Treatment Options

There is no cure for autism, and not a single treatment seems to fit the needs of everyone. Unfortunately, the treatments offered, today, are only meant to minimize the symptoms and help maximize the autistic child’s ability to function and learn.

Behavioral Therapy

By using positive reinforcement and social skills training, autistic children can work through behavioral training to improve their behavior and communication. Different treatments that have been developed that are used in autistic behavioral therapy and they include:

• Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA): A way of teaching and reinforcing appropriate behaviors. 
• Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH): A public health program that uses varying combinations of ABA and other behavioral therapy models such as Developmental Individual Difference and the Relation-Based Model.
• Sensory Integration: Therapy designed to reduce sensory overload by helping the brain organize information received from the senses.

Specialized Therapies

Additional therapies that can become important components of an autistic child’s treatment plan are:

• Occupational therapy: Used to help the autistic child learn how to process information from the senses in a way that is more manageable.
• Speech therapy: This technique helps the autistic child develop his/her speech and social skills.
• Physical therapy: This will improve deficiencies with coordination and motor skills.

Drug Therapy

Certain symptoms of autism may require medications in order to get them controlled. Therapy often focuses on symptoms that risk harm to the autistic child or others. Symptoms that interfere with other treatment programs may also require medication to control. These symptoms include:

• aggression
• self-injury
• obsessive compulsive behaviors
• depression

Medications cannot cure the underlying cause of autism, but some medications that may be prescribed for the above symptoms are:

• antipsychotics
• stimulants
• antidepressants
• anti-anxiety medications

Before enrolling any child in a drug therapy program, parents need to research what the medication is prescribed to do, as well as the limitations of the drugs. Discuss with your doctor any side effects and learn exactly what the goals are in pursuing drug therapy. 

Not all therapies will be effective for every child. Work with your doctor and therapists to track how certain therapies are helping your child and don’t be afraid to admit failure and move on to another option.

Tagged as: Treatment