Autism Treatment - How is Autism Typically Treated?

Let's discuss briefly about how to treat Autism.homes or into institutions and the use of various
We know that there are many options in termsmedications to address some of the behavioral
of various services that are available for individualsproblems.
with Autism. In young children there are therapiesTraditionally speaking, when we talk of
like ABA or applied behavioral analysis, speechmedications that are used to treat Autism, we
therapy and therapy that works on motor issuesreally are speaking of medications meant to
such and gross and fine motor skills calledminimize some of the behavioral problems often
occupational therapy. Other therapies are availableseen with this diagnosis. Risperdal is the one FDA
as well such as horse therapy. And there areapproved medication to treat Autism, and this is
options out there to provide environmental stimulioften used to treat the aggressive, antisocial and
for many children with Autism.aberrant behavioral issues often seen with Autism.
And as these children get older and becomeI have seen some children, teens and adults also
teenagers and adults, some of these sameput on SSRI medications like Zoloft, Paxil or
services are still needed. But what often timesProzac to help modulate mood, and there is a
happens as these children get older is that accesswide variety of those medications. So what we
to some of these services is not there anymore.mainly have is the medication Risperdal and then
And many times locale will determine whatwhat you have remaining is behavioral therapy for
services you may get, in many parts of theyounger children, speech therapy and occupational
country and in many states, the services liketherapy. So from a medication standpoint we
ABA, speech or occupational therapy arereally are limited in terms of treatment options.
implemented directly through the school district.And the non medical therapies are left to address
But unfortunately when it comes to adults withsome of the social, behavioral and language
Autism, there is not a lot of good therapy. Oftenproblems seen in Autism.
times we see adults with Autism either put into