| Exploring Treatment Options for Patients with | | | | therapy can be easily adjusted to an individual |
| Autism | | | | child's strengths and weaknesses it is often quite |
| Although there is no known cure for autism, a | | | | helpful in improving patient's deficiencies in social |
| combination of specialized treatment and | | | | and communication skills |
| education programs can often help many patients. | | | | Yet another alternate treatment option for |
| The most common autism treatment options | | | | patients with autism is the use of Dolphin Assisted |
| involve both occupational and physical therapy. | | | | Therapy. The foundation of the Dolphin Assisted |
| Occupational therapy helps improve independent | | | | Therapy program in dates back to Eastern |
| function and teaches patients basic skills such as | | | | Europe, the former Soviet Union, and the Black |
| buttoning a shirt or bathing - while physical | | | | Sea. This field of medicine has shown |
| therapy involves using exercise and other physical | | | | extraordinary results in relation to the |
| measures such as using massage and heat in | | | | conventional methods of treatments such as |
| order to help patients control body movements. | | | | prescribed medication. |
| Other common autism treatment options include: | | | | An overview of Dolphin Assisted Therapy is |
| " Behavior modification | | | | available at : |
| " Communication therapy | | | | Dietary modifications |
| " Dietary modifications | | | | Autism is not caused by diet so the use of |
| " Medication | | | | dietary modifications and supplements to treat |
| Behavior modification: | | | | the disorder is somewhat controversial. Changing |
| There are several methods of behavior | | | | the diet or adding vitamin supplements may |
| modification that are used to treat autistic | | | | improve digestion and eliminate food intolerances |
| patients. Most behavior modification principles are | | | | or allergies, which may contribute to behavioral |
| based on the theory that rewarded behavior is | | | | problems in autistic patients. |
| more likely to be repeated than behavior that is | | | | Scientific Researchers have discovered the |
| ignored. For instance, Sensory integration therapy | | | | byproducts found in wheat, oats and rye (gluten) |
| is a type of behavior modification that focuses on | | | | and casein (protein in dairy products) have |
| helping autistic patients cope with different | | | | appeared at elevated levels in patients with |
| sensory stimulation. The treatment may include | | | | autism. This may suggest that the digestion of |
| having the patient handle materials with different | | | | these substances may affect brain function. |
| textures or listen to different sounds. | | | | However, eliminating foods that contain gluten and |
| Play therapy is yet another type of behavior | | | | casein from the diet may cause side effects and |
| modification used to improve emotional | | | | should not be done without the advice of a health |
| development. Play therapy most often helps | | | | care practitioner. |
| patients understand and cope with their own | | | | Studies have also shown that vitamin B, |
| feelings and involves adult-child interaction that is | | | | magnesium and cod liver oil supplements (which |
| controlled by the child. Along the same lines, | | | | contain vitamins A and D) may improve behavior, |
| another behavior modification technique called | | | | eye contact, attention span, and learning in autistic |
| "social stories" can also prove helpful in improving | | | | patients. Vitamin C has been shown to improve |
| an autism patient's undeveloped social skills. Using | | | | depression and lessen the severity of symptoms |
| social stories helps a patient better understand | | | | in patients with autism. |
| their feelings, ideas, as well as the points of view | | | | The DAN (Defeat Autism Now) Protocol is |
| of others, and may suggest to the patient an | | | | another dietary modification program gaining |
| alternate response to a particular situation. | | | | popularity. |
| Communication therapy | | | | The protocol involves a combination of changes |
| Many other alternate treatment options for | | | | to the diet and implementation of vitamin |
| autistic patients involve the use of communication | | | | supplement therapy in order to produce changes |
| therapy | | | | in autistic behaviors. These diet changes include |
| Communication therapy is used to treat autistic | | | | eliminating certain dairy and grains while |
| patients who are unable to communicate verbally, | | | | supplementing the patient's diet with the vitamin |
| or to it may be used to initiate language | | | | and mineral therapy. |
| development in young children with the disorder. | | | | An overview of the DAN Protocol is available at : |
| Today, clinical studies show that Video Modeling | | | | Medication |
| Therapy Programs are highly effective in teaching | | | | Medication may be also be used to treat various |
| children with autism. One such program entitled | | | | symptoms of autism and can also be used to help |
| "Special Kids" ( was pioneered by a father of a | | | | other conditions that may accompany the |
| boy with autism, Special Kids maintains a | | | | disorder. |
| distribution to over 500 different school systems | | | | Depression, obsessive-compulsive behavior, and |
| within the USA as well as 30 different countries. | | | | anxiety may be treated using antidepressants. |
| The program helps children with a variety of | | | | These drugs often reduce the frequency and |
| developmental, cognitive and learning disabilities | | | | intensity of repetitive behavior; decrease irritability, |
| acquire speech, reading, writing, early academics, | | | | tantrums, and aggression; and improve eye |
| personal hygiene, self-help, social and play skills. | | | | contact and responsiveness. |
| Another program, called 'Safety Harbor' is the | | | | Benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium(R)), |
| brainchild of two school therapists, Anne Pesacov | | | | lorazepam (Ativan(R)), and alprazolam (Xanax(R)) |
| and Betty Dixon, as well as teaching artist Emily | | | | can also be used to treat behavioral problems. |
| Harris. This series of eight workshops is designed | | | | While antipsychotic medications such as clozapine |
| to teach social skills to children with Asperger's | | | | (Clozaril(R)), risperidone (Risperdal(R)), olanzapine |
| syndrome through the use of puppets. To learn | | | | (Zyprexa(R)), and quetiapine (Seroquel(R)) may |
| more about puppet-assisted relationship therapy, | | | | decrease hyperactivity, behavioral problems, |
| contact Betty S. Dixon of Tampa at (813) | | | | withdrawal, and aggression in autistic patients |
| 431-9790, Emily Harris of Tarpon Springs at (727) | | | | Stimulants such as methylphenidate (Ritalin(R)), |
| 934-5890 or Anne Pesacov of Safety Harbor at | | | | amphetamine (Adderall(R)), and |
| (727) 738-9232. | | | | dextroamphetamine (Dexedine(R)) may also be |
| The use of music has also proven to be an | | | | prescribed for autism. These drugs may increase |
| effective communication therapy for autism | | | | focus and decrease impulsive behavior and |
| patients. Professor Tony Wigram. Head of PhD | | | | hyperactivity in patients. |
| Studies in Music Therapy at the Institute for Music | | | | It's best to consult a medical expert before |
| and Music Therapy at the University of Aalborg, | | | | considering any medications as the patient's |
| Denmark has authored several books on the | | | | medical history needs to be taken into |
| subject. He has concluded that since music | | | | consideration as well as possible side effects. |