ABA Terms Every Parent Should Know

Starting ABA therapy can feel overwhelming at first—especially with all the new words and phrases. Don’t worry! You don’t need to be an expert overnight. 

Understanding a few common ABA terms can help you feel more confident and connected in your child’s therapy journey.

Key ABA Terms Explained

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

The foundation of everything we do. ABA is a science-based approach that helps children build skills and reduce challenging behaviors through positive reinforcement.

Behavior Technician (BT)

Often the person working directly with your child during sessions. They follow the treatment plan designed by the BCBA.

Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)

A licensed professional who designs and oversees your child’s ABA program. They set goals, train staff, and work closely with families.

Reinforcement

A strategy that encourages positive behavior. For example, if a child shares a toy and gets praise, that praise acts as reinforcement to increase sharing.

Prompting

Hints or assistance given to help a child learn a new skill. Prompts can be physical (like hand-over-hand), verbal, or visual.

Fading

The process of slowly reducing prompts so your child can perform skills independently.

Shaping

Teaching new behaviors by rewarding small steps toward the bigger goal.

Task Analysis

Breaking down a complex skill (like brushing teeth) into smaller, manageable steps to teach one at a time.

Discrete Trial Training (DTT)

A structured teaching method where skills are practiced in small, clear steps with repetition and reinforcement.

Natural Environment Teaching (NET)

Learning through play and everyday activities, making skills easier to apply in real-life settings.

Generalization

The ability for your child to use a skill in different places and with different people—for example, practicing sharing during therapy and then sharing at home with siblings.

Functional Communication

Helping children express their needs effectively, whether with words, pictures, or a communication device.

Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)

A personalized plan designed to reduce challenging behaviors and teach positive alternatives.

Mand

A request made by the child—like asking for water when thirsty. Mands are an important part of communication training.

Echoic

When a child repeats what someone else says, often used in teaching early language skills.

At All Star ABA, we make sure parents understand every step of the process. We provide ABA parent training so families feel supported and prepared.

Our services include in-home ABA therapy, center-based therapy, and school-based ABA therapy across Maryland and Virginia.

We’re here to guide you and your child every step of the way. Contact us today to get started!

FAQs

Sources:



• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9578461/
• https://www.autismspeaks.org/expert-opinion/what-discrete-trial-training
• https://www.nu.edu/blog/what-is-natural-environment-teaching/
• https://www.autismspeaks.org/applied-behavior-analysis
• https://online.regiscollege.edu/blog/aba-therapy-examples