| As more research is done on autism, a brain | | | | is no wheat products, or removing dairy from the |
| development disorder, doctors and researchers | | | | diet. Certain ingredients in foods make autistic act |
| are finding alternative ways to treat it. Medication | | | | out or have bad reactions. Learn what they are |
| used to be the only recourse and can have nasty | | | | and eliminate them from your child's diet. |
| side effects. Parents are looking for different, | | | | 4. Omega 3: Omega 3 is a fatty acid that has |
| natural ways to treat their autistic children. | | | | been found to have health benefits, which includes |
| There have been some alternative methods in | | | | better sleep patterns, better social skills and |
| treating autism that are more common than | | | | better general health. All of these are positive |
| others. Some work alone while others are used in | | | | attributes to a child with autism. While you can |
| combination. There is no telling which method will | | | | buy Omega 3 at many nutritional stores, discuss |
| work best for your child. Speak with your doctor | | | | with your doctor the benefits of trying Omega 3 |
| to learn about alternative treatments for autistic | | | | in your autistic child's diet. Omega 3 and other |
| children. | | | | essential fatty acids are needed in a child's normal |
| 1. Music Therapy: Autistic children have been | | | | growth pattern. However, no major studies have |
| found to respond to music in a number of ways. | | | | been done on the benefits of fish oil for autistic |
| Sometimes the music makes them happy and | | | | children. |
| they want to move around, helping with their | | | | 5. Play Therapy: Play therapy works well because |
| motor skills. Other times children sing along to the | | | | it doesn't feel like work. Autistic children are in a |
| words of the song, helping with speech therapy. | | | | more relax atmosphere and have a chance to |
| This has been seen in children who do not even | | | | react naturally. When a therapist begins playing |
| talk. Music therapy is a natural way to help autistic | | | | with the autistic child, this will give the therapist |
| children. | | | | and the child a chance to bond. The child will learn |
| 2. Sensory Integration: Everyone, autistic or not, | | | | to trust the therapist through playing and make |
| has a certain smell that reminds them of | | | | the sessions easier. By helping to create bonds |
| something happy. Or the touch of a certain cloth | | | | through playing, autistic children can learn to play |
| will invoke specific feelings. This holds true for | | | | well other children their own age. |
| some autistic children as well. Researchers have | | | | Good treatment plans may use some of these |
| been using sensory skills to get autistic children to | | | | alternatives along with medication or you can try |
| react. The autistic children rely more on their | | | | them out before resorting to medication. Every |
| hearing, touch, taste and smell to understand and | | | | child is different, so some of the alternatives |
| communicate. This is also used to calm autistic | | | | therapies could work well for one autistic patient |
| children down by using specific odors or textures. | | | | while not work for another. Don't get discouraged |
| 3. Nutritional: An autistic child's diet can have an | | | | if it doesn't work for your child. Just look for |
| effect on the way they react. There have many | | | | ways to keep your child happy while giving your |
| different diets that doctors have been using. | | | | child the best care. |
| Some of the popular diets are gluten-free, which | | | | |