ABA Data Collection: Step Four of the Turn Autism Around Approach

Free Workshop

Increase Talking &
Decrease Tantrums

in Young Children with

Autism &/or Speech Delays

Collecting data for the sake of collecting data is a waste of your time. That’s why in the fourth step of the Turn Autism Around approach, I share a variety of ways to collect data, and then I show you how to use that data to analyze and understand how to help a child. In my newest book Turn Autism Around: An Action Guide for Parents of Young Children with Early Signs of Autism, I give you many examples of how to use ABA data collection so that you can see what’s most effective for your child.

Michelle C. knew that she needed to take a language sample before she took my course and after my course so that she had baseline data to work with to measure her daughter’s success. I recommend three simple ways to collect language data:

  • Set a timer and count every single word or sound in that time interval.
  • Collect a language sample with a video.
  • Take a video of you engaging with your child at a table or on the floor.

If you’re a busy parent and don’t want to get into a ton of data, I suggest that you try the calendar system. We use a calendar to keep track of Lucas’s self-injurious behavior, the correlation between his headaches and allergy shots, and to track medication changes. You can also track ABC data (antecedent, behavior & consequence) either on a calendar or on paper so that you can begin to put together a picture of why certain behaviors are triggered.

Don’t be overwhelmed. In my book, I’ll teach you the steps you need to take to collect easy data and get a good summary of the child’s behavior and progress. I provide examples and forms so that you can see how other parents and professionals use this data to analyze whether a child’s therapy, medication, or circumstances need to be adjusted. And you’ll be able to assess more clearly when a child is succeeding and thriving.

You’ll Learn

  • How to collect data so that it can be graphed and presented to insurance companies or providers.
  • The three ways to collect a language sample so that you have a baseline to compare the child’s progress against.
  • Why you need to be more specific in your data collection than simply writing “had a tantrum”.
  • I use a clicker counter only to count words, smiles, and pro-social behavior because it reinforces positive actions.

Resources

Not sure how to write a review? Here’s a video.