As Fort Myers ABA therapists, we often hear parents ask, “Why does my child do that?” Whether it’s tantrum behaviors, communication challenges, or difficulties with daily routines, understanding the “why” behind behaviors is not just helpful—it’s essential for creating meaningful change. This is where the Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) becomes one of our most valuable tools in developing effective treatment plans for children with autism and developmental differences.

What Is a Functional Behavior Assessment?

As our FOCUS Therapy Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) can explain, the Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) is a systematic process used to identify the underlying causes or “functions” of challenging behaviors. Rather than simply addressing what the behavior looks like, an FBA helps us understand why the behavior occurs in the first place.

The core principle behind an FBA is that behavior serves a purpose. Children engage in challenging behaviors because, on some level, these behaviors work for them. They might:

• Help them get something they want (attention, a preferred item)
• Help them escape something unpleasant (a difficult task, sensory input)
• Provide sensory stimulation or self-regulation
• Communicate a need when other communication methods aren’t available

By identifying these functions, our Fort Myers ABA therapists can develop interventions that teach more appropriate ways to meet the same needs, leading to lasting behavioral change.

When Is an FBA Used?

At FOCUS Therapy, our BCBAs will conduct FBAs when:

• A child demonstrates persistent challenging behaviors that interfere with learning or daily functioning.
• Previous intervention strategies haven’t been effective.
• We’re developing or revising a behavior intervention plan (BIP).
• A child is starting Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy.
• There’s a significant change in behavior patterns.
• We need to ensure our therapy approach is tailored to the child’s specific needs.

The FBA Process: How It Works

The FBA process typically involves several components:

1. Information Gathering

We begin by collecting detailed information about the behavior from multiple sources:

• Parent/caregiver interviews: Understanding patterns, triggers, and responses to behaviors across environments.
• Direct observation: Observing the child in natural settings to document what happens before, during, and after behaviors.
• Data collection: Systematically recording instances of the behavior to identify patterns.

2. ABC Analysis

A cornerstone of the FBA is the ABC analysis:

• Antecedent: What happens immediately before the behavior occurs?
• Behavior: What exactly does the behavior look like?
• Consequence: What happens immediately after the behavior?

This analysis helps Fort Myers ABA therapists identify patterns and triggers that may not be immediately obvious. For example, we might discover that a child’s tantrums consistently occur during transitions between activities, suggesting that the behavior serves to delay or avoid transitions.

3. Hypothesis Development

Based on the information gathered, we develop hypotheses about the function(s) of the behavior. Research demonstrates that accurately identifying behavioral functions leads to more effective and efficient interventions.

Common functions include:

• Attention-seeking. The behavior results in social attention
• Escape/avoidance. The behavior helps avoid or end non-preferred activities
• Access to tangibles. The behavior results in access to preferred items or activities
• Sensory stimulation/regulation. The behavior provides sensory input or helps with regulation

4. Hypothesis Testing

To confirm our hypotheses, Fort Myers ABA therapists may conduct structured observations or functional analyses where conditions are carefully arranged to test each potential function.

5. Intervention Planning

Once we understand why the behavior occurs, we develop an individualized Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) that:

• Teaches replacement behaviors that serve the same function
• Modifies environmental factors that trigger the behavior
• Adjusts how others respond to the behavior
• Builds skills that support appropriate behavior

Why FBAs Are Essential in Evidence-Based Practice for Fort Myers ABA Therapists

FBAs are a cornerstone of evidence-based behavioral therapy for several reasons:

1. They’re scientifically validated: A meta-analysis by Goh and Bambara (2012) found that function-based interventions consistently outperform non-function-based approaches across settings and populations.
2. They’re individualized: Rather than applying one-size-fits-all strategies, FBAs allow us to create truly personalized interventions that address each child’s unique needs.
3. They support a proactive approach: By understanding triggers, we can often prevent challenging behaviors before they occur.
4. They guide meaningful measurement: FBAs help us identify what to measure to determine if our interventions are working.
5. They promote generalization: By addressing the underlying function, skills are more likely to generalize across settings.

Insights for Parents: What You Can Learn from an FBA

Parents are essential partners in the FBA process, and the insights gained can be transformative:

Understanding vs. Reacting

Many parents tell us that the most powerful shift comes from understanding that challenging behaviors aren’t willful disobedience but attempts to communicate or meet needs. This perspective shift often reduces frustration and increases empathy.

Recognizing Patterns and Triggers

FBAs help parents identify specific triggers they might not have noticed. For instance, parents may find that their child’s meltdowns always happen when there’s too much background noise. With that information, they can prepare for those situations or avoid them when possible.

Learning Your Child’s Communication Style

For children with limited verbal skills, behaviors often serve as communication. Research by Beavers et al. (2013) found that understanding these behavioral communications can significantly improve parent-child interactions.

Consistency Across Environments

When parents understand the function of behaviors, they can implement consistent strategies across home, school, and therapy settings—a factor that studies show significantly improves outcomes.

The FBA and Multidisciplinary Approach at FOCUS Therapy

At FOCUS Therapy, our multidisciplinary team collaborates to conduct comprehensive FBAs that consider all aspects of a child’s development:

• BCBAs analyze behavior patterns and functions.
• Speech-Language Pathologists evaluate communication barriers that may contribute to challenging behaviors.
• Occupational Therapists assess sensory needs and motor challenges that may influence behavior.

This integrated approach ensures that our behavior interventions address the whole child. For example, if an FBA reveals that a child’s challenging behavior functions to escape difficult motor tasks, our occupational therapists can develop strategies to make those tasks more manageable while our behavior therapists teach appropriate ways to request breaks.

Moving Forward with FBA Insights

If your child is experiencing challenging behaviors, the FBA process can provide valuable insights and direction. Our FOCUS ABA therapists believe that understanding behavior is the first step toward positive change.

Through our comprehensive FBA process and multidisciplinary approach, we help children and families move beyond challenging behaviors to discover more effective ways of communicating, interacting, and thriving.

Remember, behind every challenging behavior is a child trying to tell us something. Our job as therapists—and yours as parents—is to listen, understand, and respond with compassion and evidence-based strategies.

FOCUS offers ABA therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and parent coaching/behavior consulting in Fort Myers and throughout Southwest Florida. Call (239) 313.5049 or Contact Us online.

Additional Resources:

Development and Validation of a Functional Behavioral Assessment Ontology to Support Behavioral Health Interventions, Merlo et al, May 31, 2018, JMIR Medical Informatics

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