Autism treatment options for parents
Researchers have so far not been able to pinpoint one cause for autism, and there is still no know cure. But, research in this field has revealed that there are a number of treatment options and therapies that are extremely effective for this condition. Rather than curing those with autism, the treatments help to reduce some of the symptoms, and help the suffer and parents to better cope with the condition. Read on to find out more about the wide range of autistic treatment options currently available.
Once your child has been diagnosed with autism, you'll be able to access the wide variety of treatment options and specialist therapies available. The sooner a treatment program is set up, the better. Not only will this help you better understand and cope with your child's condition, but your child will certainly benefit from this additional specialist help too. The severity and type of autism will dictate what treatment type is most suitable for your child. You'll find that the treatment options are wide ranging, and the quality level of help available with vary wildly. So, it's important to look at what's available to you and your child, and choose the most suitable support. Do keep in mind that many of these treatments don't come for free, so be prepared to factor in any additional costs. Here is a basic list of the most common autistic treatments and therapies on offer at the moment.
Early intervention
Autistic children under the age of six, are eligible for this treatment type. This will encompass a wide variety of therapies including behavioral and speech, and provide essential guidance on social skills. These are all essential skills that your child will need to work on and develop at the earliest stage possible.
Medication
Again, medication won't cure your child's autism, but, many of these prescription pills can help to reduce some of the most common symptoms. Among these you'll find – Methylphenidate, more commonly known as Ritalin, Risperidone, and Secretin. These drugs can reduce your child's hyperactivity, ease tantrums, and curb their aggressive behaviour. But, they all come with a long list of side effects. Many parents feel that the side effects outweigh the benefits of the drugs, making them a very unpopular treatment choice.
Autistic therapies
Every child with autism is different. The severity of your child's condition, the signs and symptom they have, will help you to choose the best therapy type for their individual list of problems. Below, you'll find a list of the most common therapy types
- Behavior Therapy – Many children with autism suffer from behavioral problems, this treatments type can help get to the root causes, and strategies can be developed to reduce any behavioural issues.
- Social Skills, Occupational and Play Therapies – These three will work on a combination of things, which will help to integrate your child into society. The treatments helps by developing social skills, building better communication skills, improving motor skills and helping to promote appropriate behavior when playing and interacting with others.
- Speech Therapy - Many children with autism experience some issues with speech, and this therapy type is a great way for working on these issues, and helps to improve your child communication. [1, 2 & 3]
References -
1 - Autism and Asperger syndrome – http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/autism1.shtml#what's_the_treatment?.Accessed Sept 12, 2009.
2 - Treating autistic spectrum disorder – http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Autistic-spectrum-disorder/Pages/Treatment.aspx. Accessed Sept 12, 2009.
3 - Causes, treatment and research – http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1243. Accessed Sept 12, 2009.
