Treatment of Autism

Autism Treatment: An Overview

There is no cure for autism. Therapies and behavioral interventions are designed to remedy specific symptoms and can bring about substantial improvement.

 

The ideal treatment plan for autism coordinates therapies and interventions that target the core symptoms:

 

Most professionals agree that the earlier autism treatment begins, the better.

 

Treating Autism With Educational/Behavioral Interventions

Treatment of autism involves 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 often helps families cope with the particular challenges of living with a child with autism.

 

Medications Used to Treat Autism

Autism treatment can also involve medications to manage specific symptoms. For example, doctors often prescribe an antidepressant medication to handle symptoms of anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

 

Antipsychotic 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.