Once a child has received a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) the next step is to develop a treatment plan. Treatments break down into two broad categories, medical management and non-medical interventions.  

Since there are no drug therapies for the core symptoms of autism, medical management or pharmacological interventions are mainly used to control maladaptive behaviors and co morbid conditions (examples: aggression, self injurious behaviors, anxiety, hyperactivity, seizures, repetitive behaviors, sleep disturbances, depression).  Non-medical interventions are the foundation therapies for intervention of core symptoms of ASD.  There are literally hundreds of non-medical interventions (examples: speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, sensory integration, auditory integration, Applied Behavior Analysis and many more).

Children with ASD will most likely have more than one core symptom that will require a foundation therapy.  Many parents are overwhelmed by so many treatment options available today.  The confusing process of selecting the most effective treatment for a newly diagnosis child is compounded by the parent’s highly emotional state as a result of their child’s diagnosis.  As the first step in finding the right treatment for their child parents should research each treatment, carefully.

Educational and behavioral treatments have emerged from multiple studies as effective in targeting core characteristics of ASD.  The studies published by the National Autism Center provide strong evidence supporting comprehensive behavioral treatment for young children.  Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a treatment methodology pioneered by Dr. Ivar Lovasss is probably the most popular foundation therapy.  ABA treatment has produced measurable improvements in children with ASD in multiple peer-reviewed studies.  Speech therapy, occupational therapy, sensory integration and auditory integration therapies are also widely accepted as evidence based effective foundation therapies.

The Autism Sourcebook:  “ All of us have fantasies about that magic pill that will make our children better, be careful that your decisions about your child’s treatments are based on facts rather than emotions.  Establish a foundation for your child’s treatment, then add a few other treatments that will enhance the foundation.  But don’t make the mistake of trying too many conflicting treatments that may cause undue stress on your child.  And remember to be careful about constantly changing treatments because you don’t see immediate results or out of the desire to keep up with the latest miracle cure.”