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Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

Specialty

Neurosurgery

Abstract

This paper evaluates the development, core principles, efficacy, and controversies surrounding applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy in treating autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a developmental disorder that affects behavior, social, and communication skills. The diagnosis of ASD continues to rise, highlighting the importance of understanding effective interventions as early as possible, which is critical for improving long-term outcomes. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using the National Library of Medicine’s® (NLM) database PubMed®. Filters were applied to include peer-reviewed articles from the past five years, focusing on clinical trials, meta-analyses, and reviews published in behavioral pediatrics and psychology journals. The search used keywords such as ABA therapy, ASD treatment, efficacy, ethical considerations, and history of ABA. A total of 21 articles were selected for review. The findings show that ABA therapy, especially when initiated early, significantly improves language, social skills, and adaptive functioning in individuals with autism. Studies report a medium to large improvement in communication gains and reductions in maladaptive behaviors. However, several barriers limit its acceptance due to the high costs, time demands, lack of qualified professionals, and ethical criticisms. Despite these challenges, ABA remains the gold standard in treatment, supported by evidence-based data offering measurable improvements in quality of life and independent living skills. The research highlights the importance of developing ABA practices to be more compassionate as well as culturally and neurodiversity-affirming. Future research should focus on increasing access to ABA, integrating telehealth options, and improving ethical standards to be more neurodiversity-affirming.

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