Autism is a neurological developmental delay, marked by social, emotional and verbal shortcomings. Because it affects each individual differently, it is often called an autism spectrum disorder. Individuals with autism fall along a wide spectrum of severity of symptoms. While there is not a cure for autism, there are treatments to help the symptoms of autism improve.
Types of Symptoms
Common symptoms of autism include a lack of language, little or no social connectivity, repetitive behaviors and little or no eye contact. Language skills can vary with each individual. Some people with autism may talk, but talk more at others instead of with them. Others use very repetitive language. Another common symptom is an insistence on sameness and a resistance to change.
Warning Symptoms in Toddlers
The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development lists behaviors that may signal an autism evaluation for a toddler: does not coo or babble by 12 months, does not point to things, a loss of any language or skill, no single words by 16 months or two-word phrases by 24 months. An evaluation can be done by a developmental pediatrician, neurologist, psychologist or other autism expert.
Early Intervention Key to Treatment
Research shows the best factor in treating autism is early identification and intervention. The earlier a child gets help with language or behavior, the better their chances to succeed. Parental observation is key input to helping a doctor diagnose a child accurately.
Common Behavioral Treatments
The most researched behavioral treatment for autism is Applied Behavioral Analysis. Its techniques use positive reinforcement to produce desired behaviors in a child with autism. Floortime and Verbal Behavior Intervention also use reinforcers in improving the behavior of individuals with autism. See the autismspeaks.org link in Resources for complete details on behavioral interventions.
Other Types of Treatments
Occupational therapy and speech therapy are highly recommended to address the language and motor deficits in children with autism. Occupational therapy can also help manage the sensory integration problems associated with autism.
Diets a Popular Form of Treatment
More and more parents of children with autism are embracing the gluten-free, casein-free diet as a treatment. Dietary and nutritional interventions are gaining ground as some see improvement in the symptoms of autism. Check with a Defeat Autism Now doctor( see Resources below) for more on biomedical interventions.
