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| Frequently Asked Questions About AST |
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Q.
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How do you decide how much therapy a child needs?
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A.
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We agree with current ABA research that advocates intensive services for children in early intervention programs. For children severely impacted by autism this means a weekly minimum of 25 hours of direct one-on-one service, and possibly as many as 40 hours of “total programming” (i.e., being in a structured teaching environment) per week.
A greater number of direct service hours does not necessarily correlate with a greater reduction in autism symptoms. Depending on the child’s needs, we often recommend 25 hours of direct service (total program) per week, consistent with the recommendation of the National Research Council. At the same time, we work with parents and educators to help them integrate natural, play-based instruction throughout the child’s day. This sort of organic, “embedded” teaching often adds up to more than 40 hours a week of language and social instruction. This family-focused approach better addresses primarily core deficits, allowing the child to navigate the world socially and have a better ability to learn within all environments (i.e., not only in highly structured therapeutic or academic settings).
Each child is different and has a program tailored to address his or her specific needs. We work closely with families and other treatment providers to determine an appropriate level of intensity.
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