| ted? | | | | spectrum it is a little more difficult. There |
| Typical treatments for Autism include the FDA | | | | aren’t many good therapy choices and |
| approved medication called Risperdal as well as | | | | many times they end up in homes or institution. |
| non medical treatments such as speech therapy, | | | | And often times various medications are used in |
| occupational therapy and, in younger children, | | | | an attempt to manage behavioral issues. |
| applied behavioral analysis (ABA). Let’s | | | | If we look at what has been used traditionally to |
| briefly talk about the treatment of Autism. We | | | | treat Autism, we see medications that are geared |
| know there are multiple options available for | | | | to minimize some of the behavioral issues often |
| individuals with Autism in terms of different | | | | seen in Autism. For example, the one FDA |
| services. Applied behavioral analysis or ABA | | | | approved medication to treat Autism is called |
| therapy for young children is an option along with | | | | Risperdal. Risperdal is used to help minimize the |
| speech therapy and also occupational therapy to | | | | antisocial, aberrant and aggressive behavior that |
| work on issues with motor skills such as gross | | | | can often times come with Autism spectrum |
| motor and fine motor functioning. In addition, | | | | disorders. Sometimes children, teens and adults |
| there is horse therapy as well as other therapies | | | | are put on SSRI medications such as Paxil, Zoloft |
| that provide environmental stimuli for young | | | | and even Prozac to aid in some of the mood |
| children with Autism. | | | | issues and there are many medications in that |
| Some of these same services are still applicable | | | | category. But Risperdal is the only FDA approved |
| as these individuals with Autism age and become | | | | medication to treat Autism and what you have |
| teenagers and adults. However, access to some | | | | beyond that is really behavioral therapy in young |
| of these services and therapies can be limited as | | | | children, and then speech therapy and occupational |
| these children get older. And where you live can | | | | therapy. So options for medications to treat |
| play a part in what services are available. In many | | | | Autism can be very limited and then you have |
| states across the country the implementation of | | | | non medication treatments to address behavioral |
| some of these services like ABA, speech and | | | | problems, social impairments and language issues |
| occupational therapy is done through the local | | | | in Autism. |
| school districts. However for adults on the Autism | | | | |