Autism Treatment

There is no cure for autism. But there are autism treatments that work and with some education (both for the parent or caregiver and the child), many children who fall somewhere on the autism spectrum can learn and develop within societal norms. Early intervention is the single most important thing you can do to help your child who has autism. The earlier he is diagnosed and treatment is started, the more simplified the challenges associated with autism. Early intervention also lessens disruptive behaviors displayed by a child with autism, and children who get treatment early also show a much greater degree of independence.

The kind of autism treatment recommended depends completely on the individual needs of the patient, and where on the autism spectrum the child falls. In most cases, a combination of treatment methods is more effective than any one treatment used on its own. Autism sometimes requires extended treatment, sometimes throughout the entire life of the diagnosed person.

Occupational therapy is often used to treat autism. Regardless of where on the autism spectrum the person falls, occupational therapy helps to improve independent functioning and teaches the person basic skills. Children with autism take great comfort in routine, and teaching them life skills (such as bathing or dressing themselves) helps them learn coping skills at the same time it lets them set their own routines. 

Say behavior modification, and people are likely to shudder. It brings up thoughts of punishment for unwanted behaviors, but that is actually not the way that behavior modification works. Behavior modification that helps with autism is based on the theory that rewarded behavior is more likely to be repeated than behavior that is ignored. This theory is called applied behavior analysis. Applied behavior modification is often used to treat inappropriate, repetitive, or aggressive behavior and to provide autistic persons with life skills or coping skills.

Behavior modification requires highly structured activities that are based on the autistic person's needs and interests. It involves concentrated, one-on-one training both with a therapist and extensive caregiver/parent participation. Which boils down to the fact that behavior modification is hard work, and it takes a firm commitment by everyone involved or it will not work. Behavior modification requires consistency.

·      There is a strong emphasis on defining problems in terms of behavior that can be measured.

·      The treatment techniques are ways of altering an individual's current environment to help that individual function more fully.

·      The methods of behavior modification can be exactly described.

·      The techniques are based largely on principles of learning.

·      There is a strong emphasis on demonstration that a technique was responsible for a behavior change.

·      There is a strong emphasis on accountability for everyone involved in behavior modification.

Behavior modification works very well as an autism treatment, especially if started early. It's not an easy autism treatment, but it does work. It requires a commitment from everyone involved and requires consistent behavior, but children with autism can be helped by a good applied behavior modification program.