Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder
There is currently no cure for autism spectrum disorder. The importance of early intervention treatment services can greatly improve a child’s development and improve their life (Oono,Honey,McConachie, 2013).
The different types of treatments can generally be broken down into four main categories including behavior and communication approaches, medication, dietary approaches, and complementary and alternative medicine.
The different types of treatments can generally be broken down into four main categories including behavior and communication approaches, medication, dietary approaches, and complementary and alternative medicine.
Behavior and Communication approaches:
Treating autism with a behavioral based method can be very effective. Behavioral methods can improve communication, learning, adaptive behavior, and appropriate social behavior while reducing inappropriate behavior (Moes & Frea, 2002). One of the common behavioral treatments for autism is applied behavior analysis, known as ABA. ABA is designed to correct behavior and teach skills. It uses careful observation and positive reinforcement. A few subtypes within ABA include discrete trial training, early intensive behavioral intervention, and pivotal response training. Combining some of the ABA techniques can be beneficial to a person with autism (Moes & Frea, 2002).
* Discrete Trial Training: Uses steps to teach a desired behavior or response (Moes & Frea, 2002).This type has lessons that are taught one-on-one and is used to increase a child’s attention span (Moes & Frea, 2002).
* Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention: This is normally used for very young children to help reinforce positive behavior (Moes & Frea, 2002).
* Pivotal Response Training: This subtype tries to increase a child's motivation to monitor their own behavior and communicate with others (Moes & Frea, 2002).
Other types of behavioral and communication approaches include occupational therapy and speech therapy.
Treating autism with a behavioral based method can be very effective. Behavioral methods can improve communication, learning, adaptive behavior, and appropriate social behavior while reducing inappropriate behavior (Moes & Frea, 2002). One of the common behavioral treatments for autism is applied behavior analysis, known as ABA. ABA is designed to correct behavior and teach skills. It uses careful observation and positive reinforcement. A few subtypes within ABA include discrete trial training, early intensive behavioral intervention, and pivotal response training. Combining some of the ABA techniques can be beneficial to a person with autism (Moes & Frea, 2002).
* Discrete Trial Training: Uses steps to teach a desired behavior or response (Moes & Frea, 2002).This type has lessons that are taught one-on-one and is used to increase a child’s attention span (Moes & Frea, 2002).
* Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention: This is normally used for very young children to help reinforce positive behavior (Moes & Frea, 2002).
* Pivotal Response Training: This subtype tries to increase a child's motivation to monitor their own behavior and communicate with others (Moes & Frea, 2002).
Other types of behavioral and communication approaches include occupational therapy and speech therapy.
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Medication:
There is not a single medication that can cure autism spectrum disorder. There are medications that can help some symptoms. Antidepressants are the most commonly used medication among children and youth with autism (Oswald & Sonenklar, 2007). The most commonly prescribed antidepressants are paroxetine, sertraline, fluoxetine, citalopram, hydro bromide, and fluvoxamine (Oswald & Solnenklar, 2007). The second most common medication is stimulants. Stimulants help improve attention and reduce hyperactivity. Anticonvulsants are frequently used to manage seizures and they may also be used to stabilize mood and behavior (Oswald & Sonenklar, 2007). Medications are very effective in treating some symptoms. Using medication and other types of treatments produces the best results (Oswald & Sonenklar, 2007).
There is not a single medication that can cure autism spectrum disorder. There are medications that can help some symptoms. Antidepressants are the most commonly used medication among children and youth with autism (Oswald & Sonenklar, 2007). The most commonly prescribed antidepressants are paroxetine, sertraline, fluoxetine, citalopram, hydro bromide, and fluvoxamine (Oswald & Solnenklar, 2007). The second most common medication is stimulants. Stimulants help improve attention and reduce hyperactivity. Anticonvulsants are frequently used to manage seizures and they may also be used to stabilize mood and behavior (Oswald & Sonenklar, 2007). Medications are very effective in treating some symptoms. Using medication and other types of treatments produces the best results (Oswald & Sonenklar, 2007).
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Dietary Treatments:
Some people believe that eating a certain diet can help reduce symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (Faras, Nahed, Lee, 2010). Dietary treatments are based on the idea that certain food allergies or lack of something in the diet cause symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (Faras, Nahed, Lee, 2010).
This video discuses how switching diet with her child helped reduce symptoms of autism. It gives information on where to find more helpful information about dietary treatments and gives helpful advice on how to switch diets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf0MUd1q0yQ
Some people believe that eating a certain diet can help reduce symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (Faras, Nahed, Lee, 2010). Dietary treatments are based on the idea that certain food allergies or lack of something in the diet cause symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (Faras, Nahed, Lee, 2010).
This video discuses how switching diet with her child helped reduce symptoms of autism. It gives information on where to find more helpful information about dietary treatments and gives helpful advice on how to switch diets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf0MUd1q0yQ
Alternative Treatments:
These types of treatments are very controversial. Complementary therapies can include art, music, animal, and sensory integration therapy. There is little scientific evidence that complementary therapies help autistic children (Oswald & Sonenklar, 2007). Art therapy is used so an autistic child can express their feelings (Oswald & Sonenklar, 2007). Music therapy helps a child’s speech (Oswald & Sonenklar, 2007). Animal therapy helps motor skills (Oswald & Sonenklar, 2007). Sensory integration focuses on normalizing extreme reactions (Oswald & Sonenklar, 2007).
These types of treatments are very controversial. Complementary therapies can include art, music, animal, and sensory integration therapy. There is little scientific evidence that complementary therapies help autistic children (Oswald & Sonenklar, 2007). Art therapy is used so an autistic child can express their feelings (Oswald & Sonenklar, 2007). Music therapy helps a child’s speech (Oswald & Sonenklar, 2007). Animal therapy helps motor skills (Oswald & Sonenklar, 2007). Sensory integration focuses on normalizing extreme reactions (Oswald & Sonenklar, 2007).
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