There is no cure for autism and the disorder is so complex that interventions definitely help over time but sadly do not "fix" the disorder.
Therapies and behavioral interventions are designed to help the symptoms and can bring about substantial improvement. According to NINDS, the ideal treatment plan coordinates therapies and interventions that target the core symptoms of autism: impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and obsessive or repetitive routines and interests. The earlier the intervention, the better.
NINDS has broken down the treatment into three categories and suggestions for each. They are as follows: (Take directly from the website)
Educational/behavioral interventions: Therapists use highly structured and intensive skill-oriented training sessions to help children develop social and language skills. Family counseling for the parents and siblings of children with autism often helps families cope with the particular challenges of living with an autistic child.
Medications: Doctors often prescribe an antidepressant medication to handle symptoms of anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Anti-psychotic medications are used to treat severe behavioral problems. Seizures can be treated with one or more of the anticonvulsant drugs. Stimulant drugs, such as those used for children with attention deficit disorder (ADD), are sometimes used effectively to help decrease impulsivity and hyperactivity.
Other therapies: There are a number of controversial therapies or interventions available for autistic children, but few, if any, are supported by scientific studies. Parents should use caution before adopting any of these treatments. (These include diet change and therapies such as the Lego therapy.)
Resources
National Institute of Neurological Disorders. (2008). Retrieved MArch 22, 2008 from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Therapies and behavioral interventions are designed to help the symptoms and can bring about substantial improvement. According to NINDS, the ideal treatment plan coordinates therapies and interventions that target the core symptoms of autism: impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and obsessive or repetitive routines and interests. The earlier the intervention, the better.
NINDS has broken down the treatment into three categories and suggestions for each. They are as follows: (Take directly from the website)
Educational/behavioral interventions: Therapists use highly structured and intensive skill-oriented training sessions to help children develop social and language skills. Family counseling for the parents and siblings of children with autism often helps families cope with the particular challenges of living with an autistic child.
Medications: Doctors often prescribe an antidepressant medication to handle symptoms of anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Anti-psychotic medications are used to treat severe behavioral problems. Seizures can be treated with one or more of the anticonvulsant drugs. Stimulant drugs, such as those used for children with attention deficit disorder (ADD), are sometimes used effectively to help decrease impulsivity and hyperactivity.
Other therapies: There are a number of controversial therapies or interventions available for autistic children, but few, if any, are supported by scientific studies. Parents should use caution before adopting any of these treatments. (These include diet change and therapies such as the Lego therapy.)
Resources
National Institute of Neurological Disorders. (2008). Retrieved MArch 22, 2008 from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
No comments:
Post a Comment