Functional Behavior Assessments
A Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)is an evaluation focused on behavior. It is an effective ABA based tool for identifying problem behaviors and developing interventions to improve or eliminate those behaviors. The basic ideas being (1) all behavior serves a purpose; (2) Behavior has a communicative intent. Whether children realize it or not, they act in certain ways for specific reasons. If schools and families know what’s causing a particularly challenging behavior, they can find ways to reduce or eliminate it.
Below are the steps taken during an FBA:
1. Define the challenging behavior.
An FBA starts by defining the child’s behavior in a specific and objective way. For example, instead of saying the child’s “defiant,” the BCBA may describe the behavior as, “yells and runs around the room when asked to sit down and begin reading.”
2. Gather and analyze information.
Once the challenging behavior is defined, information is gathered via observations, interviews, surveys and informal testing to better understand the nature of reoccurring behavior. The data is collected and analyzed to determine the antecedents preceding the behavior, as well as the frequency, intensity, and duration of the challenging behavior.
3. Function of the behavior
Using the data in the previous step, the function or “why” of the behavior is hypothesized. For example, “the child is engaging in the challenging behavior to escape or avoid reading, a task they find tedious and overwhelming.”
4. Create and implement a plan.
With the function of the behavior now determined, appropriate alternative behaviors are identified and recommended as “functionally equivalent” replacement behaviors. A detailed report summarizing the findings is created and presented to the team. Led by the BCBA, the team creates a Behavior Support Plan (BSP) to teach/encourage the replacement behavior and monitor the child’s progress.
FBAs are frequently used in determining the nature and scope of special education services and supports a child receives. As such, FBAs are an important tool in determining whether a child presents with a true disability or not.
Calpsychworks has Earned a Reputation for Providing Some of the most Accurate and Concise FBAs in the Industry and Excellent Follow Up Support !