The effectiveness of applied behavioral analysis program in developing self-care skills at Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Preschool Stage

Abstract

The current study aims to find out the effectiveness of applied behavioral analysis in developing self-care skills at children with autism spectrum disorder at preschool stage, enrolled in centers and societies in Jeddah City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, experimental methodology was used, a scale was designed, it contains some of self-care skills' dimensions (n=32), and a suggested program for applied behavioral analysis composed of (18) sessions, the study sample included 20 children at the age of (2-6) years. They were divided into two groups, control group (10 children) and experimental group (10 children).
The results showed that the effectiveness of applied behavioral analysis in developing self-care skills of children with autism spectrum disorder at preschool stage regarding children's responses on the scale of self-care skills attributes to the group (experimental, control) for the favor of children in the experimental group who were subject to the program.