Early Treatment For Autism Works

Autism is a mysterious illness that affects millions of children around the world. Early intervention has been noted as a key part of treatment. However, a new study finds that early treatment may not have the intended effects.

British researchers recruited more than 150 autistic children to participate in their study. Each child was randomly assigned to communication-focused treatment, which has been found to be effective in a few small studies, or standard treatment. Over the course of one year, the children in the treatment group received language therapy sessions in which parents learned how to communicate better with their autistic children. The two groups were compared at the end of the study to determine any significant improvement resulting from either standard or communication-focused treatment.

They found that early treatment for autism does not significantly improve symptoms, but it does benefit parent-child interaction. The researchers accounted for factors such as age and treatment center when making the comparisons. The prevalence of autism symptoms remained the same for both groups. A widely used assessment test was used to evaluate symptoms. While researchers were disappointed in this aspect of the results, they were encouraged by the gains made in communication between parents and children.

In the United States, autism spectrum disorders affect about 1 in 100 children. Treatment for autism spectrum disorders currently costs healthcare systems billions of dollars every year. Symptoms of autism include poor social skills, slow language development, and repetitive behaviors. Treating these symptoms with drugs or behavioral therapy have not been widely effective thus far. As a result, researchers continue to look for new means of intervention.

The results of this study shed new light on what works and what may not work when it comes to treating autism spectrum disorders. Future studies are needed to find more beneficial forms of treatment.

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