Treatments for Autism There is no single treatment protocol for all children with autism. Some individuals respond best to highly structural behavioral programs, others rely on things such as diet and nutrition. Although there are many programs available, there are a few that have been listed as being the most effective, such as ABA and floor-time. Clinical treatments may also be used, such as speech and language therapy, augmentative communication, picture exchange communication, sensory integration, and physical therapy.

There is also a number of complementary therapies that could also be used, such as animal therapy, music therapy, play therapy, recreational therapy, social stories, social skills, and vision therapy. It has been proven that shaping the diet of a child with autism may be helpful. For instance, creating a diet that cuts out on the proteins gluten (wheat, rye, oat, and barley) and casein (dairy). One theory suggests that they act as opiates in the body known as casomorphin and gludiamorphin. It is believed that they leak into the gut, undigested, and attach to the opiate receptors of the autistic child’s brain, causing havoc in the brain.

Treatment Programs Applied Behavioral Analysis- ABA calls for one-on-one interaction between a teacher and a child for up to 40 hours a week. In this program, toddlers receive positive reinforcement for initially learning simple actions like identifying colors then gradually working up to more advanced activities that target deficits in learning, language, play-interaction, and attention. Floor time- An intervention method which revolves around time which the caregivers, usually the parents, spend entering the child’s activities and following the child’s lead. It uses gestures, tone of voice, and body language to accentuate the emotion in what is said and done.

Preventions of Autism The best way to prevent autism is detect behaviors that correlate with a later diagnosis of autism much earlier than is presently the case. It has been said that autism is rarely diagnosed before 18 months to two years of age, but by that age the “autistic-like” behaviors are often well- established and have become highly resistant to modification. Research has shown that 50% of parents of children diagnosed as autistic suspected a problem before their child was one year old. (Ornitz, Gutherie, and Farley, 1977) Based on the documented success of ABA and early intervention treatment programs, Applied Behavioral Analysis should be a leading role in the development of effective prevention. The procedures of ABA stay the same, with few modifications, regardless of the child’s age.

Resources Ornitz, E.M., Gutherie, D., & Farley, A.H. (1977) The early development of autistic children. Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 7,