Yes, many studies have proven that ABA therapy does help with speech and communication. Through custom intervention plans, ABA therapists and their team can help your child build communication and social skills to express themselves and connect with others.
Learn more about ABA therapy for speech and communication below.
ABA Therapy vs. Speech Therapy: What’s the Difference?
The main differences between ABA therapy and speech therapy are the intervention focus, process, and end goals.
Differences | ABA Therapy | Speech Therapy |
Types of clients | Those with developmental delays or disabilities | Those who struggle with language, communication, and swallowing |
Conditions that they treat | Maladaptive behaviors, developmental delays, skill building, and developing coping mechanisms | Delayed speech, stuttering, difficulty swallowing, and social difficulties |
Who works with the patient | BCBA, RBT, BT | SLP |
Intervention techniques | Natural Environment Teaching (NET), Reinforcement, Chaining, Discrete Trial Training (DTT), Functional Communication Training (FCT), Manding | Mirroring, Tongue and mouth exercises, Sing along, Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) |
Definition of success | Changing maladaptive behaviors, using coping mechanisms, and developing different skills | Improved speech, social interactions, and swallowing easily |
Intervention Focus
ABA therapy is behavioral therapy that strives to understand aversive stimuli that cause maladaptive behaviors or developmental delays. ABA therapy clients are typically those with developmental delays or autism. They use ABA therapy to help manage maladaptive behaviors, build various skills, and gain greater independence.
Speech therapy is a specialized clinical intervention that addresses language, facial motor skills, and swallowing skills. Language and communication challenges can include stuttering, limited vocabulary, and difficulty with vocalization. Clients may need help with these issues due to injury or developmental delays.
Process
ABA Therapy
ABA therapy starts with a thorough assessment so that the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) can create a tailored plan for the client’s needs. Often, it’s a registered behavioral technician (RBT) or behavioral technician (BT) who will implement the plan.
ABA therapy can range from 10 to 40 hours a week, depending on the client’s needs.
There are monthly meetings scheduled to update the BCBA on the client’s progress in case the plan needs to change.
Different ABA therapy techniques include:
- Natural Environment Teaching (NET): Teaching in a familiar environment and through play.
- Reinforcement: Offering something that encourages positive behavior—there can be Positive, Primary, and Secondary reinforcement.
- Chaining: Breaking tasks or skills into smaller steps.
- Discrete Trial Training (DTT): Turning complex behaviors or tasks into small steps—each “trial” focuses on a specific behavior.
- Functional Communication Training (FCT): Teaching alternative ways to communicate needs.
- Manding: Using talking, gesturing, or signing to show their needs.
Speech Therapy
Run by Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), speech therapy also starts with an assessment to understand the patient’s needs. Typically, speech therapy takes a few hours a week, with each session taking around 30 minutes.
Speech therapy techniques can include:
- Mirroring: Has the child copy the sounds or words the SLP says.
- Tongue and mouth exercises: Shows various exercises to help strengthen the tongue and mouth.
- Sing along: Sings songs to build up vocabulary, enhance speech, and build confidence.
- Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS): Improves communication by having the patient use pictures to share their needs.
End Goals
While both speech and ABA therapy’s ultimate goal is to help the client, how they determine success differs.
For ABA therapy, the end goal is to permanently change maladaptive behaviors into positive ones or build the skills needed to live an independent life. This can encompass several goals such as communication, daily living skills, and coping with life changes.
Speech therapy end goals focus solely on communication or related motor skills like swallowing. Success can look like improved speech, social skills, or verbal and nonverbal communication.
How ABA Therapy Supports Different Types of Communication
Communication isn’t as simple as talking to one another. There are many layers to it. Here are the different types of communication ABA therapy can help your child develop.
Functional
Functional communication is the ability to tell others what you need—such as when you are hungry or hurt. When a child isn’t able to functionally communicate, they often turn to maladaptive behaviors such as tantrums, self-harm, or yelling.
ABA therapy would replace these behaviors with other forms of communication, such as pointing or gestures.
Receptive
The ability to listen, read, and understand language is called receptive communication. This covers following directions, answering questions, and comprehending context.
ABA can help develop receptive communication skills by practicing with the client and breaking down these tasks/skills into easier-to-understand parts.
Expressive
Expressive language is the ability to communicate your wants and needs verbally or nonverbally. It’s more in-depth compared to functional communication. Children who struggle with expressive communication may struggle with asking questions, using general vocabulary, or making appropriate facial expressions.
To help improve expressive communication, ABA therapy may use different techniques to build the skills that make communication easier. For example, the ABA therapist may role-play with the client so they can practice answering questions or have the client tell a story using toys.
Social
Social communication is understanding all the “unwritten rules” that come with communicating with others. Things like saying “please” and “thank you,” reading body language/emotions, and understanding what is or isn’t appropriate to say.
ABA therapy can help through role-play, structured social time, and offering reinforcement for every successful social interaction.
Why ABA and Speech Therapy Often Work Best Together
When ABA therapists and SLPs work together, they provide more comprehensive care for their clients with autism. Each will create a care strategy that targets different communication challenges the client is facing.
ABA therapy will focus on reinforcing positive behaviors, building communication skills, and identifying maladaptive behaviors that occur due to communication challenges. Meanwhile, speech therapy will focus on coordinating the tongue and mouth, developing each type of communication within the client, and developing facial muscles.
Additionally, the client will gain more opportunities to practice communication and language skills with each type of therapy—hopefully, leading to positive outcomes more quickly.
As both professionals share their insights and data with one another, it can better inform their strategies, leading to more targeted care for the client.
13 Signs Your Child May Need Communication Support
Unsure if your child needs extra support to develop their communication skills? Here are some common signs that your child is experiencing communication challenges. However, always check in with your pediatrician before making any decisions.
- Delayed speech (not meeting communication milestones as they grow older)
- Echolalia (repeating words others say without understanding their meaning)
- Losing the ability to speak suddenly
- Preferring to use nonverbal communication instead of verbal communication
- Struggling to communicate/relate to their peers
- Having difficulty maintaining conversations with others
- Being unable to read the emotions of other people
- Not understanding nonverbal communication (body language, pointing, facial expressions)
- Articulation difficulties
- Struggling to express their feelings/thoughts in words
- Limited vocabulary and/or grammar skills
- Consistent stuttering
- Difficulty swallowing
How Communication Goals Are Chosen in ABA Therapy
If you’re considering ABA therapy for your child, you might wonder how the therapy team determines what communication goals are not only reasonable, but achievable.
This is why the initial assessment and monthly check-ins are so important. They help inform the team of your child’s needs and what they are capable of as they develop various skills.
Here’s how ABA communication goals are created:
- Understanding which forms of communication your child is struggling with
- Testing their current speaking skills—if there are any
- Learning their current vocabulary
- Trying to have a verbal conversation with your child
- Understanding their current academic skills—if old enough to go to school
- Talking to the parents or caregivers to better understand the child
- Giving them instructions to follow
This information will then turn into goals such as:
- Child’s Name will start requesting things with five words in # months.
- Child’s Name will be able to point to items they want in # months.
- Child’s Name will be able to hold a conversation for five minutes in # months.
- Child’s Name will tell the therapist a story with toys.
- Child’s Name will be able to follow 3-step directions in # months.
- Child’s Name will speak in a full sentence in # months.
- Child’s Name will identify four different facial expressions in # months.
It’s important to note that these are goals, not demands. If your child doesn’t reach their goals in the desired time frame, it’s okay. The ABA team will then adjust their techniques and timelines to better match your child.
Give ABA Therapy for Communication Challenges a Try
ABA therapy can be the support your child needs to learn and develop new communication and language skills. This can open their world wide open as they find it easier to express themselves and engage with other people.
Spectrum Behavioral Therapies serves all over California and is covered by most insurance plans.
Contact us today to schedule an assessment.
Can ABA help my child talk?
Yes, ABA can help your child talk, whether they use verbal or nonverbal methods. It will take time, though, as your child learns and grows.
Does my child need both ABA and speech therapy?
Whether your child needs both ABA and speech therapy depends on the skills they need to develop. It’s best to talk to your pediatrician and ABA therapist (after an evaluation) to see which combination of services will best support your goals.
Can ABA help a nonverbal or minimally verbal child communicate?
Yes, ABA can help a nonverbal or minimally verbal child communicate. The ABA therapy team will use alternative ways of communicating to start and then build up your child’s verbal language skills.
