Can a child on the spectrum be too “high functioning” for ABA?
This question is often posed by individuals who may not completely understand the range of techniques that fall under the umbrella of ABA. In fact, there are dozens of teaching strategies within ABA. A competent behavior analyst is able to make good choices about which techniques are appropriate given the characteristics of the learner and the skill being targeted. Some teaching procedures, such as discrete trial instruction, may be better suited for younger or more impaired children with autism. Clearly, individuals who are higher functioning, or who have acquired foundation skills, will likely no longer require the same level of structure, consistency, and repetition in their instruction. Nonetheless, ABA would still bear tremendous relevance.
