How ABA Therapy Sessions Have Changed Over Time
Another question parents often ask is, “Will my child need this number of hours forever?” The hours of therapy elapsed as the client experienced a significant increase in functional independence, a generalization of skills in different settings, and a significant decrease in the disruptive behavior exhibited by the environment. Hours may be extended or shortened depending on how the child is responding to treatment.
Research shows that 30-40 hours per week is best when the goal is to bridge the developmental learning gap with neurotypical peers. The ABA therapy Chicago Providers Council’s Practice Guidelines indicate that children under 3 years of age with a diagnosis of ASD work best at 25-30 hours per week, and children closer to 3 years of age do best at 30 or more hours per week.
When a child is recommended extensive ABA treatment (26 hours or more), it is usually difficult for the parents to commit. This is understandable, but practice guidelines note that time without therapy can lead to greater skill decline or behavior problems. Certified behavioral analysts typically state that receiving intensive services as soon as they are recommended gives a child a better chance of reducing the number of services and time spent on therapy as they get older.