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FOI 24/25-0514
DOCUMENT 2
Literature Review 
OFFICIAL
For Internal Use Only 
Reducing Applied Behaviour Analysis over time 
The content of this document is OFFICIAL. 
Please note: 
The research and literature reviews collated by our TAB Research Team are not to be shared 
external to the Branch. These are for internal TAB use only and are intended to assist our 
advisors with their reasonable and necessary decision-making. 
Delegates have access to a wide variety of comprehensive guidance material. If Delegates 
require further information on access or planning matters, they are to call the TAPS line for 
advice. 
The Research Team are unable to ensure that the information listed below provides an 
accurate & up-to-date snapshot of these matters 
Research question: Is there substantial evidence that a step-down transition away from 
Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) therapy can provide outcomes and be of benefit? 
Date: 3/1/24 
Requestor: Star s22(1)(a)(ii) - 
Endorsed by: Naomi s22(1)(a)(ii) - irreleva
Researcher: Stephanie s22(1)(a)(ii) 
,
- irrelevant mate  Aaron s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant ma
Cleared by: Stephanie s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant mat
1. Contents
Reducing Applied Behaviour Analysis over time ........................................................................ 1 
1.
Contents ....................................................................................................................... 1 
2.
Summary ...................................................................................................................... 2 
3.
Previous TAPIB research papers .................................................................................. 2 
4.
Review of Provided Literature ....................................................................................... 2 
5.
Other sources ............................................................................................................... 2 
6.
Literature review table ................................................................................................... 4 
7.
References ................................................................................................................... 7 
Reducing ABA 
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FOI 24/25-0514
Literature Review 
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For Internal Use Only 
2. Summary 
This paper considers the evidence for a step-down model of reducing frequency or intensity of 
applied behaviour analysis (ABA). No evidence was found regarding the effectiveness of a 
step-down model. One international ABA accreditation body, the Behavioral Health Center of 
Excellence, recommends a gradual reduction in hours when concluding ABA therapy. 
Five papers were attached with the research request. None of the papers directly relate to the 
efficacy of a step-down model of reducing ABA supports. 
Previous TAPIB research has found a lack of consensus regarding appropriate intensity and 
duration of ABA therapy. Recent Australian guidelines on the delivery of supports for children 
with autism note that supports should be individualised and there is no set number of hours of 
therapy which are appropriate for every child. 
3.  Previous TAPIB research papers 
Previous TAPIB research papers related to ABA include: 
•  RES 246 ABA and positive behaviour support.docx 
•  RES 292 Applied behaviour analysis for adults with ASD.docx 
RES 246 found no evidence for appropriate frequency, intensity or timeframe of ABA required 
to affect a reduction in behaviours of concern, nor any information on reducing intensity of 
support over time. 
RES 292 found lack of consensus regarding appropriate frequency, intensity or timeframe of 
ABA. The studies review in this paper emphasised that an individualised approach to 
determining frequency, intensity and timeframe of supports is required. 
4.  Review of Provided Literature 
Five papers were attached with the research request (refer to 6. Literature Review table for 
further details). None of the attached papers were directly relevant to the research question. 
None of the papers reviewed directly addressed the benefits of an extended timeframe of 
supports or the benefits of slowly reducing ABA support over time. No quality assessment was 
completed due to lack of relevance to the research question. 
5.  Other sources 
The Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (BHCE) is a private organisation that offers 
accreditation of applied behaviour analysts. They suggest fading out services gradually based 
on the needs of the client (BHCE, n.d.). However, BHCE provide no evidence on which they 
base this recommendation. 
 
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Autism CRC’s recent National Guideline for supporting the learning, participation, and 
wellbeing of autistic children and their families in Australia (Trembath et al, 2022), makes the 
following recommendations around duration of supports: 
56 . 1 The amount and duration of support provision should be tailored to the individual 
needs of the child and family. This includes consideration of the frequency, length, and 
time of day of support sessions, and variations in support needs over time. 
56.3 Practitioners should inform parents that there is no set number of hours per week 
of practitioner delivered child-directed supports that leads to the best outcomes for all 
children. 
56 . 4 Practitioners should be aware that research evidence does not support the 
concept that supports delivered in greater amounts consistently lead to better child and 
family outcomes (Trembath et al, 2022, pp.95-96). 
The National Guideline does not discuss reducing therapy over time. 
 
 
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7.  References 
Behavioral Health Center of Excellence. (n.d.). Suggestions for Ethically Fading Out ABA 
Services. https://www.bhcoe.org/2016/11/suggestions-ethically-fading-aba-services/ 
Camargo, S. P., Rispoli, M., Ganz, J., Hong, E. R., Davis, H., & Mason, R. (2014). A review of 
the quality of behaviorally-based intervention research to improve social interaction 
skills of children with ASD in inclusive settings. Journal of autism and developmental 
disorders, 44(9), 2096–2116. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2060-7 
Ivy, J.W. & Schreck, K.A. (2016). The Efficacy of ABA for Individuals with Autism Across the 
Lifespan. Current Developmental Disorder Reports, 3, 57–66. 
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40474-016-0070-1 
Kadar, M., McDonald, R., & Lentin, P. (2012). Evidence-based practice in occupational therapy 
services for children with autism spectrum disorders in Victoria, Australia. Australian 
occupational therapy journal, 59(4), 284–293. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-
1630.2012.01015.x 
National Autism Center. (2015). Findings and conclusions: National standards project, phase 
2. https://www.nationalautismcenter.org/national-standards-project/phase-2/ 
Steinbrenner, J. R., Hume, K., Odom, S. L., Morin, K. L., Nowel , S. W., Tomaszewski, B., 
Szendrey, S., McIntyre, N. S., Yücesoy-Özkan, S., & Savage, M. N. (2020). Evidence-
based practices for children, youth, and young adults with Autism. The University of 
North Carolina at Chapel Hil , Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, 
National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice Review Team. 
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