Autism Awareness Month: Common Autism Treatments
A diagnoses of ASD can confirm parent's suspicions and throw them into a whole new world of special diets, therapy appointments, frustration, tears of sorrow, and hopefully more often, tears of joy.
If you suspect a child in your life may have autism, be sure to read the 5 Easy Questions That Can Help Detect Autism and begin therapy right away. Starting in the first couple years of life can bring monumental progress as the child ages, but doctors often don't diagnose ASD until age 5 or later.
If the child does end up receiving a diagnosis, you'll be a good 2-3 years ahead in your therapy. If not, you've still built a solid foundation on which the child can grow.
Once a diagnosis is in hand, parents are faced with a myriad of treatment options that can be confusing and overwhelming.
Medication
First of all, it's important to remember that there is no cure for ASD, but that doesn't mean people can't learn to cope and thrive. There are also no medications that specifically target the disorder, but there are drugs that can help people with ASD function better. For example, prescription drugs can be used to help manage high energy levels, inability to focus, depression, or seizures.
Therapy
Behavior therapy can be crucial for people with ASD. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) has become widely accepted among health care professionals and used in many schools and treatment clinics. ABA encourages positive behaviors and discourages negative behaviors in order to improve a variety of skills.
In addition to ABA, occupational therapy and other therapies (such as Gemiini) can be vital in helping children learn self-care techniques and learn to verbalize their thoughts, in addition to helping to build social skills.
Special Diets
Some dietary treatments have been developed by therapists, but not all have the scientific backing needed for widespread recommendation. Dietary treatments might have profound effects on one child and not help another. Be sure to talk to your doctor before trying a new diet.
Alternative Treatments
There are also a seemingly endless number of alternative treatments circulating online. As with dietary treatments, some might be beneficial while others could be downright dangerous. Be sure to ask your doctor before trying a scientifically unproven treatment.
One of the best early intervention therapies to start, even before a diagnosis, is the Gemiini Discrete Video Modeling System. It has been scientifically proven to help children (and adults) learn to speak, while introducing them to common social situations they'll encounter throughout life.
Remember, if you suspect autism in your child, read the 5 Easy Questions That Can Help Detect Autism and then start therapy immediately. Doing so can make all the difference.