- Communication is foundational—many challenging behaviors stem from an inability to express needs.
- ABA teaches "manding" (requesting) first, then builds toward phrases using speech, signs, pictures, or AAC devices.
- Using AAC does not prevent spoken language from developing; it gives children a way to communicate now.
- Social skills are broken into teachable steps: joint attention, imitation, turn-taking, play, and conversation.
- Progress is individual and measured with data; every new form of expression is worth celebrating.
When a child struggles to communicate or connect with others, it affects nearly every part of family life — and it's one of the most common reasons families seek ABA therapy. The good news is that communication and social skills are exactly the kinds of skills ABA is designed to build, one step at a time, in a way that honors each child's unique pace and abilities.
This article explains how ABA approaches communication and social development, what progress can look like, and how families can support it at home.
Why Communication Comes First
Communication is foundational. Before a child can build complex social skills, they need a reliable way to express needs, wants, and feelings. Many challenging behaviors — meltdowns, aggression, self-injury — are, at their core, communication problems. A child who can't say "I'm overwhelmed" may show it through behavior instead. Teaching a functional way to communicate is often the single most powerful intervention.
Importantly, "communication" doesn't only mean spoken words. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association recognizes many forms of communication, including gestures, signs, pictures, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices. The right modality is the one that works for your child.
How ABA Builds Communication Skills
Teaching "manding" — requesting
In ABA, a mand is a request. Teaching a child to request things they want — a favorite toy, a snack, a break — is often the starting point of communication training. It's powerful because requesting is immediately meaningful to the child: they get something they want by communicating. That natural reinforcement builds motivation to keep trying.
Building from single words to phrases
Skills build on previous successes. A child might start by pointing, move to a single picture or word, then build toward phrases and sentences. Each step is celebrated and reinforced before the next is introduced.
Embracing multiple modalities
For some children, spoken language develops steadily. For others, AAC — picture systems like PECS, sign language, or speech-generating devices — opens the door to communication. ABA can incorporate any modality. Using AAC does *not* prevent spoken language from developing; it gives a child a way to communicate *now*, which reduces frustration and supports overall language growth.
The goal of communication training is functional communication — helping your child express themselves effectively — not forcing a specific form of communication. A child who communicates with pictures is communicating, and that matters enormously.
How ABA Builds Social Skills
Social skills are complex because they involve another person. ABA breaks them into teachable components:
- Joint attention — sharing focus on an object or event with another person, a foundational social skill.
- Imitation — learning by watching and copying, which underlies most social learning.
- Turn-taking — the back-and-forth rhythm of interaction, practiced first in simple games.
- Play skills — moving from solitary play to parallel and cooperative play with peers.
- Conversational skills — initiating, responding, staying on topic, and reading social cues (taught at the child's level).
- Perspective-taking and empathy — understanding others' feelings and viewpoints, taught in concrete, developmentally appropriate ways.
These skills are often taught in a structured way first, then practiced in natural social settings — playdates, peer groups, classroom activities — so they generalize to real life.
What Progress Looks Like
Progress in communication and social skills is rarely linear, and it looks different for every child. For one child, progress might be using a picture to request "more" for the first time. For another, it might be initiating a conversation with a peer. Both are meaningful. Both are celebrated.
A skilled team measures progress with data — tracking which skills are emerging, which are mastered, and which need more support. You'll see this in regular progress updates. Read more about how progress is tracked in our article on what progress in ABA therapy really looks like.
How Parents Can Support Communication at Home
You don't need to be a clinician to support communication development. A few simple strategies go a long way:
- Create opportunities to communicate. Don't anticipate every need before your child has a chance to express it. Pause and wait.
- Honor all forms of communication — a point, a sound, a picture, a word. Respond meaningfully to whatever your child offers.
- Model language at your child's level — if they use single words, model single words rather than long sentences.
- Follow your child's lead — communication is most motivating when it's about something they care about.
- Reduce pressure. Demanding "say ___" can increase anxiety. Instead, create natural reasons to communicate.
- Use the same system your child's team uses — consistency between home and therapy accelerates progress.
Collaborating With Speech Therapy
Many children receive both ABA and speech-language therapy. These services are complementary, not competing. ABA can reinforce the communication goals set by a speech-language pathologist, and vice versa. The best outcomes happen when providers communicate and align their goals. If your child sees a speech therapist, let your BCBA know so the teams can coordinate.
A Realistic, Hopeful Perspective
No one can promise exactly how far or how fast your child's communication will develop — and any provider who does is overpromising. What we *can* say is this: with individualized, consistent, compassionate support, most children make meaningful progress in their ability to communicate and connect. And every new way your child finds to express themselves is a moment worth celebrating.
Every moment matters — a communication, an expression, an affection, or the mastery of a skill. We encourage and celebrate these moments.
Will ABA help my nonverbal child communicate?+
ABA can help children build functional communication through whatever modality works for them — speech, signs, pictures, or AAC devices. Many children who don't use spoken words develop strong communication through other means.
Does using a communication device stop my child from talking?+
No. Research does not support the idea that AAC prevents speech development. AAC often reduces frustration and can support overall language growth. Decisions about modalities should be made with your child's team.
How is ABA different from speech therapy?+
They're complementary. Speech-language pathologists focus on communication and swallowing; behavior analysts focus on learning and behavior. Many children benefit from both, with goals aligned across providers.
How long until I see progress in communication?+
It varies widely. Some skills emerge quickly; others take time. Your child's BCBA will track progress with data and share regular updates so you can see growth, even when it's gradual.
Our articles are written and clinically reviewed by the Behavior Resource Center clinical team — led by Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and delivered with Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs). BCBAs hold specialized graduate-level training in Applied Behavior Analysis, pass a national certification exam administered by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), and maintain their credentials through continuing education. RBTs are trained and supervised directly by a BCBA. Every article is reviewed for clinical accuracy before publication, and we update our content as the evidence base evolves.
Have questions about ABA therapy?
If your child is struggling to communicate or connect with others, you don't have to figure it out alone. Our team can assess your child's current skills and build a plan that meets them where they are.
This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical or clinical advice. Every individual is unique. If you have concerns about your child’s development or behavior, please consult a qualified professional. Behavior Resource Center’s clinical team includes Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) who can help assess your child’s individual needs.