Treatments for Autism
The CDC states there is no single best treatment for all children with ASDs. However, wellplanned,
structured teaching of specific skills is very important. Some children respond well to
one type of treatment while others have a negative response or no response at all to the same
treatment. Before deciding on a treatment program, it is important to talk with the child’s healthcare
providers to understand all the risks and benefits. It is also important to remember that
children with ASDs can get sick or injured just like children without ASDs. Regular medical and
dental exams should be part of a child’s treatment plan. Often it is hard to tell if a child’s behavior
is related to the ASD or is caused by a separate health condition. For instance, head banging
could be a symptom of the ASD, or it could be a sign that the child is having headaches. In those
cases, a thorough physical exam is needed. Monitoring healthy development means not only
paying attention to symptoms related to ASDs, but also to the child’s physical and mental health,
as well.

The different types of treatments can generally be broken down into the following categories:

Behavior and Communication Approaches


Dietary Approaches



Medication



Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Early Intervention Services
Research shows that early intervention treatment services can greatly improve a child’s development.[
1],[2] Early intervention services help children from birth to 3 years old (36 months) learn
important skills. Services include therapy to help the child talk, walk, and interact with others.
Therefore, it is important to talk to your child’s doctor as soon as possible if you think your child
has an ASD or other developmental problem.

Even if your child has not been diagnosed with an ASD, he or she may be eligible for early intervention
treatment services. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) says that children
under the age of 3 years (36 months) who are at risk of having developmental delays may
be eligible for services. These services are provided through an early intervention system in your
state. Through this system, you can ask for an evaluation.

In addition, treatment for particular symptoms, such as speech therapy for language delays, often
does not need to wait for a formal ASD diagnosis.

Types of Treatments and Interventions
The National Institute of Mental Health says that psychosocial and behavioral interventions
are key parts of comprehensive treatment programs for children with autism.

Some of the most common interventions include:

Applied behavior analysis (ABA)
Discrete trial training (DTT)
Early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI)
Incidental teaching
Pivotal response training (PRT)
Verbal behavior intervention (VBI)
Developmental, individual differences, relationship-based approach (DIR also called Floortime)
Relationship development intervention (RDI)
Treatment and education of autistic and communication- related handicapped children (TEAACH)
Therapies often used with those listed previously:
Occupational therapy
Sensory integration therapy
Speech therapy
The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)

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