Unfortunately, there tend to be some confusion surrounding ABA and DTT. When most people think of ABA, there are typically thinking of DTT. Most people use these two terms interchangeably when in fact they are not the same. DTT is one of many interventions that ABA utilizes to work with children. However, DTT was one of the first interventions used to work with children so this may be where the confusion lies.

Discrete Trial Training (DTT) is a structured ABA strategy that breaks down skills into small discrete components. The trainer systematically teaches each step one by one as opposed to teaching them all at once. Trainers utilize tangible reinforcements to encourage the appropriate behavior.

ABA is a broad range of scientifically based interventions ranging from play-based techniques to mass-trial table top techniques. All interventions under the ABA umbrella are extensively studied and have a ton of research supporting them. When developing an ABA program, the individual need is considered before determining what strategies will be utilized for intervention.