ABA Therapy or Speech Therapy? How to Make the Right Choice for Your Child
If you’ve ever found yourself comparing ABA therapy and speech therapy at midnight after your child went to bed, you’re not alone. Families are often given multiple recommendations without clear explanations of how these therapies differ—or how they can work together. Understanding that difference can change everything.
Understanding the Purpose of ABA Therapy
ABA therapy is often misunderstood, especially online. At its core, it’s about teaching meaningful skills in a way that fits into real life.
How ABA Therapy Approaches Learning and Behavior
Applied Behavior Analysis focuses on how skills are learned and how the environment influences behavior. That includes communication, social skills, independence, emotional regulation, and reducing behaviors that interfere with learning.
In my work as a BCBA, I’ve supported children who technically could communicate but didn’t use those skills when it mattered most—during transitions, peer interactions, or moments of frustration. ABA therapy helps bridge that gap by teaching children how to use skills functionally across settings, not just in a therapy room.
This is why ABA therapy is commonly recommended for children with autism and developmental delays, particularly during early intervention. Families often search for terms like ABA therapy for autism, in-home ABA therapy, or behavior therapy for children because they’re looking for support that translates into daily life.
How ABA Therapy Supports Communication
While ABA therapy isn’t a replacement for speech therapy, communication is a major focus. ABA therapists teach children how to request, respond, comment, and advocate for themselves—using spoken language, sign language, or AAC systems.
I’ve worked with children who learned to ask for help instead of engaging in challenging behavior, not because we forced language, but because communication became more effective than the behavior it replaced. That functional shift is one of ABA’s greatest strengths.
Understanding the Role of Speech Therapy
Speech therapy plays a critical and highly specialized role in child development, especially when communication delays are present.
What Speech Therapy Specifically Treats
Speech-language pathologists work on expressive language, receptive language, articulation, social pragmatics, and feeding or oral-motor skills. These are areas that require specialized training and clinical expertise.
For example, if a child struggles to physically produce certain sounds, understand sentence structure, or safely chew and swallow food, speech therapy is essential. ABA therapy does not replace this work—and shouldn’t try to.
I’ve collaborated with many SLPs whose work dramatically improved a child’s clarity of speech or understanding of language, opening the door for more meaningful interaction.
How Speech Therapy Builds the Foundation for Language
Speech therapy often focuses on the mechanics of language—how sounds are formed, how words are combined, and how language is understood. This foundation is critical. Without it, children may want to communicate but lack the tools to do so effectively.
Speech therapy is especially important when families notice delays in language milestones or concerns with feeding and swallowing.
Key Differences Between ABA Therapy and Speech Therapy
Even when goals overlap, ABA therapy and speech therapy look very different in practice.
Differences in Session Structure and Teaching Style
ABA therapy is typically more structured, particularly early on. Skills are broken down into smaller steps, practiced consistently, and reinforced to help children learn efficiently and generalize skills across environments.
Speech therapy sessions often feel more fluid and conversational. An SLP may embed goals into play, stories, or natural interactions, adjusting strategies moment by moment.
Parents often tell me ABA feels more systematic, while speech feels more naturalistic—and both observations are valid. These differences reflect the unique training and focus of each discipline.
Differences in Scope and Environment
ABA therapy addresses behavior across settings: home, school, and community. That includes transitions, peer interactions, safety skills, and independence.
Speech therapy remains focused on communication and feeding. While speech skills may be taught in a clinic, ABA therapy helps ensure those skills show up during everyday routines and real-life challenges.
Why ABA Therapy and Speech Therapy Work Best Together
In real-world practice, collaboration between ABA therapists and speech-language pathologists leads to the strongest outcomes.
Turning Skills Into Functional Communication
I’ve seen children learn new words or sentence structures in speech therapy but struggle to use them outside the session. When ABA therapy reinforces those same skills during play, routines, and moments of frustration, communication becomes functional—not just practiced.
Research supports this integrated approach, showing improved communication outcomes when behavioral strategies and speech-language intervention are aligned, particularly for children with autism.
Supporting Families Consistently Across Settings
When ABA and speech providers collaborate, families receive clearer guidance and more consistent strategies. Instead of juggling different expectations, parents can support communication at home, at school, and in the community with confidence.
How Families Can Decide Where to Start
Sometimes families have to prioritize one service due to time, availability, or insurance coverage. In those cases, understanding your child’s primary needs can help guide the decision.
When ABA Therapy May Be the Right First Step
ABA therapy may be prioritized if your child:
- Engages in challenging behaviors that interfere with learning
- Struggles with transitions, routines, or safety
- Needs support using communication skills functionally
- Is awaiting or has recently completed an autism evaluation
If you’re early in the process, connecting with providers who can guide you toward an autism evaluation and a comprehensive ABA assessment can help clarify next steps.
When Speech Therapy May Be the Right First Step
Speech therapy may be prioritized if your child:
- Has limited speech sound production
- Struggles to understand language
- Has feeding or oral-motor concerns
In many cases, the most effective plan is not choosing one therapy over the other—but building toward both.
Moving Beyond the “ABA Therapy vs. Speech Therapy” Debate
The phrase ABA therapy vs. speech therapy is common in online searches, but it doesn’t reflect how children actually learn and grow. These therapies are not opposing options—they’re different tools designed to work together.
When support is individualized, collaborative, and grounded in evidence-based practice, children gain skills that truly improve their quality of life.
How We Support Families at Blue Jay ABA
At Blue Jay ABA, we work alongside families and other providers to deliver compassionate, individualized ABA services that support real-life progress—not just clinical goals.
We proudly provide ABA therapy services in:
Our services include:
- Home-based ABA therapy to support learning in everyday routines
- School-based ABA therapy to promote success in the classroom
- Telehealth ABA therapy for flexible, accessible care
- ABA parent training to empower caregivers with practical, effective strategies
If you’re navigating questions about ABA therapy, speech therapy, or next steps after diagnosis, we’re here to help.
Reach out to Blue Jay ABA today to learn how our team can support your child and your family with evidence-based, compassionate ABA therapy designed to grow with you.
FAQs
Can a child receive ABA therapy and speech therapy at the same time?
Yes. Many children benefit most when ABA therapy and speech therapy are provided concurrently and coordinated to support functional communication across settings.
Is ABA therapy only for children with autism?
While ABA therapy is commonly used for autism, it can also support children with other developmental delays, behavioral challenges, and learning differences.
Does ABA therapy replace speech therapy?
No. ABA therapy does not replace speech therapy. Speech-language pathologists address language mechanics and speech production, while ABA focuses on functional use of skills.
Which therapy should we start first after an autism diagnosis?
This depends on the child’s needs. Some children benefit from starting with ABA therapy to build learning readiness, while others may need immediate speech-language support.
Sources:
- https://www.autismspeaks.org/applied-behavior-analysis
- https://www.autismspeaks.org/speech-therapy
- https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/autism/conditioninfo/treatments/speech-language
- https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/aba-therapy-for-autism/
- https://www.cdc.gov/autism/treatment/index.html
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