Treatment Options

Scientists agree that the earlier in life a child receives early intervention services the better the child’s prognosis. All children with autism can benefit from early intervention, and some may gain enough skills to be able to attend mainstream school. Research tells us that early intervention in an appropriate educational setting for at least two years prior to the start of school can result in significant improvements for many young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. As soon as autism is diagnosed, early intervention instruction should begin. Effective programs focus on developing communication, social, and cognitive skills.

The most effective treatments available today are applied behavior analysis (ABA) and occupational, speech and physical therapy. Many “cures” for autism are touted on the Internet, but these interventions are not backed by science and in many cases can cause harmful side effects. Most individuals with autism will need support and services their entire lifetime.

Some service providers, celebrities, parent groups and medical practitioners may talk about “recovery” from autism. “Recovery” is a subjective term, and what one family calls "recovery" may be different for others. Parents should be skeptical of any health care provider holding out "recovery" as an option, as it often leads to expensive and ineffective treatments that can burden families with needless debt. Remember, autism is pervasive developmental delay, which means children will continue to develop, learn, gain skills and adapt as they age. Sometimes children lose their diagnosis altogether, leading to claims of recovery. Keep in mind that symptoms of autism change as a child develops.

Research has shown that children who are diagnosed by the age of two are more likely to eventually lose their autism label because early diagnosis leads to behavioral treatment, which benefits the child, and because these children are more likely to be misdiagnosed altogether (Turner and Stone, 2007). “Recovery” can be a useful concept, but only if defined as the ability of individuals with ASD to lead fulfilling lives, given the challenges of their condition.