Like autism, there’s a spectrum of treatments for children.
While an autism diagnosis can be scary at first, once you learn about all the different autism interventions (a.k.a. treatments) available today that can help children thrive and reach their full potential, you’ll know there’s lots of hope for your little one!
In this new series of articles about treating autism, you’ll learn about the four most common and effective autism treatments and how they can benefit children as young as two.
This first article is an introduction to the treatments we’ll be exploring throughout the series, along with other expert insights that can help make your autism journey a successful one for your whole family.
So, let’s dive in.
There’s no one standard treatment for autism
The spectrum part of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) means that autism affects children in a wide variety of ways and in varying degrees. No two children are alike, and the same can be said for how autism manifests itself in children. Because of that, autism treatments are designed to help with a variety of areas in a child’s development that can fall behind because of autism.
The treatments that are appropriate for your child should be based on your child’s specific needs. Most importantly, research shows that the earlier a child gets treatment for autism, the more likely the treatment will have major positive effects on the symptoms and the skills they learn later on in life. Early treatment is often referred to as early intervention. You’ll might hear that phrase a lot.
The top 4 autism treatments for children
Depending on the specific needs of your child, a doctor can recommend one or more of these or other treatments.
- ABA therapy – Known as the gold standard in autism care, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy helps kids learn important skills so they can be as independent and successful as possible. Therapy is often every day for several hours, where a behavior therapist works one on one with a child or with small groups of 2-3 children. Children learn everything from self-help and communication skills to social, gross motor, and academic skills.
- Speech Therapy – Speech and language therapy helps kids with autism improve their abilities to communicate and interact with others. It can focus on both verbal and nonverbal communication. Being able to communicate works hand-in-hand with learning important skills for relating to others in social situations.
- Occupational Therapy – Occupational therapy helps children with autism improve on everyday skills, such as getting dressed on their own, eating and grooming, using the bathroom, writing, coloring, and more.
- Special Education in School – Most children with autism will need special support in school. It’s a team effort where parents, schools, and medical professionals work together to develop a plan for your child and re-evaluate as needed. The plan includes any special accommodations your child might need while in a typical or special education classroom.
In the next few weeks, we’ll explore each of these interventions in more detail. This is just a preview of what’s to come. Keep in mind there are many treatments and therapies for autism and sometimes the lines blurs between them. It all comes down to what’s best for your child, so they can have a full, happy live.
The first treatment we’ll take a closer look at next week is ABA therapy. Our personal favorite!
If you have any questions about autism treatments in the meantime, don’t hesitate contacting us. Our autism and ABA therapy experts would love to help you, too.
