Autism spectrum disorders, also referred to as pervasive developmental disorders, are a group of neuropsychiatric disabilities with a range of communication and social impairments characterized by repetitive, restrictive and stereotyped behavior patterns, notes the National Institute of Mental Health, or NIMH. Most children with autism are diagnosed by the age of 3 because by that age parents notice that their child is having problems. Treatment for autism disorders encompasses a variety of approaches that caregivers should tailor to a child’s needs.
Behavior Therapy
Applied behavior analysis, or ABA, has become a widely accepted treatment method for autism. According to "Pediatric Primary Care," by Catherine Burns, the most important management for autism is behavioral training. In ABA, intensive one-on-one teacher–child interaction occurs with the goal of reinforcing desirable behaviors and reducing undesirable ones. According to Rebecca Landa, Ph.D., in an article titled "Autism Treatment Arsenal Expands, With More Options on Horizon," by Joan Arechart-Treichel, ABA treatment is quite structured. The therapist gives the child many opportunities to repeat the same actions and rewards the correct actions. ABA treatments can have a naturalistic approach—for example, the therapist teaches the child to say "ball," the child says "ball" and then a ball is rolled to him. The act of playing ball encourages him to say "ball." Landa also claims that there is strong evidence that ABA treatments raise IQ and improve language and social outcomes.
Education or School Therapy
Successful and effective programs for autistic children teach early communication and social interaction skills. If a child is younger than 3, these special interventions usually take place in the child's home or a child care center. The interventions help a child who has learning, language, attention, motivation and compliance deficits, mentions the NIMH website. Children learn by doing at this age. Exercises might include stringing beads, putting puzzles together or painting. A variety of specialists commonly work as a team, providing positive reinforcement to the child.
Medications
Doctors often prescribe medications to treat the behavioral problems associated with autism. Of the medications used to treat autism, however, not one works well, according to Burns. Some of the medications used are "off-label," according to the NIMH, which means that doctors prescribe the medication for autism despite its lack of approval by the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, for the treatment of the condition. In 2006 the FDA approved a drug called risperidone for the treatment of irritability for children ages 5 to 16, the first drug of its kind approved for autism.
References
- "Pediatric Primary Care"; Catherine Burns; 2008
- National Institute of Mental Health: Autism Spectrum Disorders: Introduction
- "Psychiatric News": Autism Treatment Arsenal Expands, With More Options on Horizon; Joan Arehart-Treichel; May 2010
