There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The number of hours of ABA therapy a child with autism needs can vary based on the child’s age, developmental level, and specific needs. Children will typically be in ABA therapy anywhere from 10 to 30 hours per week. Parents often wonder how these hours are determined, and why the number is so high.
There are many variables that go into determining a clinical recommendation for intensity and duration of ABA therapy. Some of these variables include how many goals will be targeted, intensity and level of interfering behaviors, what the interfering behaviors look like, and the child’s progress. In general,the goal of ABA therapy is to provide sufficient hours of therapy to help the child make meaningful progress and reach their full potential, while also taking into account the child’s and family’s needs and preferences.
At Expectations Reimagined, we understand that parents are juggling a lot of balls – including nap time, other therapies, and other family members’ schedules. When a child is recommended to receive comprehensive ABA treatment (26 hours or more) it is often challenging for parents to commit. This is understandable. It is a big change to begin ABA therapy, and we view our role as a treatment team partner with you. That is why we have designed a flexible delivery model, including parent-led ABA, telehealth supported family coaching, and BCBA/RBT delivered care.
If you have any questions about ABA or getting started, you can reach out to us at [email protected]
