It's great you're looking into ABA and ESDM! Research shows both can help autistic children. A recent study in *Frontiers in Pediatrics* (2026) found that both ABA and ESDM lead to developmental gains after 6 months.

For ABA, a 2024 study (Eldevik et al.) suggests that moderate intensity (13-25 hours/week) may be more effective than low (5-12 hours/week). Also, parent-led ABA with fewer hours can still improve skill acquisition.

ESDM research indicates that early intervention (20 hours weekly) can lead to lasting gains, like fewer repetitive behaviors and better language/IQ scores, even years after therapy ends. Involving parents in either therapy can also boost positive interactions!