Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills

Background
The Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills (ABLLS, often pronounced "ables") is an educational tool used frequently with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to measure the basic linguistic and functional skills of an individual with developmental delays or disabilities.

Development
The ABLLS were developed based on principles from B. F. Skinner's book Verbal Behavior. Verbal behavior states that language can be treated as a behavior like any other. Therefore, this behavior can be broken down into smaller and smaller components, which can be used to track deficits and strengths in a child's language or social abilities.

The ABLLS were originally developed by James W. Partington, Ph.D., BCBA and Mark L. Sundberg, Ph.D., BCBA. The new, ABLLS-R (revised), were updated by Dr. Partington. The ABLLS are published by Behavior Analysts, Inc.

The ABLLS assessment is designed to cover the typical skill-set of an early elementary student (5-7 years old).

Usage
While the ABLLS is most commonly used on children with developmental disabilities and delays (including Autism), it can be used for anyone who may be lacking in basic communication or life-skills.

It assesses the strengths and weaknesses of an individual in each of the 25 skill sets. Each skill set is broken down into multiple skills, ordered by typical development or complexity. So, a skill of F1 (Requests by indicating) is a simpler skill than F12 (Requesting Help). Usually, lower level skills are needed before proceeding to teach higher skills. However, many individuals display splinter skills that are above their practical level.

The ABLLS is conducted via observation of the child's behavior in each skill area. The instructor will provide a stimulus to the child (Verbal, hand-over-hand, non-verbal, etc), and depending on what the child does (the behavior) determines their skill-level. Some skills are difficult or time-consuming to test; instructors frequently accept anecdotal evidence from parents and other instructors as to a child's ability at a given skill level.

Sections
The ABLLS are split into 25 different functional areas, each corresponding to a letter in the alphabet. The letter 'O' is unused at this time. The sections between the ABLLS and ABLLS-R are extremely similar. It is mostly the specific skills that vary in number and scope.

Advantages & Disadvantages
The following is a very brief list of advantages and disadvantages to using the ABLLS assessment.

Advantages
motor skill sets.
 * Provides a visual representation of skills.
 * Can be conducted by most people with a minimal understanding of ABA.
 * Addresses basic language, academic, self-help, classroom, and gross and fine

Disadvantages

 * Skill lists are not exhaustive
 * Skills are mostly in order of childhood development, but every child learns differently.
 * No age normalization is provided.
 * Not a standardized assessment (it is still subjective to the assesor's interpretation or ability to elicit behaviors).