Is 20 hours of ABA enough?

Whether 20 hours of ABA is enough depends on what your child needs to learn. Practice guidelines describe focused ABA at roughly 10 to 25 hours a week, aimed at a limited set of goals, and comprehensive ABA at roughly 30 to 40 hours a week for broad needs across many areas.

So 20 hours can be the right amount for one child and too few for another. The BCBA should base the recommendation on the assessment, explain why, and adjust it as progress data comes in. Parent training also stretches the value of each hour, because you use the same strategies at meals, bedtime and outings. Ask any provider how they decided on a number before you agree to it.