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ABA Initial Assessment: What to Expect?

What is an initial ABA assessment?

Why is it conducted?

What is the clinician looking for?

Read below to learn more details about what an ABA initial assessment entails.

What is it?

  • One of the first steps to obtaining ABA services

  • Assesses the child’s current skill level

  • Identifying information (background and history)

  • Identifies behavior and skill deficits

  • Comprised of continuing questionnaires, skill probes, observation, and specific assessment tools

Why is it conducted?

  • Evaluate behavior and skill deficits that impede the child’s independent functioning

  • Gather information on a wide scope of child’s current ability levels

  • Determine appropriate hypothesized intervention strategies

  • Identify long term and short term goals

  • Essential document required by insurance and clinicians upon the start of services

Additional Information

  • BCBA or BCABA will conduct initial assessment

  • Child will be required to attend and participate in initial assessment

  • Clinician will spend time observing and testing skills one-on-one with the child

  • Criterion-reference assessments are often used to measure current skill level

  • Must include observable and measurable long term and short goals

  • Can be a lengthy process, typically 2-4 hours

  • Used to determine recommended weekly hours for ABA services

Want to continue learning more? Check out these resources that provide more information about initial assessments. You can also contact nikki@collaborativecorner.org with any questions or concerns.

Resources:

What is ABA?

What to Expect: ABA Assessment

What to Expect Before Starting ABA Services


Nikki Waitt, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician and Varied Exceptionalities Teacher
nikki@collaborativecorner.org


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