Treatment for Autism
There is no cure for autism. Proper treatment and education can help the child to learn and develop.1 Treatment depends on the condition and individual needs of the patient. Combination of treatment methods is more effective as autism requires lifelong treatment. Treatment involves the following:
Behavior Modification
There are several methods of behavior modification to treat inappropriate, repetitive and aggressive behavior. This involves highly structured, skill-oriented activities that are based on the patient’s needs and interests.
Sensory integration, play therapy and social stories are the categories of behavior modification.2
Sensory integration therapy:
Helps to cope with sensory stimulation. Treatment includes handling the materials with different textures or listen to different sounds.
Play therapy:
Helps to improve emotional development, which in turn, improves social skills and learning. This therapy involves adult–child interaction that is controlled by the child.
Social stories:
Helps to improve undeveloped social skills. Stories are designed to help autistic patients understand the feelings, ideas and point of views of others, or to suggest an alternate response to a particular situation.
Communication Therapy
This therapy is used to help patients who are unable to communicate properly and initiate language development skills.
Speech Therapy
This therapy is used to help the patient gain ability to speak.
Dietary Modifications
Autism is not caused by diet. Changing the diet by adding vitamin supplements may improve digestion and eliminate food intolerances and allergies, which contribute to the behavioral problems.
Other
Some of the below discussed therapies are occasionally used:
- Occupational therapy: Helps improve independent function and teaches basic skills (e.g., buttoning a shirt, bathing etc.).
- Physical therapy: Involves using exercise and other physical measures (e.g., massage, eat etc.) to help patients control body movements.
Pharmacotherapy
Medication is used to treat various symptoms of autism like attention difficulties and anxiety. It is also used to treat epilepsy that accompanies this disorder.
The following categories of medications can be used to treat autism.
Antidepressants:
Amitriptyline, Bupropion, Clomipramine, Fluvoxamine, Fluoxetine are some antidepressants, which help to
- reduce the frequency and intensity of repetitive behavior
- recrease irritability, tantrums and aggression
Antipsychotics:
Clozapine, Risperidone, Olanzapine and Quetiapine are some antipsychotics, which help to:
Stimulants:
Methylphenidate, Amphetamine, and dextroamphetamine are some stimulants, which help to:
- increase focus and decrease impulsivity, and
- hyperactivity in high-functioning patients.
- Stimulants lead to drug dependence on prolong usage.
Over-the-Counter Drugs
These are not advised for this condition, as it has side-effects, but can be taken by monitoring the side-effects. Famotidine (low strength tablets), phenylpropanolamine (PPA), ephedrine (made from the herb Ephedra) and caffeine are some of the available OTC drugs.
Alternative Therapy
Vitamin B6 or pyridoxine and vitamin B3 or niacin has shown improvement in autism. This is also known as mega-vitamin therapy. Dimethylglycine is also found to show some improvement in autism.
Next page: Living with autism
Written by: Healthplus24 team
Date last updated: April 20, 2012