, self-care, and academic skills.
What are key aspects of speech language therapy?
1. Speech Language Pathologists (SLP) complete comprehensive individualized assessments to identify a child’s strengths and areas of need while tailoring interventions to a child’s needs.
2. Targeted intervention: SLP interventions are targeted to specific communication areas such as speech, language comprehension, expression, pragmatics, and social communication skills.
3. Interactive Approach: SLPs pride themselves in providing child lead interventions and the utilization of interactive activities, games, and engaging children to practice targeted communication skills.
What are some key aspects of traditional ABA?
1. Behavior modification with the use of positive reinforcement, prompting, shaping, and chaining to teach desired communication behaviors.
2. Traditional ABA is highly structures with repetition, consistently, and reinforcement schedules.
3. ABA relies heavily on data to look for patterns and track progress.
Overall, SLPs utilize a more holistic approach to improve communication skills while ABA utilizes behavior modification techniques to shape communication in a structured environment.
As a parent, if you are trying to decide between utilizing an SLP approach to communication and Traditional ABA consider your child’s needs and their abilities.
Ask yourself the following questions:
1) What is the child’s primary goal? Is it communication or does the child need comprehensive support to address language and behavior?
2) What is the root cause of your child’s behaviors? Is it due to the lack of communication skills? Is it a sensory issue?
3) How does your child (not how adults what the child to learn) learn best in a rigid environment or during play-based intervention?
By understanding the distinctions between the two approaches to communication families can make an informed decision to support your child’s needs effectively.
References:
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). (n.d.). What is a speech-language pathologist? Retrieved from https://www.asha.org/public/speech/whatisaslp/
- Smith, T. (2013). Applied behavior analysis. In I. Weiner & E. Craighead (Eds.), The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). (n.d.). Speech and language developmental milestones. Retrieved from https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/speech-and-language
- Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI). (n.d.). What is behavior analysis? Retrieved from https://www.abainternational.org/constituents/about-behavior-analysis.aspx
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