How to Handle Challenging Extinction Bursts During ABA Therapy

Imagine a child who always gets a cookie when they cry. The parent decides to stop giving cookies during crying episodes. The child, confused, may cry louder or throw a tantrum to get the old response back. That escalation is the extinction burst.

Let's talk about what extinction bursts are, why they happen to almost everyone doing ABA therapy, and exactly how to handle them without losing your mind.

What Is an Extinction Burst in ABA Therapy?

An extinction burst in ABA therapy is a temporary increase in the frequency, intensity, or duration of a problem behavior that happens when you stop reinforcing that behavior.

How It Works in ABA

Let's say your child has learned that screaming gets your attention. Every time they scream, you come running. You may try to calm them down. You could give them what they want to stop the screaming. Either way, screaming works.

Now you start an ABA intervention. If you and your BCBA decide to use extinction, you'll stop reinforcing the screaming. When your child screams, you won't respond with attention.

Here's what happens:

Days 1-3: Your child screams. You don't respond. They're confused. They scream again. Still no response.

Days 4-7: This is when the extinction burst typically happens. Your child screams louder. They scream longer. They might add new behaviors throwing things, hitting, or crying harder. They're essentially thinking, "This always worked before. Maybe I'm just not doing it enough!"

Days 8+: If you stay consistent and don't give in, the screaming starts to decrease. Your child learns that screaming doesn't work anymore. They'll eventually stop or significantly reduce that behavior.

The extinction burst that temporary increase in the problem behavior, happens in the middle. It's uncomfortable, but it's expected.

What Causes Extinction Bursts in ABA Therapy?

When extinction bursts happen, it’s usually because the learner expects a certain outcome. They’ve learned that a behavior works, and when it suddenly stops working, they try harder to achieve the old result. It’s not defiance or manipulation. It’s a natural reaction to change.

Studies show that 24–40 percent of learners experience extinction bursts during early intervention stages. When extinction is paired with differential reinforcement, this percentage often drops to 12–15 percent, and bursts become easier to manage.

How to Handle Extinction Bursts in ABA Therapy?

Once you understand what an extinction burst is and why it happens, the next step is learning how to respond in a way that keeps progress moving forward. Here are practical ways to support a learner during this stage.

Recognize and Prepare

Look ahead and plan for the burst. Behaviors that worked for a long time usually push harder before they fade. Keeping simple notes on how often, how long, and how strong the behavior gets helps you stay organized and calm when it happens.

Example

If you know a child’s tantrums usually last a few minutes before calming down, tracking that pattern helps you stay steady and avoid reacting out of frustration.

Stay calm and stay consistent

One of the most important things you can do during an extinction burst is hold steady. It’s tempting to step in when behavior escalates, but reacting even occasionally can reset the entire process. Consistency tells the learner that the old behavior no longer leads to the same result.

Example

If a child starts raising their voice or acting out to pull you into a conversation, and the plan involves withholding attention for that behavior, stick to the script. Keep your tone neutral, remind them of what you expect, and guide them back toward the behavior you want to see. Even a small lapse can make the burst last longer.

Look at what’s happening around the behavior

Sometimes the environment plays a bigger role than we realize. Hunger, noise, transitions, or overwhelming tasks can all increase the intensity of an extinction burst. Adjusting these conditions can ease the entire process.

Example

If your learner tends to struggle more close to lunch, offering a snack beforehand might lower frustration and prevent the burst from becoming stronger. If you want a clearer understanding of how changing the environment and triggers can help reduce challenging behaviors, you can learn more about antecedent intervention in our related guide.

Offer Better Behaviors

Don’t just remove reinforcement, teach what to do instead. Show the learner a clearer and easier way to get their needs met. This could be a word, a gesture, or a picture.

Example

If a child grabs toys to get your attention, teach them to tap your arm or use a picture card. Reinforce the new skill right away so they learn it works.

Track what you see

You can’t make good decisions without good information. Keeping a simple record of how often the behavior happens, how long it lasts, and how strong it becomes helps you see whether the burst is calming down or gearing up. Data also helps you fine-tune your approach if adjustments are needed.

Digital tools, checklists, or even quick tally marks can highlight patterns you might miss in the moment.

Keep Monitoring and Make Adjustments

Watch how the behavior changes over time. Look for shifts in strength, any reappearance of old behaviors, and signs of new ones developing. Adjust the plan as needed and celebrate small improvements.

Example

If you see the bursts getting shorter each day, even by a little, reinforce that progress. Small wins show the plan is working.

Comparison Table: Extinction Alone vs. Extinction + Differential Reinforcement

Feature	Extinction Alone	Extinction + Differential Reinforcement
Behavior escalation	High	Lower
Duration of burst	1–2+ weeks	Often under 1 week
Learner frustration	Higher	Lower
Teaching value	Limited	Strong—teaches new skills
Long-term success	Moderate	High
Risk of new inappropriate behaviors	Higher	Lower

FAQ

1. How to handle challenging behaviors in ABA?

Challenging behaviors are managed by finding the cause, teaching a more helpful skill, keeping responses consistent, and reinforcing calm or appropriate actions right away. If you need to know how to properly bill for the steps taken to assess these behaviors, check out our guide on CPT Code 97152, the code used for technician-assisted assessments.

2. How long do extinction bursts last in ABA?

Extinction bursts usually appear early and may last a few sessions or a few days. With steady, consistent responses, they decrease over time.

3. How do you reduce extinction burst intensity?

Intensity is lowered by preparing the environment, teaching clearer ways to communicate needs, reinforcing positive behavior quickly, and making sure everyone follows the same plan.

Conclusion

Handling extinction bursts in ABA takes steady work, calm responses, and a plan everyone follows. When caregivers and therapists stay on the same page, use consistent reinforcement, and keep an eye on progress, the tough moments become easier to handle. Over time, the learner picks up better ways to communicate and cope, and those difficult behaviors begin to fade. With patience and the right support, real change happens.