Treatments for Autism

Currently there is no definitive, single treatment for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, there are a variety of ways to help minimize the symptoms and maximize learning. Persons with an ASD have the best chance of using all of their individual capabilities and skills if they receive appropriate behavioral and other therapies, education, and medication. In some cases, these treatments can help people with autism function at near-normal levels. Some possible treatments for autism are explained below. If you have a question about treatment, you should talk to a health care provider who specializes in caring for people with autism.

Behavioral Therapy and Other Therapeutic Options

In general, behavior management therapy works to reinforce wanted behaviors and reduce unwanted behaviors. At the same time, these methods also suggest what caregivers should do before or between episodes of problem behaviors, and what to do during or after these episodes. Behavioral therapy is often based on applied behavior analysis (ABA). Different applications of ABA commonly used for people with autism include: positive behavioral interventions and support (PBS), pivotal response training (PRT), incidental teaching, milieu therapy, verbal behavior, and discrete trial teaching (DTT), among others.

Keep in mind that other therapies, beyond ABA, may also be effective for persons with autism. Talk to your health care provider about the best options for your child.

A variety of health care providers can also help individuals with ASDs and their families to work through different situations.

Speech-language therapists can help people with autism improve their general ability to communicate and interact with others effectively, as well as develop their speech and language skills. These therapists may teach non-verbal ways of communicating and may improve social skills that involve communicating with others. They may also help people to better use words and sentences, and to improve rate and rhythm of speech and conversation.

Occupational therapists can help people with autism find ways to adjust tasks and conditions that match their needs and abilities. Such help may include finding a specially designed computer mouse and keyboard to ease communication, or identifying skills that build on a person's interests and individual capabilities. Occupational therapists may also do many of the same types of activities as physical therapists do (see below).

Physical therapists design activities and exercises to build motor control and to improve posture and balance. For example, they can help a child who avoids body contact to participate in activities and games with other children.

Special services are often available to preschool and school-aged children, as well as to teens, through the local public school system. In many cases, services provided by specialists in the school setting are free. More intense and individualized help is available through private clinics, but the family usually has to pay for private services, although some health insurance plans may help cover the cost.

Educational and/or School-based Options

Children with ASDs are guaranteed free, appropriate public education under federal laws. Public Law 108-77: Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act17 (2004) and Public Law 105-17: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act-IDEA18 (1997) make it possible for children with disabilities to get free educational services and educational devices to help them learn as much as they can. Each child is entitled to these services from age three through high school, or until age 21, whichever comes first.

The laws state that children must be taught in the least restrictive environment, appropriate for that individual child. This statement does not mean that each child must be placed in a regular classroom. Instead, the laws mean that the teaching environment should be designed to meet a child's learning needs, while minimizing restrictions on the child's access to typical learning experiences and interactions. Educating persons with ASDs often includes a combination of one-to-one, small group, and regular classroom instruction.

To qualify for special education services, the child must meet specific criteria as outlined by federal and state guidelines. You can contact a local school principal or special education coordinator to learn how to have your child assessed to see if he or she qualifies for services under these laws.

If your child qualifies for special services, a team of people, including you and your family, caregivers, teachers, school psychologists, and other child development specialists, will work together to design an individualized educational plan (IEP) for your child. An IEP includes specific academic, communication, motor, learning, functional, and socialization goals for a child based on his or her educational needs. The team also decides how best to carry out the IEP, such as determining any devices or special assistance the child needs, and identifying the developmental specialists who will work with the child.

The special services team should evaluate and re-evaluate your child on a regular basis to see how your child is doing and whether any changes are needed in his or her plan. A number of parents' organizations, both national and local, provide information on therapeutic and educational services and how to get these services for a child. Visit for a listing of these organizations, or check the local phone book.