ABA Vocabulary: Key Terms & Definitions in Applied Behavior Analysis

Key Points:

• Understanding ABA vocabulary helps parents and caregivers effectively support their child’s therapy.
• Key terms like reinforcement, prompting, and extinction play a crucial role in behavior modification.
• Learning ABA terminology makes it easier to communicate with therapists and follow treatment plans at home.

Ever feel lost in ABA therapy jargon? You’re not alone. Parents often hear terms like reinforcement, prompting, or extinction without fully understanding them. Learning ABA vocabulary empowers you to communicate better with therapists and support your child’s progress at home—turning confusion into confidence in their therapy journey.

What is ABA Vocabulary?

ABA vocabulary refers to the key terms and concepts used in Applied Behavior Analysis to describe behaviors, interventions, and strategies. Learning these terms helps parents, caregivers, and educators understand ABA therapy and collaborate effectively with therapists. Common terms include reinforcement, prompting, extinction, and generalization—all essential for shaping positive behavior.

Why is Learning ABA Vocabulary Important?

Understanding ABA terminology allows parents to:

• Follow therapy plans more effectively. ABA therapists use specific strategies, and knowing the terminology makes it easier to apply them at home.
• Communicate clearly with professionals. Parents who understand ABA terms can better discuss progress and concerns with their child’s therapy team.
• Reinforce skills outside of therapy. Learning the right terms helps parents continue interventions at home, leading to better outcomes for the child.

By familiarizing yourself with the ABA language, you can become an active partner in your child’s development and behavior improvement.

Key ABA Terms Every Parent Should Know

There are many terms used in Applied Behavior Analysis, but some are more commonly encountered in therapy sessions. Below are some of the most important ABA vocabulary words, explained in simple terms.

1. Reinforcement: Encouraging Positive Behavior

Reinforcement is one of the most fundamental concepts in ABA. It refers to anything that increases the likelihood of a behavior happening again in the future.

There are two types:

• Positive Reinforcement: Adding something enjoyable to encourage behavior (e.g., giving praise or a small reward when a child completes a task).
• Negative Reinforcement: Removing something unpleasant to encourage behavior (e.g., turning off loud music when a child starts using words instead of screaming).

Reinforcement strengthens desired behaviors, making them more likely to occur over time.

2. Punishment: Reducing Undesirable Behavior

While reinforcement increases behavior, punishment decreases it. In ABA, punishment is not about discipline but about reducing problem behaviors.

Types of punishment include:

• Positive Punishment: Adding an unpleasant consequence (e.g., a verbal correction when a child engages in aggressive behavior).
• Negative Punishment: Removing something desirable (e.g., taking away a toy when a child refuses to follow instructions).

Punishment is used cautiously in ABA, with a focus on teaching appropriate replacement behaviors rather than simply stopping unwanted actions.

3. Prompting: Helping a Child Learn New Skills

Prompting is when a therapist or parent provides assistance to help a child complete a task or behavior successfully.

Different types of prompts include:

• Verbal Prompts: Giving verbal instructions or hints (e.g., “Say ‘thank you’”).
• Gestural Prompts: Using hand movements or pointing to guide behavior.
• Physical Prompts: Gently guiding a child’s hand to complete an action (e.g., helping them hold a spoon).
• Visual Prompts: Using pictures, charts, or written words to assist.

The goal of prompting is to help the child succeed while gradually fading assistance so they can perform tasks independently.

4. Extinction: Reducing Problem Behaviors

Extinction in ABA refers to removing reinforcement for an unwanted behavior, causing it to decrease over time.

For example, if a child screams for attention and parents stop responding to the screaming (while reinforcing appropriate communication instead), the screaming behavior is likely to fade.

Extinction can lead to an extinction burst, where the behavior temporarily increases before decreasing. Understanding this process helps parents stay consistent rather than giving in.

5. Generalization: Using Skills in Different Settings

Generalization occurs when a child applies learned behaviors across different people, places, and situations.

For example, if a child learns to say “hello” to their therapist, but also starts saying it to family members and peers, they have successfully generalized the skill.

ABA therapists use strategies like varied instruction, multiple settings, and different teaching methods to encourage generalization.

6. Functional Communication: Replacing Challenging Behavior with Words

Functional Communication Training (FCT) is an ABA strategy that teaches children to use appropriate communication instead of problem behaviors.

Examples include:

• Teaching a child to request a break instead of crying.
• Using sign language, gestures, or communication devices for nonverbal children.
• Encouraging sentence formation instead of single-word demands.

FCT helps children express their needs in a way that is understood by others, reducing frustration and challenging behaviors.

7. Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP): Personalized Strategies for Success

A Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) is a customized plan designed to reduce problem behaviors and teach positive alternatives.

A BIP typically includes:

• Target behaviors: What behaviors need to be changed.
• Triggers: What situations or events cause the behavior.
• Interventions: Strategies to prevent and address the behavior.
• Replacement behaviors: New skills to teach instead.

BIPs are essential for structured ABA therapy and are adjusted as the child progresses.

8. Applied Behavior Analysis: The Science Behind ABA Therapy

ABA is the evidence-based approach used to teach skills, reduce problem behaviors, and improve quality of life for individuals with autism and other developmental disorders.

The core principles of ABA include:

• Breaking skills into small steps.
• Using reinforcement to encourage progress.
• Collecting data to measure success.

ABA is tailored to each child’s needs, making it one of the most effective therapies for behavior modification.

Get Expert ABA Therapy with New Dawn ABA in Missouri and Colorado

Learning ABA vocabulary is an essential step for parents who want to support their child’s therapy effectively. Understanding key terms allows you to communicate with therapists, reinforce learning at home, and be actively involved in your child’s progress.

If you’re looking for high-quality ABA therapy for your child, New Dawn ABA provides expert, evidence-based services tailored to your child’s unique needs. Our team specializes in behavior intervention, skill development, and parent training to ensure lasting success.

We proudly serve ABA therapy services in Colorado and Missouri, offering personalized ABA programs designed to help children thrive. Contact us today to learn how ABA therapy can make a difference in your child’s life!