How is autism treated?
Therapies and behavioral interventions are designed to remedy specific symptoms and can bring about substantial improvement. The ideal treatment plan coordinates therapies and interventions that target the core symptoms of autism: impaired social interaction, sensory integration, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and obsessive or repetitive routines and interests. Most professionals agree that the earlier the intervention, the better. The longer a child goes with their symptoms, and regulating their lives to accommodate their issues, the harder it is to reverse and to help that child have a better quality of life.
Educational/behavioral interventions: Therapists use highly structured and intensive skill-oriented training sessions to help children develop social and language skills. These therapies can be done at home, as in my case, as long as the parents are ready to turn over every stone to find the resources and absorb all they can about autism and why it causes the problems that it does. Often the one on one play time with another child can work wonders for a child with autism compared to being put into a group situation. They need to be taught how to respond, how to read others, and how to act appropriately, and I’ve seen that this happens much faster in smaller groups.
Medications: Doctors often prescribe an antidepressant medication to handle symptoms of anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Anti-psychotic medications are used to treat severe behavioral problems. Seizures can be treated with one or more of the anticonvulsant drugs. Stimulant drugs, such as those used for children with attention deficit disorder (ADD), are sometimes used effectively to help decrease impulsivity and hyperactivity.
Other therapies: There are a number of controversial therapies or interventions available for autistic children, but few, if any, are supported by scientific studies. Even still, I know many kids who have been helped by ‘controversial’ therapies such as elimination diets, vitamin/mineral supplementation, etc., so I wouldn’t advise someone to just turn away from these, but be cautious. Because autism is different for every child, not everything is going to work for every child. Read, research, talk to other parents, and then decide which route you’re going to take to try to help your child.