Autism Treatment – How Is Autism Typically Treated?

Let’s briefly talk about the treatment of Autism. We know there are multiple options available for individuals with Autism in terms of different services. Applied behavioral analysis or ABA therapy for young children is an option along with speech therapy and also occupational therapy to work on issues with motor skills such as gross motor and fine motor functioning. In addition, there is horse therapy as well as other therapies that provide environmental stimuli for young children with Autism.

Some of these same services are still applicable as these individuals with Autism age and become teenagers and adults. However, access to some of these services and therapies can be limited as these children get older. And where you live can play a part in what services are available. In many states across the country the implementation of some of these services like ABA, speech and occupational therapy is done through the local school districts. However for adults on the Autism spectrum it is a little more difficult. There aren’t many good therapy choices and many times they end up in homes or institution. And often times various medications are used in an attempt to manage behavioral issues.

If we look at what has been used traditionally to treat Autism, we see medications that are geared to minimize some of the behavioral issues often seen in Autism. For example, the one FDA approved medication to treat Autism is called Risperdal. Risperdal is used to help minimize the antisocial, aberrant and aggressive behavior that can often times come with Autism spectrum disorders. Sometimes children, teens and adults are put on SSRI medications such as Paxil, Zoloft and even Prozac to aid in some of the mood issues and there are many medications in that category. But Risperdal is the only FDA approved medication to treat Autism and what you have beyond that is really behavioral therapy in young children, and then speech therapy and occupational therapy. So options for medications to treat Autism can be very limited and then you have non medication treatments to address behavioral problems, social impairments and language issues in Autism.