Autism Treatment
An early, intensive, appropriate treatment program will greatly improve the outlook for most young children with autism. Most programs will build on the interests of the child in a highly structured schedule of constructive activities. An experienced specialist or team should design the program for the individual child.
A variety of therapies are available, including:
- Applied behavior analysis (ABA)
- Medications
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Speech-language therapy
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)
This program is for younger children with an autism spectrum disorder. It can be effective in some cases. ABA uses a one-on-one teaching approach that. reinforces the practice of various skills. The goal is to get the child close to normal developmental functioning
programs are usually conducted within a child's home, under the supervision of a behavioral psychologist. Unfortunately, these programs can be very expensive and have not been widely adopted by school systems. Parents often must seek funding and staffing from other sources, which can be hard to find in many communities.
TEACCH
Another program is called the Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH). TEACCH, developed as a statewide program in North Carolina, uses picture schedules and other visual cues. These help the child work independently and organize and structure their environments.
Though TEACCH tries to improve a child's adaptation and skills, it also accepts the problems associated with autism spectrum disorders. Unlike ABA programs, TEACCH programs do not expect children to achieve typical development with treatment.
MEDICINE
Medicines are often used to treat behavior or emotional problems that people with autism may have, including:
- Aggression
- Anxiety
- Attention problems
- Extreme compulsions that the child find impossible to stop
- Hyperactivity
- Impulsiveness
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Outbursts
- Sleep difficulty
- Tantrums
Currently, only risperidone is approved for the treatment of children ages 5 - 16 with irritability and aggression associated with autism. There is no medicine that treats the underlying problem of autism.
DIET
Some children with autism appear to respond to a gluten-free or casein-free diet. Gluten is found in foods containing wheat, rye, and barley. Casein is found in milk, cheese, and other dairy products. Not all experts agree that dietary changes will make a difference, and not all reports studying this method have shown positive results. If you are considering these or other dietary changes, talk to both a doctor who specializes in the digestive system (gastroenterologist) and a registered dietitian. You want to be sure that the child is still receiving enough calories, nutrients, and a balanced diet.