ABA Therapy Not Working as Expected? What to Do Next

Hearing yourself think “ABA therapy not working” can be discouraging, especially when you’re doing everything you can to support your child. I’ve had many parents bring this concern to me, often feeling worried, frustrated, or unsure of what to do next.

When ABA doesn’t seem effective, it usually doesn’t mean therapy has failed—it means something needs to be adjusted.

ABA therapy is meant to be flexible. When progress slows, the focus should be on understanding why and making thoughtful changes that better support the child.

Understanding what “not working” really means

Before making any decisions, it’s important to define what not working looks like. For some families, it means goals aren’t being met. For others, it may feel like behaviors are still showing up or new challenges are emerging.

Progress in ABA therapy is rarely linear. Skills develop at different rates, and some improvements are subtle before they become obvious.

Progress may be happening in small but important ways

I often remind families to look beyond big milestones. Early progress may include:

• Shorter or less intense behavioral episodes
• Increased tolerance for transitions
• Better engagement during sessions
• Improved attention or imitation

These changes create the foundation for communication, independence, and social skills. They may not look dramatic, but they matter.

When expectations and timelines don’t match reality

ABA therapy requires patience. While some children show noticeable progress quickly, others need more time to build readiness skills.

Why timelines vary from child to child

Each child comes into ABA therapy with different strengths, challenges, and learning histories. Factors that influence progress include:

• Age at the start of therapy
• Skill level at intake
• Frequency and consistency of sessions
• Co-occurring challenges such as anxiety or sensory needs

When expectations don’t match a child’s learning pace, therapy may feel ineffective even when progress is happening.

Evaluating whether goals are appropriate

If ABA therapy is not working, the first place I look is the treatment goals. Goals should be meaningful, achievable, and clearly defined.

Goals may need to be broken down further

Sometimes goals are simply too big. For example, “increase communication” may need to be broken into:

• Making eye contact
• Using gestures
• Requesting preferred items
• Responding to simple questions

Smaller goals allow for measurable progress and reduce frustration for the child.

Goals should reflect family priorities

ABA therapy works best when goals align with what families value most. If goals don’t feel relevant to daily life, motivation and engagement can suffer.

Motivation plays a larger role than many realize

Learning only happens when a child is motivated. If ABA therapy isn’t working, motivation is often part of the issue.

Reinforcement must be meaningful and current

Children’s preferences change. A reinforcer that worked last month may no longer be effective.

I regularly reassess:

• What the child is working for
• How often reinforcement is delivered
• Whether reinforcement feels natural or forced

When motivation improves, participation and learning often improve alongside it.

Teaching methods may need adjustment

ABA therapy includes many teaching strategies. If one approach isn’t effective, another may work better.

Not all children respond to the same teaching style

Some children learn well through structured table work. Others learn best through play or natural routines.

Adjustments may include:

• Shifting to more naturalistic teaching
• Increasing play-based instruction
• Modifying prompt levels
• Slowing the pace of instruction

Flexibility in teaching is essential for progress.

Consistency outside of sessions is critical

Another common reason parents feel ABA therapy is not working is lack of carryover at home or school.

Generalization takes intentional planning

Skills learned in therapy don’t automatically transfer to other environments. Children often need practice with different people, settings, and materials.

This is where collaboration becomes essential.

Parent involvement supports lasting progress

When parents understand and use ABA strategies at home, progress tends to accelerate. Even small changes in daily routines can create more learning opportunities.

Environmental and emotional factors can slow progress

Behavior is influenced by more than skill level alone. Life changes can temporarily impact progress.

External factors that affect learning

Things like:

• Sleep disruptions
• Illness
• Family stress
• School transitions

can all influence behavior and learning. During these periods, therapy may focus on maintenance and emotional regulation rather than new skills.

The importance of data-driven decision-making

ABA therapy is built on data. When therapy isn’t working, data helps guide next steps.

Data tells us when change is needed

If data shows limited progress, it signals the need to:

• Adjust teaching methods
• Change reinforcement strategies
• Modify goals
• Reevaluate session structure

Programs should never stay the same when progress stalls.

Communication and collaboration make a difference

Families should feel comfortable expressing concerns. When parents speak up, therapists can respond more effectively.

From my experience, progress improves when communication is open and ongoing. Therapy works best as a partnership.

Why stopping ABA therapy is rarely the solution

It’s natural to feel discouraged when progress is slow. However, ABA therapy is designed to evolve. When something isn’t working, the solution is refinement—not stopping.

With the right changes, many children regain momentum and continue building important skills.

How Achieve ABA supports families when ABA therapy feels stuck

At Achieve ABA, therapy is continuously reviewed and adjusted to meet each child’s needs. Families are involved in decision-making, and programs are updated based on data and real-life feedback.

Support is provided through:

• In-home ABA therapy to build skills in everyday routines
• School-based ABA therapy to support learning in academic environments
• Telehealth ABA therapy to guide parents and caregivers

Achieve ABA proudly serves families in New Jersey and North Carolina with individualized, compassionate ABA services.

Reach out today to learn how personalized ABA therapy can better support your family’s goals.

FAQs

Sources:

• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-022-04412-1
• https://www.umassglobal.edu/blog-news/applied-behavior-analysis-exploring-aba-therapy-careers
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9458805/
• https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/insight/psychology/scientific-concepts-applied-behavior-analysis/
• https://www.bacb.com/about-behavior-analysis/