If your child's BCBA has ever warned you that a behavior might temporarily get worse before it gets better, they were likely preparing you for something called an extinction burst. Understanding this concept in advance can make a genuinely difficult stretch feel less alarming.
What an Extinction Burst Is
An extinction burst is a temporary increase in the frequency, intensity, or duration of a behavior that occurs when that behavior stops being reinforced (a process called "extinction"). In plain terms: if a behavior has reliably worked to get a child something they wanted, and it suddenly stops working, the child will often try harder — a bigger, more intense version of the same behavior — before the behavior decreases, as their system essentially tests whether the old strategy still works before giving up on it.
Why This Happens
This pattern makes intuitive sense once you think about it from the child's perspective: if something has worked reliably in the past, a natural response to it suddenly not working is to escalate, not immediately give up. Extinction bursts reflect this natural pattern of behavior, not a sign that anything has gone wrong with the intervention.
A Common Everyday Example
This pattern isn't unique to autism or ABA — most people have experienced a version of it. If a vending machine that's always worked suddenly doesn't dispense your selection, most people don't calmly walk away on the first failed attempt — they press the button again, more firmly, maybe hit the machine, before eventually giving up. That escalation before giving up is essentially an extinction burst.
Why Understanding This Matters
Without knowing about extinction bursts in advance, a temporary escalation in behavior can feel like a sign that a behavior plan is failing or making things worse — leading some parents or caregivers to abandon a genuinely effective approach right when persistence is most important. Understanding that a temporary increase can actually be a sign the plan is working (the old strategy is no longer being reinforced, prompting this test-and-escalate response) helps caregivers stay consistent through this difficult but often necessary phase.
What an Extinction Burst Typically Looks Like
An extinction burst is generally temporary — a period of increased behavior intensity or frequency, followed by a genuine decrease if the new approach (no longer reinforcing the old behavior, consistently reinforcing an appropriate replacement instead) is maintained consistently. The specific duration and intensity vary by child and behavior; your BCBA should help you understand what to realistically expect for your specific situation.
Why Consistency Is Critical During This Phase
If a behavior plan is abandoned or inconsistently applied during an extinction burst — if the old behavior "works" even occasionally during this period — it can actually reinforce the escalated version of the behavior, making the overall pattern harder to change going forward. This is part of why close BCBA involvement and caregiver consistency matter so much during this specific phase of a behavior plan.
Not Every Behavior Plan Involves an Extinction Burst
It's worth noting that not every behavior change process involves a noticeable extinction burst — some behaviors decrease more smoothly, particularly when a strong, easy-to-use replacement behavior (see Replacement Behaviors: Teaching "What to Do Instead") is available and reinforced from early in the process.
What to Do If You're in the Middle of One
If your child's BCBA has identified that you're likely experiencing an extinction burst, the right response is generally to stay consistent with the plan as designed and maintain close communication with your BCBA — this is exactly the kind of situation where individualized professional guidance matters, since consistency and correct implementation are what determine whether this phase resolves as expected.
For Walker-Area Families
Our BCBA, Kimberly Blazer, prepares Walker-area families in advance for this possibility whenever a behavior plan might involve one, and stays closely involved through this phase. Our Behavior Support & Consultation service is designed around exactly this kind of goal. our in-home ABA therapy in Walker page has more information, or Get Started Today to get started.
This article is part of our complete guide, Understanding the Function of Behavior. Clinically reviewed by Kimberly Blazer, BCBA.