Do symptoms of Autism change over time?For many children, autism symptoms improve with treatment and with age. Some children with autism grow up to lead normal or near-normal lives. Children whose language skills regress early in life, usually before the age of 3, appear to be at risk of developing
Epilepsy or seizure-like brain activity. During adolescence, some children with autism may become depressed or experience behavioral problems. Parents of these children should be ready to adjust treatment for their child as needed.
How is autism treated?There is no cure for autism. Therapies and behavioral interventions are designed to remedy specific symptoms and can bring about substantial improvement. The ideal treatment plan coordinates therapies and interventions that target the core symptoms of autism: impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and obsessive or repetitive routines and interests. Most professionals agree that the earlier the intervention, the better.
- Educational/behavioral interventions: Therapists use highly structured and intensive skill-oriented training sessions to help children develop social and language skills. Family counseling for the parents and siblings of children with autism often helps families cope with the particular challenges of living with an autistic child.
- Medications: Doctors often prescribe an Antidepressant medication to handle symptoms of Anxiety, Depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Anti-psychotic medications are used to treat severe behavioral problems. Seizures can be treated with one or more of the anticonvulsant drugs. Stimulant drugs, such as those used for children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), are sometimes used effectively to help decrease impulsivity and Hyperactivity.
- Other therapies: There are a number of controversial therapies or interventions available for autistic children, but few, if any, are supported by scientific studies. Parents should use caution before adopting any of these treatments.
Additional Resources & Information
Autism Society of America
Treatment Autism: Education (Autism Society of America)
Autism: Treatment (Autism Society of America)
Behavioral Intervention for Children with Autism (Cleveland Clinic Foundation)
Learning Approaches (Autism Society of America)
Positive Behavior Support (PBS) (Center for Autism & Related Disabilities) Links to PDF
Treatments for Autism (Autism Speaks)
Alternative Therapy Alternative Treatments for Autism (Autism Speaks)
Rehabilitation/Recovery Understanding Autism: Occupational Therapy (American Occupational Therapy Association)
Coping Living with Autism (Autism Society of America)
