Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSpecialized TherapiesPrescriptionsHome and LifestyleComplementary TherapyFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Autism GuideWhat Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Specialized Therapies
Prescriptions
Home and Lifestyle
Complementary Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Autism Guide
Every child diagnosed with anautism spectrum disorder (ASD)has different needs, so the treatment plan needs to be individualized. Since autism is not an illness and therefore can’t be “cured,” the goal is to help a child acquire and hone communication, interpersonal, and behavioral skills to better navigate daily life and, whenever possible, function independently.
This may involve a variety of different therapies, including speech therapy and social skills therapy, as well as prescription drugs to help manage issues with focus and commonly co-occurring mental illnesses. Lifestyle modifications and practices can help reinforce the goals of therapy at home.
This article looks at the various treatments that may be used with an autistic child. It also explores the role that complementary and alternative therapies may play in the treatment plan.
What Are the Different Types of Autism?
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The cornerstone of autism treatment is a variety of therapies that address specific traits, such as repetitive behaviors, obsessive interests,neurodivergent(unusual) responses to sensory stimuli, and difficulties with social interactions and communication.
Early InterventionThe early diagnosis and treatment of autistic children is important—ideally at the earliest age possible—as there is evidence that the earlier children receive appropriate interventions, the better the prognosis.
Early Intervention
The early diagnosis and treatment of autistic children is important—ideally at the earliest age possible—as there is evidence that the earlier children receive appropriate interventions, the better the prognosis.
Developmental Approach
Developmental therapies aim to improve specific skills, such as language or physical skills. The treatment plan often involves more than one of the following therapies:
Behavioral Approach
Behavioral therapies aim to teach skills, reinforce positive behaviors, and sometimes modify behaviors that interfere with functioning.
One of the oldest and most researched behavioral therapies isapplied behavior analysis (ABA). It is a system that rewards a child for desired behaviors, and, rather than offering consequences for undesired behaviors, offers no reaction and no reward.
There are two styles of teaching used for ABA:
Applied Behavior AnalysisApplied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) is considered a gold standard of autism therapy but it is not without controversy. Supporters find the techniques are successful in modifying behaviors and limiting certain autism traits. Opponents question ABA, though, because of the emphasis on “fixing” behaviors in people rather than helping them flourish within their own autism experience.
Applied Behavior Analysis
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) is considered a gold standard of autism therapy but it is not without controversy. Supporters find the techniques are successful in modifying behaviors and limiting certain autism traits. Opponents question ABA, though, because of the emphasis on “fixing” behaviors in people rather than helping them flourish within their own autism experience.
Educational Approach
One of the most commonly used educational approaches to ASD isTreatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication-Handicapped Children (TEACCH). It is an individualized “whole-life” program built on the idea that autistic people thrive on consistency and visual learning.
TEACCH is used to promote communication and social skills, independence and coping skills, and skills for everyday life in the company of peers. Children are individually assessed to see where they are developmentally, after which the teacher adjusts the classroom structure to accommodate those needs.
Each child is provided with a tailored visual schedule of their daily activities (such as a wall chart). Verbal instructions are reinforced with visual instructions or physical demonstrations. As a child becomes more skilled, the environment becomes less structured to help them gain independence.
Accessing Early Intervention (EI) Services for Autism
Medications can help manage behavioral issues such as hyperactivity, the inability to focus, or self-harming behavior like head banging or hand biting. Medications can also help manage co-occurring conditions like anxiety, depression, or insomnia.
Medications for Behavioral Issues
Certain types ofantipsychotic drugsmay be prescribed if an autistic child exhibits behaviors that are out of control or potentially harmful. These include aggression, irritability, or self-harming behaviors.
First-generation (typical) antipsychotics like Haldol (haloperidol), Prolixin (fluphenazine), and chlorpromazine are sometimes used off-label in treating intense behavioral traits. Even so, they are used with caution due to a greater risk of long-term side effects liketardive dyskinesia(involuntary body or facial movements).
Medications for Depression, OCD, and Anxiety
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)are a type of antidepressant that can help treat depression and/orobsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)in autistic children.
A similar class of drugs calledserotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)can be used to treat anxiety. Although not as commonly used in children, an SNRI such as Effexor (venlafaxine) may also be used off-label for depressive and anxiety symptoms in children.
Antidepressant Risks in KidsThe FDA advises parents and caregivers to watch forsuicidal thoughts or behaviorsin children on antidepressants. This is especially important at the start of treatment or whenever doses are changed.
Antidepressant Risks in Kids
The FDA advises parents and caregivers to watch forsuicidal thoughts or behaviorsin children on antidepressants. This is especially important at the start of treatment or whenever doses are changed.
Medications for Hyperactivity
Inattention and hyperactivity are common traits in autistic children. The drugsRitalin (methylphenidate)and Adderall (amphetamine salts) are commonly used in children withattention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)to manage inattention and hyperactive behaviors like excessive movement and impulsiveness.
The FDA has approved the use of Ritalin in children ages 4 and over and Adderall for 3 and older. There are extended-release versions of Ritalin such as Concerta (methylphenidate HCL) and extended release preparations of Adderall that can also be used.
Caution should be used when prescribing Ritalin or Concerta as these stimulant drugs can potentially cause irritability and make aggressive behaviors worse.
Medications for Insomnia
Medications may also be prescribed to treatinsomniain autistic children. This is important as poor sleep can affect a child’s behavior and memory/learning skills, increasing the risk of aggression, irritability, hyperactivity, and depression.
Options for treatment include:
What Is the Best Treatment for Autism?
Home Remedies and Lifestyle
At-Home Therapies
At-home therapies are encouraged for families living with ASD. Some are simply extensions of what is used in classroom or clinical settings, such as play therapy or speech therapy.
Others are specifically centered around home and family life, such as:
6 Autism Therapies You Can Provide at Home
Avoiding Sensory Overload
Also important is the need to avoid stimuli that causesensory overloadat home. These include sights, sounds, textures, and smells that can inadvertently cause distress, anxiety, and outbursts in autistic children.
It often helps to create a “sensory room” where a child can escape to self-soothe and gain control over their emotions. A sensory room can differ for every child based on what they find soothing and may include:
How to Create a Sensory Room
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
There are few complementary or alternative therapies that have proven beneficial to autistic people. Several are not only ineffective but may be potentially harmful, includinghyperbaric oxygen therapy,heavy metal chelation therapy, andantifungal therapythat some claim can “cure” ASD.
According to National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), there are a handful of complementary therapies that may not be useful but are unlikely to do any harm, including:
Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Autism
Summary
The treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children helps to improve communication and social interactions, lessen disabling behaviors, and overcome other challenges like anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, insomnia, and sensory overload.
Autism treatment often involves multiple approaches, such as behavioral therapies, developmental therapies, medications, and at-home practices.
Autism cannot be cured, but early intervention can help a child learn the skills needed to better navigate daily life.
A Word From Verywell
There is no single road map for treating autism. Finding the right solution takes perseverance and often requires a process of trial and error.
To help you through the journey, find a team of therapists and healthcare professionals with whom you can collaborate as a partner. Never forget that your insights and experiences are vital to making informed judgments. If needed, seek a second or even third opinion until you are fully comfortable with the treatment plan.
It is also important to build a support system of family, friends, and support groups to help you cope as a parent or caregiver. Doing so not only lessens the load emotionally but can help you normalize autism in your life.
Do I Need an Autism Coach?
Frequently Asked QuestionsNo, an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cannot be cured, but it can be treated. There are several behavioral interventions that can improve daily life. In older children and adults, there is less evidence of the effectiveness of the various behavioral and social interventions, which is why early intervention is so important.Treatment options can include specialized therapies, medications to manage traits, and lifestyle modifications to avoid sensory overload. Specialized therapies are the cornerstone of treatment and include:Speech therapyOccupational therapyPhysical therapySocial skills therapyBehavioral therapyDevelopmental therapyIf left untreated, autistic children may not develop essential social and communication skills and find it harder to navigate their adolescent, teen, and adult years. With that said, autistic people withlow support needsmay learn to overcome traits as they grow older.Research suggests that, yes, some children can outgrow an autism diagnosis. However, even though the person no longer meets the formal criteria for autism they still likely have learning, emotional, or behavioral problems that require ongoing treatment.
No, an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cannot be cured, but it can be treated. There are several behavioral interventions that can improve daily life. In older children and adults, there is less evidence of the effectiveness of the various behavioral and social interventions, which is why early intervention is so important.
Treatment options can include specialized therapies, medications to manage traits, and lifestyle modifications to avoid sensory overload. Specialized therapies are the cornerstone of treatment and include:Speech therapyOccupational therapyPhysical therapySocial skills therapyBehavioral therapyDevelopmental therapy
Treatment options can include specialized therapies, medications to manage traits, and lifestyle modifications to avoid sensory overload. Specialized therapies are the cornerstone of treatment and include:
If left untreated, autistic children may not develop essential social and communication skills and find it harder to navigate their adolescent, teen, and adult years. With that said, autistic people withlow support needsmay learn to overcome traits as they grow older.
Research suggests that, yes, some children can outgrow an autism diagnosis. However, even though the person no longer meets the formal criteria for autism they still likely have learning, emotional, or behavioral problems that require ongoing treatment.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment and intervention for autism spectrum disorder.Autism Research Institute.Advice for parents.Mohammadzaheri F, Koegel LK, Rezaee M, Rafiee SM.A randomized clinical trial comparison between pivotal response treatment (PRT) and structured applied behavior analysis (ABA) intervention for children with autism.J Autism Dev Disord.2014 Nov;44(11):2769–77. doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2137-3Virues-Ortega J, Julio FM, Pastor-Barriuso R.The TEACCH program for children and adults with autism: a meta-analysis of intervention studies.Clin Psychol Rev. 2013 Dec;33(8):940-53. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2013.07.005LeClerc S, Easley D.Pharmacological therapies for autism spectrum disorder: a review.P T.2015 Jun;40(6):389–97.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Suicidality in children and adolescents being treated with antidepressant medications.Chen H, Yang T, Chen J, et al.Sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder: a multicenter survey.BMC Psychiatry.2021;21:406. doi:10.1186/s12888-021-03405-wLieneman CC, Brabson LA, Highlander A, Wallace NM, McNeil CB.Parent–child interaction therapy: current perspectives.Psychol Res Behav Manag.2017;10:239–56. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S91200Case-Smith J, Weaver LL, Fristad MA.A systematic review of sensory processing interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders.Autism. 2015;19(2):133‐48. doi:10.1177/1362361313517762National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.7 things to know about complementary health approaches for ASD.Shulman L, D’Agostino E, Lee S, et al.When an early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder resolves, what remains?J Child Neurol2019;34(7):38286. doi:10.1177/0883073819834428
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment and intervention for autism spectrum disorder.Autism Research Institute.Advice for parents.Mohammadzaheri F, Koegel LK, Rezaee M, Rafiee SM.A randomized clinical trial comparison between pivotal response treatment (PRT) and structured applied behavior analysis (ABA) intervention for children with autism.J Autism Dev Disord.2014 Nov;44(11):2769–77. doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2137-3Virues-Ortega J, Julio FM, Pastor-Barriuso R.The TEACCH program for children and adults with autism: a meta-analysis of intervention studies.Clin Psychol Rev. 2013 Dec;33(8):940-53. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2013.07.005LeClerc S, Easley D.Pharmacological therapies for autism spectrum disorder: a review.P T.2015 Jun;40(6):389–97.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Suicidality in children and adolescents being treated with antidepressant medications.Chen H, Yang T, Chen J, et al.Sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder: a multicenter survey.BMC Psychiatry.2021;21:406. doi:10.1186/s12888-021-03405-wLieneman CC, Brabson LA, Highlander A, Wallace NM, McNeil CB.Parent–child interaction therapy: current perspectives.Psychol Res Behav Manag.2017;10:239–56. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S91200Case-Smith J, Weaver LL, Fristad MA.A systematic review of sensory processing interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders.Autism. 2015;19(2):133‐48. doi:10.1177/1362361313517762National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.7 things to know about complementary health approaches for ASD.Shulman L, D’Agostino E, Lee S, et al.When an early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder resolves, what remains?J Child Neurol2019;34(7):38286. doi:10.1177/0883073819834428
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment and intervention for autism spectrum disorder.Autism Research Institute.Advice for parents.Mohammadzaheri F, Koegel LK, Rezaee M, Rafiee SM.A randomized clinical trial comparison between pivotal response treatment (PRT) and structured applied behavior analysis (ABA) intervention for children with autism.J Autism Dev Disord.2014 Nov;44(11):2769–77. doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2137-3Virues-Ortega J, Julio FM, Pastor-Barriuso R.The TEACCH program for children and adults with autism: a meta-analysis of intervention studies.Clin Psychol Rev. 2013 Dec;33(8):940-53. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2013.07.005LeClerc S, Easley D.Pharmacological therapies for autism spectrum disorder: a review.P T.2015 Jun;40(6):389–97.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Suicidality in children and adolescents being treated with antidepressant medications.Chen H, Yang T, Chen J, et al.Sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder: a multicenter survey.BMC Psychiatry.2021;21:406. doi:10.1186/s12888-021-03405-wLieneman CC, Brabson LA, Highlander A, Wallace NM, McNeil CB.Parent–child interaction therapy: current perspectives.Psychol Res Behav Manag.2017;10:239–56. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S91200Case-Smith J, Weaver LL, Fristad MA.A systematic review of sensory processing interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders.Autism. 2015;19(2):133‐48. doi:10.1177/1362361313517762National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.7 things to know about complementary health approaches for ASD.Shulman L, D’Agostino E, Lee S, et al.When an early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder resolves, what remains?J Child Neurol2019;34(7):38286. doi:10.1177/0883073819834428
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment and intervention for autism spectrum disorder.
Autism Research Institute.Advice for parents.
Mohammadzaheri F, Koegel LK, Rezaee M, Rafiee SM.A randomized clinical trial comparison between pivotal response treatment (PRT) and structured applied behavior analysis (ABA) intervention for children with autism.J Autism Dev Disord.2014 Nov;44(11):2769–77. doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2137-3
Virues-Ortega J, Julio FM, Pastor-Barriuso R.The TEACCH program for children and adults with autism: a meta-analysis of intervention studies.Clin Psychol Rev. 2013 Dec;33(8):940-53. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2013.07.005
LeClerc S, Easley D.Pharmacological therapies for autism spectrum disorder: a review.P T.2015 Jun;40(6):389–97.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Suicidality in children and adolescents being treated with antidepressant medications.
Chen H, Yang T, Chen J, et al.Sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder: a multicenter survey.BMC Psychiatry.2021;21:406. doi:10.1186/s12888-021-03405-w
Lieneman CC, Brabson LA, Highlander A, Wallace NM, McNeil CB.Parent–child interaction therapy: current perspectives.Psychol Res Behav Manag.2017;10:239–56. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S91200
Case-Smith J, Weaver LL, Fristad MA.A systematic review of sensory processing interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders.Autism. 2015;19(2):133‐48. doi:10.1177/1362361313517762
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.7 things to know about complementary health approaches for ASD.
Shulman L, D’Agostino E, Lee S, et al.When an early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder resolves, what remains?J Child Neurol2019;34(7):38286. doi:10.1177/0883073819834428
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