It's great you're looking into ABA and ESDM! Recent research shows both therapies can lead to significant improvements in children with autism. A study in *Frontiers in Pediatrics* found that both improved skills like language and social interaction, but ESDM was particularly strong in boosting social reciprocity, while ABA excelled in gross motor skills.

Also, long-term studies of ESDM have shown lasting gains in language, IQ, and behavior. Meta-analyses suggest ESDM can really help with things like eye contact, while ABA, especially at higher intensities (20-40 hours/week), can have stronger effects on cognition and adaptive skills. You can find more details on these studies at frontiersin.org and thetransmitter.org.