Focused ABA is best for children working toward a limited number of behavioral goals or “targets.” This treatment is not restricted by age requirements, cognitive abilities, or co-occurring conditions. 

In general, focused ABA treatment involves some or all of the following goals: 

(a) Targeting and reducing an acutely problematic behavior, such as: 

• Self-injury
• Aggression
• Threats
• Pica
• Elopement (running away or wandering off)
• Feeding and mealtime challenges
• Other forms of noncompliance and disruptive behavior

(b) Improving behaviors for a small number of key functional skills, such as: 

• Instruction-following
• Social communication skills
• Sleep hygiene
• Self-care skills
• Safety skills
  

(c) Personalized caregiver training sessions led by BCBAs, teaching methods to reinforce positive behaviors and foster development.

Comprehensive ABA treatment, also referred to as early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) is best for children working toward multiple goals within multiple developmental domains, including cognitive, communicative, social, emotional, and adaptive functioning. 

EIBI is one of the most common forms of comprehensive treatment and seeks to increase the child’s overall skill repertoire.

A comprehensive ABA program may be recommended for children:

• Who require individualized teaching across a number of different foundational skill areas (like language, social interactions, independent play, and daily living skills)
• Who engage in more frequent or more severe levels of behaviors that may be harmful or interfere with learning–such as tantrums, noncooperation, aggression, and self-injurious behavior and other complex concerns.

While each treatment plan is uniquely tailored to the specific child, a comprehensive ABA program generally involves: 

• 25 to 40 hours of direct treatment per week, provided by a behavior technician, plus direct and indirect supervision by a BCBA 
• Personalized caregiver training sessions led by BCBAs, teaching methods to reinforce positive behaviors and foster development.
• Working 1:1 with an ABA therapist and in small groups, as appropriate. 

Social skills ABA services might be appropriate for children who would benefit from additional coaching and guidance during social interactions and when building social relationships. Social skills ABA therapy is usually provided in small groups of children or adolescents who have similar goals and social needs. 

In these groups, children are supported by ABA therapists and BCBAs as they work on a range of social interaction and relationship skills such as sharing and turn-taking, making conversation, and understanding and navigating social situations.