Comparing ABA Therapy and Other Autism Therapies

Last Updated on July 7, 2025 by John Hookway

ABA Therapy vs Other Autism Therapies is an important consideration for families seeking the best treatment for autism.

ABA therapy is widely recognized as one of the most effective approaches, backed by strong research and high success rates.

Studies indicate that over 89% of children with autism show significant improvements with ABA therapy, including better communication, enhanced social skills, and improved daily living abilities.

The table below highlights key outcomes:

However, every child is unique, and the decision between ABA Therapy vs Other Autism Therapies should be based on the individual child’s goals and needs.

Families should be aware that multiple effective options exist, and the best therapy is the one that best fits the child.

Key Takeaways

• ABA therapy helps many children with autism talk better, make friends, and do daily tasks.
• Starting ABA early and doing it 25 to 40 hours a week helps young kids the most.
• ABA checks progress with data and changes plans for each child’s needs and goals.
• Other therapies like speech, occupational, cognitive behavioral, and Floortime also help with important skills and can work with ABA.
• When families help and work with therapists, any autism therapy works better.
• Therapy plans should fit the child’s age, how strong the symptoms are, and what the family wants.
• A team of different experts working together helps kids learn more and become more independent.
• Picking the right therapy means looking at the good and bad parts and making sure each child’s needs and feelings are respected.

ABA Therapy

Applied Behavior Analysis is a way to help people learn and change behaviors. It uses ideas from psychology to understand why people act a certain way.

Therapists use ABA to teach skills like talking, making friends, and taking care of themselves. ABA can happen at home, in school, or at a clinic. The plan changes to fit each person, so it works for kids and adults with autism.

ABA is special because therapists always collect data and check progress. They change the plan if someone needs more help. This makes sure everyone gets the best support.

ABA also cares about social validity. Therapists ask if the goals and methods are important to the person and their family. Many studies now check social validity to see if ABA helps in real life.

ABA helps with:

• Teaching skills for being independent
• Helping people act in positive ways
• Lowering problem behaviors
• Changing plans for different places

How ABA Works

ABA therapy uses steps to help people learn new things. Therapists pick which behaviors to work on. They use a model with three parts: what happens before, the behavior, and what happens after. This helps them know why someone acts a certain way and how to help them change.

Therapists use things like praise, prompts, and fading. If a child asks for help with words, the therapist might give a toy or say “good job.” The child learns that using words is good. ABA also teaches big tasks by breaking them into small steps.

Therapists write down what happens in each session. They count how often things happen and use graphs to see progress. They look at the data often and change the plan if needed.

Research shows that starting ABA early and doing it a lot can help kids talk, make friends, and do daily tasks better.

ABA’s careful and organized way helps families and therapists see progress and make good choices.

ABA Goals

ABA therapy makes clear goals for each person. These goals can be about daily routines, talking, making friends, or joining in the community. Therapists and families pick goals that matter most to them.

Some ABA goals are:

• Doing daily tasks alone
• Getting better at talking and understanding
• Making friends and talking to others
• Learning to follow rules in public

Therapists break big goals into small steps. They check progress and change goals if needed. Things like how many hours of therapy, the person’s skills, and family help can change how fast someone meets their goals. Families and therapists work together to keep ABA helpful and focused on what matters.

Who Benefits

ABA therapy helps many people with autism spectrum disorder. Most studies show children with autism get the most help. Starting ABA early and doing it a lot works best.

Many families see better talking, social skills, and daily life skills. Adults with autism can also get help. This is true when ABA focuses on job or living skills.

The table below shows how ABA and other therapies help different people:

ABA therapy is special because it uses data to check progress. Therapists write down what happens in each session. They count how often a behavior happens or how long it lasts.

This helps them know what works for each person. If something is not working, they can change the plan fast. This way helps kids who start ABA early do even better.

Many experts say starting ABA before age five helps most. Kids who get 25 to 40 hours of ABA each week do the best.

Big studies show ABA helps thinking, talking, and social skills a lot. These gains often last after therapy ends. Other studies show ABA lowers problem behaviors for many kids with autism. Some studies show each child can make their own gains. This shows ABA can fit each person’s needs.

ABA therapy also helps families. Therapists share data with parents and caregivers. This teamwork helps everyone know what is working. Families can use these ideas at home. This helps kids learn in daily life.

Groups who benefit most from ABA therapy are:

• Young kids with autism who start early and get lots of therapy
• Older kids and teens with autism who need help with social skills or behavior
• Adults with autism who want to learn job or life skills
• Families who want to help their child learn at home

ABA therapy is flexible and proven to help people with autism reach goals. Its use of data makes sure each person gets the help they need.

Alternative Therapies

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people with autism handle feelings. It also helps them change thoughts or actions that are not helpful.

Therapists use CBT to lower anxiety, obsessive behaviors, and depression. CBT works best for older kids, teens, and adults who can talk about feelings.

Researchers have looked at both regular and adapted CBT for autism. Adapted CBT uses pictures, easy words, and more practice.

This helps people with autism understand better. Studies show both types help lower anxiety and obsessive thoughts.

The table below shows how many people do well with CBT:

Adapted CBT helps a little more than standard CBT. Many people keep getting better for up to two years after therapy.

Therapists often work with parents and use special tools to check progress. CBT does not work as well for very young kids or those who have trouble talking. But it can really help older kids and teens with anxiety.

CBT gives people with autism ways to deal with stress and change negative thoughts.

Floortime

Floortime, also called DIR/Floortime, helps kids build social skills through play. Therapists and parents play with the child and follow what the child likes. This helps kids learn to talk, share, and show feelings.

Many studies say Floortime is helpful. Research shows kids who get Floortime talk more and grow in social and emotional ways.

Parents can learn to use Floortime at home. This makes it easy to use every day. Floortime also helps lower anxiety and meltdowns.

Floortime fits well with care that respects each child’s needs. It helps kids use play to practice sharing, caring, and solving problems.

Studies show Floortime helps late talkers and kids who find social skills hard. Parents who use Floortime see their kids join in more and have fewer meltdowns.

Floortime helps with:

• Building strong bonds
• Talking and using language
• Social skills and caring about others
• Lowering anxiety and sensory overload

Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy helps kids with autism learn daily life skills. Therapists work on how kids handle sights, sounds, and touch.

They also help with moving, dressing, and eating. OT often uses special ways to help kids deal with sensory things.

A study with kids ages 3 to 9 showed OT helped with senses, talking, social skills, and self-care. Most kids got better in the first five sessions.

More sessions helped them keep getting better. Other studies show OT helps with small and big movements, non-verbal talking, and thinking skills. Therapists use checklists and tests to see how kids are doing.

Occupational Therapy helps kids with autism learn skills to be more independent and have a better life.

Speech Therapy

Speech therapy helps kids with autism talk and understand others. Many kids with autism find it hard to say what they need.

They may also have trouble understanding people or using words with friends. Speech-language pathologists, called SLPs, help these kids learn to talk and use body language.

Experts, like the Missouri Autism Guidelines Initiative, say speech therapy is very important for autism. SLPs teach kids to ask for things, answer questions, and join in talks.

They also show kids how to use gestures, faces, and eye contact. Starting speech therapy early helps a lot. Studies show that if kids start before school, about two out of three preschoolers with autism get much better at talking.

Speech therapy is not just about talking. Some kids use tools like Augmentative and Alternative Communication or PECS.

These help kids who do not talk or talk very little. SLPs pick the best tools for each child and set goals that fit their needs.

Speech therapy works best when families, teachers, and friends help the child every day. Using new skills in real life helps kids remember what they learn.

Speech therapists also teach kids about social rules. They help kids learn to take turns talking or notice when someone is happy or sad.

Over time, kids become more sure of themselves and can share their thoughts better. SLPs make special plans for each child. This helps kids talk more, make friends, and have better relationships.

Other Approaches

Many families try other therapies to help their child grow. Nature-based therapies, like playing outside or gardening, may help kids feel better and stronger. Some studies say these help, but more research is needed to know for sure.

Some families use complementary and alternative medicine, like special diets, vitamins, or music therapy. Doctors say families should check if these are safe and work well. Not all CAM therapies have strong proof, so families should talk to doctors before trying them.

A mix of therapies often works best. Experts say using ABA, speech therapy, and other methods together can help each child.

Checking progress and having families join in makes therapy work better. Treating health problems, like sleep or stomach issues, can also help kids learn and behave better.

Each child with autism is unique. Working as a team and checking progress often helps families find the best therapies for their child.

ABA Therapy vs Other Autism Therapies

Research Evidence

Many experts say ABA therapy is the best for autism. Researchers have studied ABA for a long time. They found ABA helps kids with autism talk, make friends, and do daily tasks.

• Dr. Ivar Lovaas did a famous study. Kids who got lots of ABA made big progress. Some even learned as much as other kids in school.
• Big reviews show ABA helps thinking and daily skills a lot.
• Starting ABA early, even at age two, leads to better results later.
• ABA uses proven ways like positive reinforcement and teaching in real life.
• Health groups like the U.S. Surgeon General and American Psychological Association say ABA is a top choice.
• ABA has changed over time. Now, therapists use more natural and positive ways.
• Studies show ABA works better than things like special diets or sensory therapy for main autism symptoms.
• Over 89% of kids who get lots of ABA improve important skills. In early studies, about 47% of kids in ABA reached normal school levels. Only 2% of kids in the other group did.

ABA Therapy vs Other Autism Therapies often depends on research. ABA stands out because it has lots of proof and uses data. Other therapies, like speech or occupational therapy, help with certain skills. But ABA helps with more needs.

Strengths of ABA

ABA therapy has many strengths that help families. Therapists use data to see how kids are doing and change plans.

This helps each person get the right support. ABA teaches real-life skills like talking, making friends, and self-care.

• ABA uses praise to help good behaviors happen more.
• Therapists break big jobs into small steps to make learning easier.
• ABA plans can change to fit each person.
• Families and therapists work together to pick goals and check progress.
• ABA can happen at home, school, or in the community.

ABA Therapy vs Other Autism Therapies shows ABA helps with many skills. It helps with talking, social skills, and daily life.

Many kids who start ABA early keep getting better. ABA uses data and teamwork so families know what works.

Strengths of Alternatives

Other therapies also help in important ways. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps older kids and teens with anxiety and bad thoughts.

Floortime builds social and emotional skills through play. Occupational therapy teaches daily life skills and helps with sensory problems. Speech therapy helps kids talk and understand others.

A report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality looked at many therapies. The report found some other therapies work well for certain needs.

For example, CBT helps with anxiety. Speech therapy helps with talking. Occupational therapy helps with daily life and sensory issues. Floortime helps with social and emotional growth.

• CBT works best for kids who can talk about feelings.
• Floortime helps kids who need to make friends through play.
• Occupational therapy helps kids with sensory problems and daily tasks.
• Speech therapy helps kids who have trouble talking.

ABA Therapy vs Other Autism Therapies depends on what each child needs. Some kids do best with ABA. Others do better with a mix of therapies. Families and experts often use more than one therapy to help kids do their best.

Limitations

ABA therapy has helped many kids with autism. But it also has some big limits. Families and experts should know about these problems when they compare ABA Therapy vs Other Autism Therapies.

Some scientists worry about bad effects from ABA. For example, Kupferstein (2018) found almost half of people in a survey had trauma after ABA. Sandoval-Norton and Shkedy (2019) said long-term ABA might hurt feelings or cause learned helplessness.

Other experts are not sure these studies are right. They say the research may not be strong. This means we need more studies to know the risks for sure.

Some people think ABA tries too hard to change how kids act. They say it does not always respect who each person is. Critics worry that teaching kids to act a certain way can make them hide themselves. This can cause stress or make kids feel left out.

People also talk about ethics. In the past, some ABA programs used tough ways to stop bad behaviors. Now, most therapists use praise and do not punish.

Still, families and therapists must make sure therapy cares about the child’s feelings and choices.

Other problems are:

• Many ABA studies use small groups, not big trials. This makes it hard to know if ABA works for everyone.
• ABA therapy can take a lot of time and cost a lot. Some families cannot get enough hours or find trained therapists.
• Some kids may not do well with ABA or need other help.
• ABA Therapy vs Other Autism Therapies shows other methods, like DIR/Floortime, focus more on feelings and making friends. These may work better for some kids, especially those who need help with emotions or social skills.

Families should also think about what each therapy values and its goals. Some people want therapy that supports neurodiversity and helps kids accept themselves. Others like programs that teach daily skills in a set way.

Picking the right therapy means looking at both good and bad sides. No one therapy works for every child. The best results come when therapy fits the child’s needs and respects who they are.

Choosing the Best Therapy

By Age

Autism therapies work best when they fit a person’s age. Kids under five learn the most when they start early.

They get better at talking, making friends, and daily skills. Early intensive behavioral intervention helps young kids, even with fewer hours. Young brains are ready to learn new things.

A study looked at younger and older kids after therapy:

As kids get older, their needs change. Teens and adults may need help with jobs or living alone. Many adults have average or high IQ and can talk well.

Special therapies like job training, speech therapy, and social groups help adults do well at work and in the community.

Starting early helps kids make more progress, but people need the right therapy for their age all through life.

By Symptom Severity

Autism looks different for everyone. Some people have mild symptoms. Others need more help. How severe symptoms are can change as people grow. Therapies should change as symptoms change.

Therapists should check how kids are doing often. They should change the plan if needed. Some kids need more hours or a new way to learn. Others may do well with shorter sessions.

By Family Goals

Each family wants different things for their child. Some want better talking. Others want daily skills or more friends. When families join therapy, kids do better. Parents can help by practicing skills at home.

1. Parents help kids use skills in daily life.
2. Family therapy sets goals that matter to everyone.
3. Play-based learning helps with feelings and friends.
4. Routines and praise help manage behavior.
5. Parent training gives families tools to help.
6. Working together makes home a good place to learn.

Family-centered therapy helps kids talk, make friends, and do daily tasks. It also lowers stress and helps families feel more confident.

Picking the best therapy means looking at age, symptoms, and family wishes. The plan should change as kids grow and families set new goals.

Combining Therapies

Multidisciplinary Approach

Many kids with autism do better with more than one therapy. A multidisciplinary approach means experts from different fields work together.

These experts make a plan that fits each child. The team can have behavior analysts, speech therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and doctors. Each expert helps with a different skill. They all work as a team to help the child grow.

Research shows using ABA, speech, and occupational therapy together works best. Kids in these programs often get more independent and better at social skills.

When experts share ideas, they can help with more needs at once. This teamwork also helps families feel less alone and less stressed.

A team approach makes therapy fit each child. It helps kids use new skills in many places and leads to better results for kids with autism.

Coordination

Coordination means everyone helping a child works together and shares news. Regular meetings and clear talks help everyone know the plan.

When therapists and families pick goals together, kids do better. Using the same strategies at home, school, and therapy helps kids use their skills everywhere.

Multidisciplinary teams often have:

• Speech therapists
• Occupational therapists
• Behavior analysts
• Psychologists
• Medical professionals

These teams meet often to talk about each child’s progress and change plans if needed. Sharing notes and updates helps stop confusion. When everyone uses the same plan, kids learn faster and remember skills longer.

When families join therapy, they feel stronger and happier. Kids do best when families practice skills at home and help with therapy goals.

Studies show that teamwork and good communication help kids with autism get better at social skills, feel more confident, and become more independent. Programs with strong teams and regular talks help kids reach their goals.

Key Considerations

Practical Factors

Families have to think about many things when picking autism therapies. These things include cost, insurance, and if there are enough therapists nearby.

Other costs like travel and equipment can make therapy more expensive.

The table below shows how these things can change if a family can get therapy:

Where a family lives matters too. People in the country may have to drive far and pay more. If a child has more severe autism, it can cost $4,110 to $6,200 more each year than for other kids. Because of these things, families should look for help and support in their area.

Family Involvement

Family involvement is very important for autism therapy to work well. When parents join therapy, kids learn faster and use skills at home.

Studies show kids do better with talking, friends, and behavior when families help. Parents who get training feel more sure of themselves and less worried. They can make routines at home that help kids feel calm and act better.

When families join in, kids use skills in more places and stay excited to learn. It also helps parents feel better and makes the family stronger.

When caregivers help, therapy can fit what the child needs. Parents who work with therapists can ask for the right help and check if things are working. Grandparents or brothers and sisters can also help kids do better.

Individualization

Every child with autism is different. Therapy plans made just for them help each child do their best. Research gives many reasons why making therapy personal is important:

• Each child has their own strengths and things they need to work on.
• Finding autism early and starting therapy soon helps kids talk and make friends.
• Special therapies like ABA, speech, or OT work best when checked often.
• When families help, kids use skills at home and school.
• Plans like IEPs set goals and can change as kids grow.

Therapists use tests to make plans that fit each child. They watch how kids do and change the plan if needed. This way, kids can feel more sure of themselves, do more on their own, and have a better life.

ABA Therapy vs Other Autism Therapies is still important for families. Big studies show ABA-based therapies often help kids think better and do daily tasks.

Some research finds smaller changes in talking or how strong symptoms are. Younger kids and those who talk better may get more help.

Families should ask experts, look at studies, and pick what fits their child. Many kids do best when different therapies are used together. Every family can find hope and get support along the way.

FAQ

What makes ABA therapy different from other autism therapies?

ABA therapy uses data to teach new skills. Therapists watch progress and change plans if needed. ABA helps with behavior, talking, and daily life. Other therapies may focus on one skill or use play, talking, or movement.

Can families combine ABA with other therapies?

Yes, many families use ABA with other therapies. These can be speech, occupational, or social skills therapy. Working as a team helps kids learn more. Experts often say using more than one therapy works best.

How long does ABA therapy usually last?

ABA therapy usually lasts from one to three years. Some kids need fewer sessions as they get older. The time depends on goals, progress, and age. Therapists check progress and change the plan if needed.

Is ABA therapy covered by insurance?

Most insurance plans pay for ABA therapy. All 50 states say some coverage is required. The details depend on the plan and where you live. Families should ask their insurance for exact information.

Are there risks or side effects with ABA therapy?

Some people feel stress or discomfort with ABA. Most programs today use positive ways to help. Families should pick therapists who care about the child’s needs and feelings.

Who decides which therapy is best for a child?

A team of experts and the family decide together. They look at what the child is good at and what they need. Family goals are important too. The team checks the plan often to keep it working.

What if a child does not improve with ABA therapy?

If a child is not making progress, therapists change the plan. They might try new ideas or add other therapies. Families and therapists work together to find what helps most.

Can older children or adults benefit from ABA therapy?

Yes, older kids and adults can get help from ABA. Therapists help with job skills, social skills, and being independent. ABA plans change to fit the person’s age and goals.