Autism Therapy
Many insurers will not pay for autism treatment, leaving families holding the bag on up to $40,000 per year in therapy costs. The most usual autism treatment options involve both occupational and physical therapy. A vitamin and mineral therapy was developed, which is currently considered an effective treatment for certain individuals with autism. The most common autism treatment options involve both occupational and physical therapy.
Tantalizing Clues
Some studies have suggested that all types of autism involve a malfunction in the way the person deals with metal regulation. This indicates a malfunction of a certain metal binding protein called metallothionein (MT) . Thus, a recent therapy for autistic children involves zinc, amino acid and glutathione supplementation.
The latest studies indicate that the digestive systems of autistic children do not fully break down food. Autistic people also seem to have low levels of secretin.
Autism Treatment Diets
There are a multitude of unconventional or alternative therapies and treatment approaches that have been suggested for autism, in conjunction with nutritional supplements, dietary restrictions, and chelation therapy. One dietary autism treatment is a gluten-free, casein-free diet. An outcome of a decrease in autism traits was reported after a significant beneficial treatment effect for the combined gluten- and casein- free diet. Following treatment for candida and an elimination diet, some have successfully treated several patients and have largely overcome their autism. Slowly, the gluten free / casein free diet is becoming a mainstream recommendation for the treatment of autism.
Autism Treatment Research
A major obstacle in useful autism research has been the lack of a valid means of measuring the effectiveness of various treatments. Clinical research reports continue to watch for more promising treatments for autism. The Autism Treatment Network (http://www.autismtreatmentnetwork.org ) (ATN) is intended to develop clinical and research centers of excellence which will share current information on patient care, education, and research on autism. Intensive behavioral/psychoeducational treatments for autism and research needs and future directions are being evaluated by the ATN. Ultimately, ATN hopes to come up with treatment guidelines for autism based on credible research and rigorous clinical trials. Additionally, ATN conducts its own investigation on the causes, methods of prevention, diagnosing, and treatments for autism and related disorders. Recently, the NIH Autism Coordinating Committee (NIH/ACC) has undertaken a fresh research initiative in the realm of treatment interventions directed at autism symptoms. The NICHD (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , is one of several Institutes doing research into diverse aspects of autism, as well as its causes, prevalence, and treatments. Newly diagnosed children with autism should attain intensive, quality, effective treatment that is based in research.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Parents Helping Parents ( http://www.php.com ) is a support group for parents interested in researching bio-medical treatments for autism spectrum disorders, including pervasive development disorder (PDD) and Aspergers. For children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, a genetic test has helped to identify which treatment options may lead to the best results. One study suggested that methylphenidate is a treatment selection for children with autism spectrum disorder and hyperactivity.
Autism Education
Meeting the challenges of autism can be better described as education instead than treatment. While there is no cure for autism, there are treatment and education approaches that may diminish some of the challenges associated with the disability. In spite of education is the primary form of treatment for autism, educators are frequently poorly equipped to deal with these children.
Books
SKF Books ( http://www.skfbooks.com ) exists to produce and publish book and videos sorely needed in the world of Autism treatment and advocacy. "Facing Autism" by Lynn Hamilton ( http://www.facingautism.com ) is an outstanding new book that covers all of the fundamental, effective treatments for autism in a friendly, concise tone. This broad-ranging, authoritative book is necessary reading for anyone with an interest in autism and its treatment. "Autism Treatment Guide" by Elizabeth Gerlach, is the first comprehensive guide to autism treatment.
Secretin
The hormone secretin has gotten recent attention as a breakthrough treatment for autism. Some more children with autism suggested limited improvement after treatment with secretin. Evidence suggests a lack of benefit of a single dose of synthetic human secretin in the care of autism and pervasive developmental disorder. In spite of these results, interest in secretin in the treatment of autism continues. The use of secretin seems to be the most promising treatment yet discovered for the treatment of autism.
Conclusion - Autism Treatment Evidence
ABA ( applied behavioral analysis )/EIBI (early intensive behavioral intervention) has the largest body of scientific evidence supporting its methodology as an effective treatment for autism. With scientific evidence, a large amount of of these interventions could develop into part of the future treatment protocol for subtypes of autism. There is no evidence to support adopting a single autism treatment program as the gold standard. The challenge for autism treatment research is that there is no simple test that can be quantified before and after an intervention. A large array of unconventional treatments exist for autism, most with only anecdotal evidence of their utility.
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