Autism is a neurological developmental disorder characterized by difficulties in communication and learning and behaviour deficiencies. Currently, no one treatment option or intervention can cure the underlying conditions. Every individual is unique with their unique set of issues, so therapies must be individualized for each autistic person. However, research and data support that highly structured and specialized interventions can help reduce the symptoms significantly and improve the patient’s life.
Let’s have a look at all the evidence-based treatments for autism spectrum disorder that can best manage the symptoms and reduce their progression over time.
What are the treatments for autism?
Autism is classified as a spectrum disorder because the symptoms and their severity vary from person to person. Some of the many treatment options and therapies for managing the disorder include:
- Behavioural management therapy
- Cognitive behaviour therapy
- Medical prescriptions
- Nutritional therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Speech-language therapy
Below we will discuss each of them in more detail.
What are the symptoms of autism?
It’s important to know and monitor the symptoms of your ASD child to help your therapist devise a medical treatment plan that best suits your special child’s needs.
Most ASD symptoms pertain to:
- Difficulties with communication and interaction.
- Restricted and repetitive behaviours, patterns, activities, and interests.
- Reduced learning ability.
These neurodiverse individuals may also experience the following:
- Seizures
- Food allergies
- Sleep disorders
- Mood swings
- Depression and anxiety
- Lack of self-care skills
- Reduced emotional intelligence
How can early interventions benefit ASD individuals?
Early diagnosis of autism is the key to mitigating the symptoms, optimizing the outcomes of the interventions, and skill-building. The first 12 to 18 months is the most opportune time to treat the symptoms and improve your child’s overall development.
Early interventions also help ASD individuals make the most out of their strengths and build skills to live an independent, successful, and wholesome life.
Medical prescriptions
Now we will talk about what ways there are to cope with a set of symptoms that are involved in the autism spectrum disorder. Unfortunately, no medication has been invented to cure the disorder. However, your doctor might prescribe you medications to relieve symptoms like depression, seizures, food allergies, and insomnia.
Risperidone is the only effective FDA-approved drug available in the market for ASD. Some doctors can also prescribe drugs like serotonin reuptake inhibitors, anti-anxiety medications, or stimulants for symptom management.
Ginkgo biloba is among the most effective natural treatments for autism, with an old history of applications in neuropsychological disorders.
Nutritional therapy
Nutritional deficiency is quite common among ASD individuals due to their sensitive stomachs and digestive issues such as constipation, abdominal pain, and vomiting. This can also lead to various pathologies and impairments in development. For example, research showed that autistic children tend to have thinner bones than their peers without the disorder.
It has also been observed that avoiding certain products helps to reduce both the manifestations of autism and the symptoms of concomitant pathologies. Working with a nutritionist can help you manage digestive issues and eliminate problematic foods while making sure that your ASD child is getting all the nutrients he needs from other food sources.
Behavioural therapy
Behavioural therapy is based on applied behaviour analysis (ABA) and is considered among the most effective treatments for autism, along with other interventions, of course. It helps reinforce positive behaviours and skills development while reducing problematic actions. It also helps train parents on how to deal with and manage their child’s unwanted behaviours during episodes.
There are several approaches based on the principles of applied behaviour analysis. Some of the most effective ABA therapies for ASD are:
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Positive behaviour and support (PBS): It identifies the triggers of bad behaviours and eliminates them to reinforce positive behaviour.
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Pivotal response training (PRT): PRT aims to improve pivotal skills like motivation and initiative to communicate.
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Early intensive behavioural intervention (EIBI): This individualized behavioural instruction program promotes learning, skill development, and behavioural changes.
- Discreet trial teaching (DTT): DTT encourages the child to use their newly acquired skills in an everyday setting, like a classroom.
Occupational therapy
The therapy promotes, maintains, and develops skills essential for an independent lifestyle. It also helps ASD individuals build on their areas of strength and overcome their symptoms and limitations in their daily life.
Occupational therapy emphasizes on:
- Self-care activities like dressing, eating, toilet training, and managing personal hygiene.
- Productive activities like emotional regulation, focus, participation, and organizational skills.
- Leisure activities like playing and socializing with friends and participating in activities.
Speech therapy
Speech therapy identifies the communication gap within ASD children and builds skills to improve their interaction with others through verbal skills like:
- Naming the people and things correctly
- Maintaining eye contact while communicating
- Explaining their feeling and emotions
- Improving language skills and speech clarity
It also works on improving nonverbal communication skills like:
- Using hand signals or sign language
- Identifying other people’s emotions through their facial expressions
Stem cell therapy
Stem cell therapy is among the most innovative and effective alternative treatments for autism. For decades scientists have been struggling to find a relationship between autism and stem cells and how this regenerative medicine can be used to manage and relieve ASD symptoms. The chances of stem cells being the most effective treatment for autism are higher than any other approach.
Together with other interventions, stem cell therapy can significantly reduce the symptoms for an extensive period of time. This intravenous therapy replaces the damaged cells within the body by stimulating the regeneration process in affected areas — mainly in the brain when it comes to autism.
Stem cell therapy significantly improves:
- Aggressive behaviour
- Hyperactivity
- Sleep disorder
- Eye contact and attention span
- Communication and social skills
- Digestion
- Inflammation
How does stem cell treatment work?
The treatment involves injecting undifferentiated stem cells into the body intravenously, where they migrate and seed into damaged sites to differentiate into specialized functional cells. For the therapy, stem cells can be extracted from bone marrow, fat tissue, or umbilical cord tissue and present no ethical concern.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are often used in regenerative medicine. MSCs utilize their self-renewal, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and differentiation properties to replace damaged cells, modify the immune system, and reduce inflammation within the body. This leads to the improvement of the patient’s health condition.
Several types of stem cells are considered immune-privileged cells with no risk of rejection within the body due to their importance and because they are yet to differentiate into specific cells.
Conclusion
ASD is a pervasive developmental and neurological disorder that limits a person’s ability to learn, behave and communicate effectively. It may also involve physical symptoms. Autism still has no cure; however, with early diagnosis, effective treatments, and interventions, these symptoms can be remarkably mitigated.
Many approaches have been investigated and developed to help manage health conditions in autism. These approaches include therapies based on applied behavioural analysis, special diets, prescription medicines, and stem cell therapy as an additional treatment to manage autistic signs and improve the quality of life of autistic persons and their families.
Disclosure: This is a featured post.