A 2025 study found both ABA and ESDM help kids with autism significantly in just six months, improving cognition, language, social skills, and motor abilities. ESDM tends to boost social reciprocity more, while ABA shows stronger gross motor gains. Long-term, ESDM maintains benefits like better social skills and lower autism severity years later, though IQ/language gains may fade. ABA often improves adaptive behavior and IQ over time. Interestingly, research suggests 15-25 hours/week of either therapy works equally well—more isn’t necessarily better. Matching the therapy to the child’s needs (ESDM for social goals, ABA for life skills) seems most effective. Here’s a helpful link with details: https://www.frontiersin.org/jo....urnals/pediatrics/ar