1
Argue for or Against the use of Applied Behavioural Analysis as a Therapy
for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Words: 2058
, 2
Based on DSM-5, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder
characterised by persistent social communication and interaction deficits and restricted/repetitive
behaviours and interests that significantly affect individuals in different areas of life. These
disturbances begin during the early developmental stages but are not majorly caused due to any
intellectual or developmental delays (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). To help
individuals with ASD, different approaches have been developed. Perhaps, the most well-known
of such approaches is the therapeutic approach of applied behavioural analysis (ABA), which has
proven to be effective for the improvement of cognitive and social aspects of an ASD
individual’s life. This approach leads to a more independent and distress-free life as the general
aim of ABA is to reduce any disturbance in behaviour and enhance it in relation to typical
development in individuals with ASD. This is carried out with use of reward and intensive
utilisation of operant conditioning (Wayne et al., 2021). Owing to the heterogeneous nature of
ASD, individuals differ from each other and need different kinds of support (Fountain et al.,
2012). This is why ABA therapy/intervention is individualised to address different skills or
issues (Wayne et al., 2021). However, it is worth mentioning that the use of ABA has been
associated with the notion that professionals use cruelty by forcing ASD individuals to hide or
change their true selves (Kirkham, 2017). However, this idea is not necessarily untrue. To exhibit
why the criticisms faced by ABA are not true, this essay will argue for the use of ABA therapy
by exploring different studies that have found supporting evidence for why ABA remains as an
effective approach, especially with respect to hygiene- and food consumption-related problems.
ABA therapy programmes can help children with ASD concerning hygiene-related
problems such as toileting skills. Typically, developing children achieve daytime toileting skills
by the age of three and will not have more than four wetting accidents per week (Blum et al.,
Argue for or Against the use of Applied Behavioural Analysis as a Therapy
for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Words: 2058
, 2
Based on DSM-5, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder
characterised by persistent social communication and interaction deficits and restricted/repetitive
behaviours and interests that significantly affect individuals in different areas of life. These
disturbances begin during the early developmental stages but are not majorly caused due to any
intellectual or developmental delays (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). To help
individuals with ASD, different approaches have been developed. Perhaps, the most well-known
of such approaches is the therapeutic approach of applied behavioural analysis (ABA), which has
proven to be effective for the improvement of cognitive and social aspects of an ASD
individual’s life. This approach leads to a more independent and distress-free life as the general
aim of ABA is to reduce any disturbance in behaviour and enhance it in relation to typical
development in individuals with ASD. This is carried out with use of reward and intensive
utilisation of operant conditioning (Wayne et al., 2021). Owing to the heterogeneous nature of
ASD, individuals differ from each other and need different kinds of support (Fountain et al.,
2012). This is why ABA therapy/intervention is individualised to address different skills or
issues (Wayne et al., 2021). However, it is worth mentioning that the use of ABA has been
associated with the notion that professionals use cruelty by forcing ASD individuals to hide or
change their true selves (Kirkham, 2017). However, this idea is not necessarily untrue. To exhibit
why the criticisms faced by ABA are not true, this essay will argue for the use of ABA therapy
by exploring different studies that have found supporting evidence for why ABA remains as an
effective approach, especially with respect to hygiene- and food consumption-related problems.
ABA therapy programmes can help children with ASD concerning hygiene-related
problems such as toileting skills. Typically, developing children achieve daytime toileting skills
by the age of three and will not have more than four wetting accidents per week (Blum et al.,
