How Autism Treatments Are Changing -- New Autism Treatments

Autism (now known as autism spectrum disorder) treatments in the United States are changing and new autism treatments are available. Autism is one of the most prevalent mental conditions affecting both children and adults in the United States today. The amount of diagnoses has skyrocketed in recent years from an estimated 1 in 166 during 2006, to an estimated 1 in 68 today. As we learn more about how autism works and affects individuals, autism treatment has changed markedly in the United States. Here is a look at some of the different and most changed autism treatment methods.

New Early Intervention for Autism

The biggest shift in treating autism involves how it has been recognized. Early intervention has allowed for children diagnosed with autism to develop better social skills while changing the underlying brain activity for the better. This earlier intervention has been made possible by a better understanding of what autism is and how it manifests. Since it can be diagnosed as early as the age of two years, there is more allowance for effective autism treatment to be pursued much earlier.

New Behavioral Therapies for Autism

Medication was once the treatment of choice for autism, but was riddled with holes and inadequacies due to the varying types and symptoms. Behavioral therapy has become a much more effective option for treating children diagnosed with autism. It helps to develop the underlying mental skills required for a child to function more normally, while guiding them during their education and development into adults. Behavioral therapy will continue to become more effective as new techniques are taught and refined. Even applied behavior analysis online certification programs are looking into new ways of treating this disorder.

New Assistive Communication Treatments Help Those with Autism

One-third of patients diagnosed with autism are considered nonverbal. They refuse to communicate using words, which leads to unique obstacles in development and growth. Assistive communication devices have been introduced to these nonverbal individuals, and this method of treatment has allow many to function a lot more effectively. This treatment has helped some develop verbal communication skills in certain patients as well.

Treating Autism-Related Disorders

Researchers have discovered that there is a definite correlation between the degree of autism and the appearance of secondary disorders, which include gastrointestinal pain, sleep disorders, and seizures. The pain, discomfort, and obstacles associated with these secondary conditions have been identified as problems that can hinder the treatment of autism. By treating these related conditions, children and adults have been able to progress with the treatment of their autism.

Future of Autism Treatment: Genome Sequencing

Autism is a personalized disorder. Two siblings, each diagnosed with autism, may require highly personalized approaches to treating this condition and may even exhibit different symptoms. Genome sequencing may become one of the most important tools for treating and understanding how autism works. The data that has been obtained about genetic information and autism is already being used by researchers to identify more accurate behavioral and pharmaceutical treatments for autism.

References

1. Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders: Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, United States, 2006 by Cather Rice, PhD.
2. Screening and Diagnosis for Autism Spectrum Disorder by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
3. I Have Nonverbal Autism. Here’s What I Want You to Know by Lisa Reyes
4. Autism Genome Sequenced in Unprecedented Detail by Andy Shih

The article was written by:

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most her time hiking, biking and gardening. For more information on autism treatments or programs like applied behavior analysis online certification look into the University of Cincinnati. Contact Brooke via Twitter.

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