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