What is Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention?
Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI) is based on the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA).
This therapy promotes learning, skill development and behaviour change by breaking tasks into small steps that are easier to learn. As children learn each step, they’re praised and rewarded. Challenging behaviour is ignored when it happens.
Who is Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention for?
Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI) is used with autistic preschoolers.
What is Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention used for?
Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI) is used to help autistic children learn new skills and behaviour. These skills and behaviour take the place of challenging behaviour.
It also helps children:
- learn to imitate
- focus their attention more
- improve their understanding and use of language
- develop their play and daily living skills (like brushing teeth).
ABA and EIBI can help autistic children develop independence, but they shouldn’t be used to make children ‘mask’ their autism or ‘fit in’ with social norms.
Where does Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention come from?
Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI) is based on the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA).
The ABA principles this therapy is based on grew from learning theory and the theory of behavioural psychology, which have been around since the early 1900s. Learning theory suggests that how people behave in a situation depends on their previous experiences of similar situations.
What is the idea behind Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention?
Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI) is based on the theory that you can teach skills in a methodical way to help autistic children learn new skills and behaviour.
What does Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention involve?
In general, Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI) therapy uses the following steps:
- Assess the child’s current skills and difficulties.
- Develop an individualised program for the child.
- Implement the program using specific teaching methods to build skills.
- Measure the skills you’re focusing on to see whether the program is working.
- Evaluate progress, making changes as needed.
EIBI programs take a lot of time – they can be 20 hours a week or more, possibly for several years. Parents are directly involved in children’s programs, which should start as early as possible. Depending on the provider, children might get the therapy in a centre, home, clinic, school or other setting.
A child’s program should focus on building skills, rather than on getting rid of behaviours like flapping, spinning or stimming. Many autistic children find these behaviours calming.
ABA and EIBI programs should involve free time, relaxing activities and opportunities for children to have their emotional needs met. These programs shouldn’t involve punishment.
Does Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention help autistic children?
Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI) is based on Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) principles, which research shows can be effective for teaching a range of skills to autistic children. We don’t yet know whether all autistic children benefit from EIBI in the same way.
There’s some controversy about ABA principles and programs:
- Some autistic people say that ABA is based on the idea that autistic children should behave the same as typically developing children. They say that this idea doesn’t respect neurodiversity. That is, it doesn’t accept and respect natural differences in how people’s brains work and how they understand and interact with the world.
- Some autistic people feel that ABA programs sometimes aim to stop behaviour like flapping or stimming, which can be calming or enjoyable for autistic people.
- ABA programs can involve many hours of repetitive, one-to-one therapy each day and week. This intensity is an essential aspect of ABA, but it might be a concern for children.
- Some autistic people say ABA is harmful because it doesn’t put autistic children’s wellbeing first.
- In the past, ABA programs used punishment to stop challenging behaviour, although this seems to be less common with modern ABA.
Who practises Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention?
Professionals with experience and training in behaviour analysis (like psychologists) practise this therapy. Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI) providers must be trained.
Where can you find a practitioner?
You can visit the Behavior Analyst Certification Board to find accredited Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI) practitioners.
Your GP or one of the other professionals working with your child can help you find an EIBI provider. You could also talk about this approach with your NDIA planner, early childhood partner or local area coordinator, if you have one.
Parent education, training, support and involvement
If your child is using Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI) therapy, you’re expected to be actively involved. Providers should give you specialised training, education and support.
Cost considerations
The costs of Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI) therapy vary depending on how many hours your child does the therapy each week, whether therapy is one to one or group based, and how much supervision is involved.
You might be able to include the cost of using EIBI therapy in children’s NDIS plans. You can contact the NDIS to find out.
Therapies and supports for autistic children range from behaviour therapies and developmental approaches to medicines and alternative therapies. When you understand the main types of therapies and supports for autistic children, it’ll be easier to work out the approach that will best suit your child.