The truth is, there is no one best treatment for autism. It is not a disease that should be cured. But rather a neurological condition.
The most effective treatment depends on a person’s traits, including:
- Age
- Strengths
- Difficulties in everyday life.
A combination of supports is usually the most effective. It, however, needs to be customized to help you or your child communicate and function in daily life.
We look at these supports below.
Early intervention
This often involves a multidisciplinary team. They may be based in a hospital or an autism therapy centre. Different specialists provide coordinated support.
The intervention aims at developing basic skills like:
- Communication
- Emotional regulation
- Social understanding.
The goal is to support these developments at times when the brain is developing at a very rapid pace.
If you are a parent, early intervention provides your child with the means to articulate needs. They learn how to exercise control over sensory stimuli. Consequently, they can interact with others in a manner that will lessen frustration. This also maximizes self-reliance.
Speech and language therapy
This is one of the most popular supports for autistic people. It assists with:
- Verbal language
- Comprehension of others
- Other types of communicative methods, like sign language or communication equipment.
Speech therapy is helpful even when you or your child can barely talk. Some cannot speak at all.
Talking is not the only way of communication. The point is to help the autistic individual be understood. It also helps them understand others.
Occupational therapy
This one is about everyday living. This may involve:
- Dressing
- Eating
- Handwriting
- Dealing with sensory sensitivities such as noise or movement.
For autistic people, fine motor skills or sensory overload are a problem. Occupational therapy helps the individual develop daily living mechanisms. They enable them to lead a less tiring life.
It also involves simple modifications, such as:
- Sensory aids
- Schedule modification.
This can significantly help with comfort and confidence.
Behavioral supports
When conducted ethically, the behavioral approaches aim at imparting practical skills. This is in contrast to blocking natural autistic behaviors. The goals of modern behavioral supports are to:
- Alleviate distress
- Enhance communication
- Develop coping mechanisms.
If therapy seems concerned with control and not understanding, it is right to question it. Support must be delivered respectfully. It should support autonomy and emotional well-being.
Educational accommodations
Accommodations can foster success in school. This could be in the form of:
- Additional time
- Visual aids
- Adjustable seating
- Customized teaching procedures.
These accommodations are just the means of getting equal access to learning.
Other supports that may help
These supports are also beneficial to some autistic people. There is no common therapy. Needs are subject to change over time.
There is no best treatment for autism. The best program or therapy acknowledges the individuality. Support is most effective when it is:
The goal of autism therapy specialists is to create a world where autistic traits are reinforced. They help the individuals be understood and allowed to co-exist with others.
