Unfortunately, an actual cure for autism, a disabling neurological disorder, has yet to be discovered. Children who are effected by this disorder usually grow up with a speech impairment, they have difficulties in social interactions, abnormal learning abilities and for the most part they’re simply unable to enjoy their lives, an experience which most of us take for granted. Many studies have indicated that early diagnosis and skilled intervention can actually minimize the issue, and additional therapies can provide the unfortunate patient with a degree of independence through teaching him or her how to cope with their life from a new perspective.
Numerous options are available within a wide variety of therapy programs. The kind of treatment which is considered best is usually related to an individual’s specific requirements, and most experts agree that treatment should be begun no later than the age of two. Sometimes a combination of treatments and programs will yield the best results, but it should be known that the condition generally requires treatment for the life of the patient and the caregiver should maintain flexibility of approach.
In most instances, treatments and therapy programs can be split up into four separate domains – behavioral, supplemental, dietary and medical. Some of these represent established programs, whilst others are experimental and it is important to remember that there are a lot of avenues to explore as the chase for the definitive cure goes on.
Behavioral therapies primarily utilize modification techniques, to help the patient to acquire specific job skills and to give them the ability to function in their environment. For example, Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA, entails the teaching of skill oriented activities. Patients are rewarded as they learn fun skills and their behavior skills develop. This is a well structured system, with intensive one-to-one interaction between a child with autism and their therapist. This particular type of treatment is usually considered to be the most effective by experts, but many critics still feel that the approach is overly “robotic”, and that it doesn’t really encourage the child to be spontaneous while they’re trying to adapt to the world around them.
As opposed to applied behavior analysis, pivotal response therapy is considered to be more natural, taking place in a more relaxed environment, and supporters of this method believe that this approach can trigger a ripple effect to other behaviors, achieving a better all round result.
With supplemental therapies, it seems that many individuals with autism respond quite favorably to sensory stimulation. Patients are encouraged to hold objects with various textures or listen to music, for example. The Tomatis approach utilizes the playing of a loop of music, for several hours each and every day, in the hope of improving the child’s attention and concentration.
Language programs are of the utmost importance. Sometimes a program is introduced enabling patients to interact through the use of visual stimulants, such as pictures, enabling the child to communicate wants and needs through image exchange.
When it comes to dietary therapies, some professionals advocate that children with autism should be placed on special diets, basically casein or gluten free. Studies have shown that a high percentage of children with the affliction suffer from chronic gastrointestinal issues. Gluten, found in wheat products, and casein, found in milk products, are the culprits. Whilst this form of treatment calls for significant dietary control, many other experts caution against its’ effectiveness.
Medical treatments for autism include the use of vaccines and some more, particularly controversial therapies, including chelation, which involves the injection of a form of acid into the blood to remove or improve metabolic functioning. Others advocate the use of antidepressant drugs such as Prozac to treat certain behavior problems associated with autism, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder or to help in controlling tantrums.
Autism is diagnosed in approximately one out of every 150 children. It is generally accepted that early diagnosis and intervention is crucial to enable the child to gain social skills, behavior skills and experience a release from isolation.
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