| Autism refers to a brain disorder, which | | | | lot of positive reinforcement. Activities |
| typically affects a child's ability to | | | | begin from simple actions (identifying |
| communicate, form relationships, and respond | | | | colors) and progress to more advanced |
| appropriately to the environment. While some | | | | activities (language). ABA depends on |
| people suffering from Autism are relatively | | | | prompting, positive reinforcement, and |
| high functioning, there are others who are | | | | differential reinforcement. |
| mentally retarded, have serious language | | | | |
| delays, or are mute. | | | | Nutritional Therapy |
| | | | |
| The actual cause of Autism is not known. But | | | | This therapy is based on the surmise that |
| Autism is relatively easy to spot, and | | | | certain ingredients in food can have a |
| children as young as 18 months start showing | | | | damaging effect on the brain of an autistic |
| symptoms. It is futile to believe that | | | | person. Leaving some substances out of the |
| children will just grow out of it. In fact, | | | | diet (milk and gluten, for instance) have |
| the early years provide the best time for | | | | shown startling positive changes in patients. |
| progress and improvement. So, intensive | | | | Additionally, vitamin-B12 and magnesium |
| therapy should begin as early as possible. | | | | supplements are administered to cover any |
| While different children suffering from | | | | deficiencies. These kinds of special diets |
| Autism may have different problems, parents | | | | curtail some of the more distressing symptoms |
| of such children have to face one | | | | like disruptive outbursts, restlessness, and |
| overwhelming challenge - there is no single | | | | sleeping disorders. |
| agreed upon method for treating this | | | | |
| condition. Parents, researchers, and doctors | | | | Anti-fungal Treatment |
| have not been able to reach common ground | | | | |
| here. | | | | Since autistic children often suffer from |
| | | | poor bowel ecology, overgrowth of fungi and |
| Autism treatment usually consists of a | | | | microbes is a problem. Therefore, autistic |
| combination of behavioral therapy, language | | | | children respond well to anti-fungal |
| and speech therapy, and special education in | | | | treatments. These children are also found to |
| schools. Reports suggest that play-based | | | | have high concentrations of yeast and |
| behavioral therapies and alternative | | | | anaerobic bacteria. Evidence suggests that |
| treatments involving dietary restrictions and | | | | Candida Albicans, a form of yeast, may cause |
| vitamin supplements are beneficial. But, | | | | Autism and may also exacerbate the behavioral |
| there is no solid proof to support this. What | | | | and health problems found in autistic |
| makes matters worse is that many children are | | | | children. |
| beset with additional problems like sleeping | | | | |
| difficulties, anxiety, or gastrointestinal | | | | A detoxification treatment called Chelation |
| problems. | | | | Therapy is slowly gaining popularity among |
| | | | doctors. This treatment is based on the |
| ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) | | | | theory that some children's vaccines are |
| | | | exceptionally high in heavy metals like |
| This is often referred to as the Intensive | | | | mercury preservatives, and this causes |
| Behavioral Intervention (though there are | | | | autism. |
| differences between the two). Studies show | | | | |
| that children suffering from Autism can make | | | | It is because of the vast multitude of |
| dramatic progress when they receive this kind | | | | therapies that many desperate parents opt for |
| of instruction. Parents and doctors mostly | | | | combination treatments. An estimated 30% of |
| accept this treatment because this is one of | | | | parents try special diets, non-traditional |
| the most researched of all treatments. This | | | | methods, or vitamin treatments. Music, vision |
| program involves intensive one-to-one | | | | therapy treatments, yoga and horseback riding |
| interaction between the child and the | | | | are also used to treat autism. Unfortunately, |
| teacher. Each skill is broken down into | | | | it is not possible to predict which children |
| sub-skills and each of these sub-skills is | | | | will benefit from a program or whether there |
| taught intensely, one at a time. It is a | | | | is light at the end of that particular tunnel |
| reward-based program where toddlers receive a | | | | at all. |