1. Request an Evaluation and Seek Treatment
As soon as you notice developmental delays or abnormalities in your child, request a developmental screening from your doctor to determine whether autism may be present. If so, ask for a referred to an autism specialist for a comprehensive evaluation. Getting a decisive autism diagnosis can take as long 2 to 3 years. While it's important to get a diagnosis eventually, there is no reason you have to wait to seek therapy. If your child has developmental issues, he probably will benefit from behavioral, occupational, speech and/or physical therapy regardless of whether he is finally diagnosed with autism. Early intervention is crucial to treating autism, so seek treatment as soon as possible, with or without a final diagnosis.
2. Learn About Available Therapies
Many different therapies are used to treat autism, including behavioral, speech/language, occupational and physical therapies, drug therapies, sensory integration therapy and dietary therapies. There is no specific protocol for how autism is treated, but some form of behavioral therapy is usually employed.
Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) is commonly used to treat autism. This method employs positive reinforcement to encourage behavior modification. The therapy has demonstrated promising results, to the point of full recovery for some children with autism. Research the different therapies available using the Internet, books, autism support groups and your child's doctors and therapists as resources, and you will become a more effective advocate for your child.
3. Treat Apparent Symptoms
Most children with autism will derive maximum benefit from a combination of different, often complementary therapies designed to treat their distinct symptoms. For example, drug therapies can help curtail disruptive behavior so that behavioral therapies can be more effective. Creating a program that produces optimal results usually requires some amount of guessing and checking. You may have to try different treatment options before settling on those that work best for your child. Before starting therapy, consult with your child's doctor and your other treatment professionals. Working as a team will provide the most favorable outcome for your child.
