How many hours of ABA therapy are recommended for children under the age of six?
A major component of a successful home program for children with autism is the intensity of the delivery of instruction across behaviour interventionists, supervisors, teachers, and of course, parents. There has been much debate about how much therapy is required to make a difference in a child’s life. Some research supports ABA programs that give 40 hours of therapy a week, while other research shows 10-20 hours a week can be effective as well. Many times deciding how much therapy is needed can be based on the individual needs of the child, and the amount of direct intervention provided by the family in daily living. There is no perfect formula to this process so your consultant will work with you and your team to determine the best intensity for your child. Consistency of your program is essential to its success and will help your child acquire more skills at a faster rate and interact more effectively with his or her environment.
