New Study: How ABA and ESDM Therapies Impact Kids with Autism Over Time

As parents of children with autism, we're always looking for information about what therapies work best and what we can expect. A new study published in Frontiers in Pediatrics (2025) offers some insights into how two common therapies, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), affect children with autism over several years.

What the Researchers Studied

Researchers wanted to understand how children with autism change over time when receiving either ABA or ESDM therapy. They followed a group of children who received one of these interventions and tracked their progress in areas like communication, social skills, and adaptive behavior (things like self-care and daily living skills) over a few years.

What They Found (In Plain Language)

The study found that both ABA and ESDM were associated with positive changes in children's development over time. Children in both groups showed improvements in their communication and social skills. The researchers also noted that the amount of progress varied from child to child, which isn't surprising, as every child is unique!

Why This Matters for Autism Families

This study reinforces the idea that early intervention can make a real difference for children with autism. It suggests that both ABA and ESDM can be effective therapies for supporting development. It's helpful to have more information supporting the long-term benefits of these interventions.

Practical Implications

• Therapy: This study may help inform discussions with your child's therapists about treatment goals and expectations. It highlights the potential for long-term gains with consistent therapy.
• School: The findings can be shared with your child's school team to advocate for continued support and individualized education plans (IEPs) that build upon the progress made in therapy.
• Daily Life: Knowing that both ABA and ESDM can lead to improvements in daily living skills can motivate families to incorporate therapy techniques into everyday routines.

Important Considerations (Limitations of the Study)

It's important to remember that this is just one study, and like all research, it has limitations. For example, the study likely included a specific group of children, and the results might not be generalizable to all children with autism. Also, the sample size might be considered small. More research with larger and more diverse groups is always needed to confirm these findings.

The Bottom Line

This study provides encouraging evidence that both ABA and ESDM therapies can lead to positive changes in children with autism over time. While more research is always needed, these findings offer hope and can help guide treatment decisions.

You can read the original research paper here: Longitudinal changes in children with autism spectrum disorder following ABA therapy or ESDM intervention