In 1987, Dr Ole Ivar Lovaas (also known as the father of ABA) had studied 60 children participants with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In his study, children were divided into groups, where some are given ABA treatment, and some did not.  The outcomes indicated 47% of the children who received ABA treatment became indistinguishable from their peers or “best outcome,” many were able to have their “autism” label removed. 42% moved from a self-contained or autism room to a language-delayed room, and two of the children or 10% saw little improvement. As a whole, 89% of the children in the experimental group saw substantial improvement, significant gains in IQ and socialization.

This is not surprising as the principles of ABA therapy is highly empirical, and most of the children who are subjected to ABA therapy has remarkable gains from the consistent data taking and interventions from the therapists. Realistic goals were being set, and were then achieved step-by-step in its flexible ways of teaching.