In ABA, maintenance refers to the continued performance of a skill after intervention is faded or removed. How is maintenance typically evaluated?

• A. Probe sessions over time
• B. Immediate post-treatment test
• C. Generalization to new settings
• D. Baseline measurement

Answer: (A)

Maintenance is about whether a skill continues to be emitted after the intervention has been faded or removed, so it’s evaluated by checking performance across time after fading. Probe sessions over time are used because they regularly assess the target behavior in the absence (or with minimal prompting) of the training components, at spaced intervals after formal treatment ends. If the learner continues to perform the skill across these probes, maintenance is demonstrated; if performance drops, it suggests the skill is not yet maintained and may need further fading or booster sessions.

Immediate post-treatment testing only shows how well the skill performs right after fading begins, not whether it will persist. Generalization to new settings examines if the skill appears in different environments, which is related but distinct from maintenance over time. Baseline measurement is the pre-treatment level and does not inform about persistence after intervention.