Problem behaviors and how to address them

Nancy Cena: Hi, my name is Nancy Cena. I’m the clinical director and the BCBA at the Behavioral Innovation Center in Richardson. It’s important to know that when your child engages in behaviors such as aggression or tantrums, they’re trying to communicate something to you, especially our children with autism. When children cannot talk or have difficulty expressing themselves, engaging in behaviors like tantrums can be a very effective way of getting their needs met. You’ll need to try to determine what your child is attempting to communicate to you. Behavior analysts look very closely at what’s happening before and directly after the behavior to determine the possible function. The function is the why of the behavior, the purpose that it serves for your child. Knowing the purpose will help guide the strategies we use to teach your child a better way. Your BCBA will consider these and other factors when developing a plan.