ABA Terminology ExplainedA parent-friendly guide to common ABA terms you may hear during assessments, reports, or therapy discussions.

Learn with clarity. Ask questions with confidence.

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What is ABA Terminology?

ABA terminology refers to the language professionals use to describe behavior, learning processes, data collection, and progress measurement within Applied Behavior Analysis.

While these terms are used by clinicians, families should never feel confused or left out of conversations about their child. Understanding common ABA terms allows parents to:

Participate meaningfully in treatment discussions
Better understand reports and progress updates
Feel confident asking informed questions

This glossary-style guide explains key ABA concepts in clear, everyday language.

Core ABA Concepts

Behavior

In ABA, behavior means anything a person does that can be observed and measured.
This includes actions (e.g., sitting, pointing) as well as communication (e.g., words, gestures).

Behavior is not labeled as “good” or “bad” — it is simply information.

Reinforcement

Reinforcement is anything that increases the likelihood of a behavior happening again.

Positive reinforcement: adding something desirable (praise, a toy)
Negative reinforcement: removing something unpleasant (ending a difficult task)

Reinforcement is individualized — what motivates one child may not motivate another.

Prompt

A prompt is extra help given to encourage a correct response.

Examples include:

Verbal prompts (“Say ‘more’”)
Gestural prompts (pointing)
Physical prompts (guiding a hand)

Prompts are gradually reduced as independence increases.

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Learning & Skill Development Terms

Skill Acquisition
Generalization
Maintenance

Skill acquisition refers to the process of teaching new abilities, such as:

Communication skills
Self-care routines
Social interaction skills

Skills are broken into small, manageable steps to support success.

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Generalization means using a learned skill across different people, settings, and situations.

For example:

Saying “hello” at home, school, and in the community
Using a skill with different adults, not just one therapist

This is a key goal of effective ABA programming.

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Maintenance refers to a child’s ability to keep using a skill over time, even after direct teaching has decreased.

A skill is considered strong when it is:

Used independently
Used consistently
Maintained over weeks or months

Behavior Support Terminology

Challenging Behavior

Challenging behavior refers to actions that interfere with learning, safety, or daily routines.

Examples may include:

Aggression
Elopement (running away)
Severe refusal behaviors

ABA focuses on understanding why a behavior occurs, not just stopping it.

Function of Behavior

The function is the reason a behavior happens.
Common functions include:

Gaining attention
Escaping a demand
Accessing a preferred item
Sensory input

Understanding function allows clinicians to teach safer, more appropriate alternatives.

Replacement Behavior

A replacement behavior is a functional, appropriate skill taught in place of a challenging behavior.

For example:

Teaching a child to request a break instead of engaging in refusal
Teaching communication instead of tantrums

Data & Progress Terms

Data Collection

ABA relies on data to understand progress. Data may track:

Frequency (how often a behavior occurs)
Duration (how long it lasts)
Accuracy (how correctly a skill is performed)

Data helps ensure decisions are based on evidence—not assumptions.

Baseline

A baseline is information collected before intervention begins.
It shows where a child is starting and helps measure meaningful progress over time.

Progress Monitoring

Progress monitoring is the ongoing review of data to:

Adjust goals
Modify strategies
Ensure therapy remains effective and appropriate

Family & Collaboration Terms?

Parent Training

Parent training involves coaching caregivers to:

Understand strategies used in therapy
Support skill use at home
Promote consistency across environments

Families are active partners—not observers—in effective ABA programs.

Collaboration

Collaboration refers to communication and coordination between:

Therapists
Families
Other professionals (e.g., speech or occupational therapists)

Consistency across providers supports better outcomes.

Is ABA terminology only for professionals?

No. ABA terms are used by clinicians, but families should always understand what they mean.

Will I be expected to memorize these terms?

Not at all. This guide is here as a reference whenever questions arise

Can terminology differ between providers?

Some wording may vary, but core ABA concepts remain consistent across evidence-based practice.

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