By Doreen Samelson, Ed.D., MSCP and Lindsey Sneed, Ph.D., BCBA-D

If a little bit is good for you, more must be even better. Patients frequently take this approach to health treatments, sometimes to their detriment.

In our specialty, care services for autistic children, some healthcare providers hold a similar view. Many professionals believe the “gold standard” for intervention is high-hour treatment—up to 40 hours a week—including for children under 5 years old. A recent meta-analysis in JAMA Pediatrics challenges this assumption head-on, with findings that could significantly alter how we approach crucial early interventions for autistic children.

The JAMA Pediatrics study looked at the relationship between the amount of intervention provided (hours per day, duration, and cumulative intensity) and the outcomes for young autistic children. Researchers analyzed data from 144 studies involving more than 9,000 children, making it one of the most comprehensive analyses of its kind.

Contrary to what many have long believed, the study found no significant association between the amount of intervention and improved developmental outcomes. As the authors write, “health professionals recommending interventions should be advised that there is little robust evidence supporting the provision of intensive intervention.”

The authors of the meta-analysis looked at studies of any nonpharmacological intervention for autistic children, but their findings will likely have the greatest impact on interventions based in applied behavior analysis (ABA). The........

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