Our Approach
Recommended service hours at Side by Side ABA Therapy are determined through a comprehensive assessment of each child’s clinical needs and treatment goals, in consideration of the family’s schedule and the child’s other commitments, including school, rest, and family time.
Depending on assessment results, a child may be recommended for a comprehensive or a focused treatment model. Treatment intensity is reviewed at regular intervals and adjusted based on progress data.
Supporting Evidence
- Treatment dosage is associated with outcomes. In a retrospective analysis of 1,468 children receiving ABA services, Linstead et al. (2017) found that both treatment intensity and duration predicted progress across eight treatment domains, with the magnitude of effect varying by domain.
- However, in a multisite randomized controlled trial of toddlers, Rogers et al. (2021) found no significant difference in outcomes between 15 and 25 weekly hours of intervention for either naturalistic or structured approaches.
- The Council of Autism Service Providers’ ABA Practice Guidelines describe ABA services as individualized, with treatment planned and evaluated for each client.
- Collectively, this evidence supports an individualized, data-driven approach to determining and reviewing treatment intensity.
References
- Linstead, E., Dixon, D. R., Hong, E., et al. (2017). An evaluation of the effects of intensity and duration on outcomes across treatment domains for children with autism spectrum disorder. Translational Psychiatry, 7(9), e1234. doi.org/10.1038/tp.2017.207
- Rogers, S. J., Yoder, P., Estes, A., et al. (2021). A multisite randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of intervention intensity and intervention style on outcomes for young children with autism. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 60(6). doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2020.06.013
- Council of Autism Service Providers. (2024). ABA Practice Guidelines (Version 3.0). casproviders.org/practiceguidelines
This information is provided for general educational purposes and does not constitute medical or clinical advice. Each child’s treatment plan is developed by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst following an individualized assessment. For questions, contact info@sidebysideabatherapy.com.