As a parent, itâs natural to observe your child closely and notice behaviours that may raise questions or concerns. Whether it’s difficulty communicating, social challenges, or emotional regulation, early signs of developmental and behavioural issues can sometimes be subtle yet significant. For many families, Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) therapy can provide structured, compassionate support.
ABA is an evidence-based approach that helps children develop important life, communication, and social skills. Itâs widely used for children with autism, but itâs also beneficial for those with ADHD, learning difficulties, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), intellectual disability, and other child & adolescent concerns.
Below are key signs that your child may benefit from ABA therapyâand how this form of therapy can help.
- Persistent Communication Delays
What to Look For:
- No babbling, gestures, or words by expected milestones
- Limited verbal expression or understanding
- Avoids name response or eye contact
How ABA Helps:
Using tools like Discrete Trial Training (DTT) and Natural Environment Teaching (NET), therapists support children in building language, asking for needs, and engaging in reciprocal conversation.
2. Repetitive or Stereotyped Behaviours
What to Look For:
- Hand-flapping, spinning, and lining up objects
- Fixation on routines or specific topics
- Anxiety with minor changes
How ABA Helps:
Therapists replace repetitive behaviours with purposeful actions and help children manage transitions and tolerate changeâfostering emotional resilience and self-confidence.
3. Aggressive or Self-Injurious Behaviour
What to Look For:
- Hitting, biting, or scratching
- Headbanging or pinching oneself
- Severe tantrums without a clear cause
How ABA Helps:
Through a Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA), therapists understand the âwhyâ behind behaviour and develop Behaviour Intervention Plans (BIPs) tailored to promote safer alternatives.
4. Social Interaction Difficulties
What to Look For:
- Difficulty forming friendships
- Disinterest in interactive or group play
- Challenges with empathy or emotional understanding
How ABA Helps:
ABA promotes social skills like sharing, taking turns, and reading body language through modelling, reinforcement, and structured interactionâespecially useful for children facing bullying or peer rejection.
5. Difficulty Following Instructions
What to Look For:
- Defiance, distraction, or refusal
- Difficulty processing multiple steps
- Struggles with school or home routines
How ABA Helps:
Therapists use task analysis to simplify steps and guide children gradually toward independence, promoting improved functioning in parenting, school, and daily life.
6. Delay in Adaptive Life Skills
What to Look For:
- Difficulty with dressing, hygiene, or eating independently
- Reliance on caregivers for age-appropriate tasks
How ABA Helps:
By using chaining and prompt-fading techniques, ABA builds independence in self-care and improves daily functioning for children with developmental concerns.
7. Lack of Safety Awareness
What to Look For:
- Running into the street
- Ignoring warnings or danger cues
- Touching hot or sharp items
How ABA Helps:
Children are taught concrete safety behaviours using visuals, verbal prompts, and real-world practice to develop life-saving skillsâespecially important for children with conduct disorder or impulsivity.
8. Limited or Unusual Play Skills
What to Look For:
- Avoids play with peers
- Does not engage in pretend play
- Repeats the same activity without variation
How ABA Helps:
ABA encourages creativity and connection through play therapy and structured interactions. Techniques from art therapy and role-playing help expand imagination and emotional expression.
9. Rigid Behaviour and Difficulty with Transitions
What to Look For:
- Distress during schedule changes
- Insistence on routines or sameness
- Meltdowns when faced with surprises
How ABA Helps:
Visual schedules and transition strategies are used to ease changes. ABA helps children become more flexibleâan essential life skill for success in school, therapy, and relationships.
10. Parental Stress and Feeling Overwhelmed
What to Look For:
- Confusion about how to handle behaviour
- Emotional burnout from parenting struggles
- Feeling isolated or unsupported
How ABA Helps:
ABA provides parent training and counselling to build confidence, reduce stress, and improve consistency across home and therapy environmentsâmaking a difference not just for the child, but for the family.
When Should You Seek Help?
If your child consistently displays several of the signs aboveâand these behaviours interfere with learning, social interaction, or family dynamicsâitâs a good time to seek a professional evaluation. ABA therapy isnât limited to autism. Children with ADHD, intellectual disabilities, ODD, learning difficulties, conduct disorder, or language delays can all benefit from its structured support.
Next Steps for Parents
- Consult a Paediatrician or Developmental Specialist: Early developmental screening can provide clarity and direction.
- Request a Behaviour Assessment: A BCBA can perform an FBA to identify behavioural triggers and strengths.
- Start Early: Early intervention leads to stronger outcomes in emotional, behavioural, and academic development.
ConclusionÂ
Itâs never too late to help a child thrive. Whether your concerns relate to autism, ADHD, or emotional regulation, know that support is available.
By focusing on understanding, compassion, and consistency, ABA therapy, along with approaches like play therapy, art therapy, and parent counselling, can promote real changeânot just in behaviour, but in confidence and quality of life.
For those seeking professional guidance, the Psychowellness Center, located in Dwarka Sector-17 and Janakpuri, offers in-person counselling sessions with experienced psychologists, including some of the best psychologists near me, providing compassionate, evidence-based care for children facing learning difficulties, ADHD, autism, conduct disorder, and related challenges. Additionally, TalktoAngel offers secure and confidential online counselling, making it easier for parents and families to access expert psychological help from the comfort of home. Both platforms are committed to creating a safe, nurturing environment where healing, growth, and emotional connection can thrive.
This article is contributed by Dr. R.K. Suri, Clinical Psychologist, and Ms. Tanu Sangwan, Counselling Psychologist, who share expert perspectives on relationship well-being.
ReferencesÂ
- Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behaviour analysis (3rd ed.). Pearson.
- American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.; DSM-5-TR). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787
- Schreibman, L., Dawson, G., Stahmer, A. C., Landa, R., Rogers, S. J., McGee, G. G., … & Halladay, A. (2015). Naturalistic developmental behavioural interventions: Empirically validated treatments for autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(8), 2411â2428. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2407-8