Autism Treatment Research
Newly diagnosed children with autism should receive intensive, quality, effective treatment that is based in research. The Autism Treatment Network (http://www.autismtreatmentnetwork.org ) (ATN) is intended to develop clinical and research centers of excellence which will share current info 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 create treatment procedures for autism based on credible research and rigorous clinical trials. Further, ATN conducts its own investigation on the causes, methods of prevention, diagnosing, and treatments for autism and related disorders. A significant 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. Recently, the NIH Autism Coordinating Committee (NIH/ACC) has undertaken a new research initiative in the area 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, in conjunction with its causes, prevalence, and treatments.
Secretin
The utilization of secretin appears to be the most promising treatment yet discovered for the treatment of autism. The hormone secretin has gotten new attention as a breakthrough treatment for autism. Some other children with autism showed limited improvement after treatment with secretin. Evidence indicates a lack of benefit of a single dose of synthetic human secretin in the care of autism and pervasive developmental disorder. Notwithstanding these results, interest in secretin in the treatment of autism continues.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Parents Helping Parents ( http://www.php.com ) is a support group for parents interested in probing 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 could lead to the best results. One study suggested that methylphenidate is a treatment option for children with autism spectrum disorder and hyperactivity.
Autism Therapy
The most common autism treatment options involve both occupational and physical therapy. A vitamin and mineral therapy was developed, which is at this moment considered an effective treatment for some individuals with autism. The most typical autism treatment options involve both occupational and physical therapy. Many insurers will not pay for autism treatment, leaving families holding the bag on up to $40,000 per year in therapy costs.
Autism Treatment Diets
There are numerous non-traditional or alternative therapies and treatment approaches that have been indicated for autism, including nutritional supplements, dietary restrictions, and chelation therapy. One dietary autism treatment is a gluten-free, casein-free diet. An outcome of a lowering in autism traits was reported after a valuable beneficial treatment effect for the combined gluten- and casein- free diet. Subsequent to 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 Education
Despite education is the primary form of treatment for autism, educators are often poorly equipped to deal with these children. Meeting the challenges of autism can be better described as education rather 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.
Books
SKF Books ( http://www.skfbooks.com ) exists to make 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 central, 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.
Tantalizing Clues
Some studies have suggested that all types of autism involve a malfunction in the way the body deals with metal regulation. This suggests 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.
Recent studies suggest that the digestive systems of autistic children do not fully break down food. Autistic people also seem to have low levels of secretin.
Conclusion - Autism Treatment Evidence
A large array of unconventional treatments exist for autism, most with only anecdotal evidence of their utility. ABA ( applied behavioral analysis )/EIBI (early intensive behavioral intervention) has the biggest body of scientific evidence supporting its methodology as an effective treatment for autism. With scientific evidence, a number of these interventions should become 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 clear test that can be quantified before and after an intervention.
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