Autism - Treatments
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If you have found out that your child has autism, you may be very upset. But getting treatment for your child early on can help make a difference.
If your child has autism, they may have problems speaking and getting on with people. And they may behave in unusual ways some or all of the time.
All of these problems can be hard on you as a parent or other carer too. But the good news is that treatments can help your child lead a more normal life.
Key points about treating autism
- There isn't any cure for autism. But treatments may help your child speak and communicate better and do better at school.
- The main treatments use special ways to teach your child and help change how they behave.
- These treatments seem to help the most if you start them while your child is still young. Doctors call this early intervention.
- Treatments for autism can cost a lot. And you may not be able to get some of them where you live. You may be offered ones that are simpler.
- If your child also is hyperactive or has problems such as tantrums, you can get drugs to help.
- There haven't been many good studies comparing different treatments. But most experts agree that treatment early in life can help.
Treatments for autism
There are several treatments for autism. But which treatment works best? We've carefully weighed up the research and divided the treatments into categories.
You can find out more about each treatment by clicking on the links below.
For help in deciding which treatment is best for you, see .
Education
Treatments that are likely to work
- Early teaching by parents : This type of programme aims to help children with autism before they start school. It involves many hours every week. As a parent or other carer, you need training. More...
- Applied behavioural analysis : This is known as ABA for short. It teaches your child in small steps by using good things called rewards. Usually, it also means many hours of therapy each week. More...
- TEACCH: This is a programme that teaches your child at home or in school in a planned way. TEACCH stands for Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped Children. You need to be trained in how to do it. More...
Medications
Treatments that are likely to work
- Methylphenidate: This drug is a kind called a stimulant. The brand names for methylphenidate are Ritalin, Concerta and Equasym. It may help if your child is hyperactive. But there are side effects. More...
Treatments that work, but whose harms may outweigh benefits
- Risperidone: This drug belongs to a group called antipsychotic drugs. The brand name is Risperdal. It may calm your child if they have tantrums, fight or try to hurt themselves. But there are side effects. More...
Treatments that need further study
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): These are drugs mainly used to treat depression. They include fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Cipramil) and fluvoxamine (Faverin). They may help your child become less anxious and stop doing the same actions over and over. But there are side effects. More...
Other kinds of therapy
Treatments that need further study
- Special diets and supplements: With these treatments, your child doesn't eat certain foods or takes extra vitamins and minerals. For example, your child may not eat anything with wheat in it or may take fish oil. More...
- Auditory integration training: This is called AIT for short. Your child listens to special music. This training tries to change your child's hearing, so that he or she isn't bothered as much by certain sounds. More...
Other treatments
New treatments for autism are being tried all the time. Many claims are made for these treatments. And naturally, many parents want to know more. As more studies are done, we will be looking at their quality and their results.
The following treatments have not been studied to the same scientific standards that we use to judge other treatments on our site. (See .) But we cover these treatments because you may have questions about them. As you read this information, bear in mind that we need more research to say if these treatments work and if they are safe.
- Picture exchange communication system: This treatment uses symbols or pictures to help your child communicate. It's called PECS for short. More...
- Secretin: This is a hormone. In the past, some researchers said secretin helped symptoms of autism. But studies don't show any evidence of this. More...
Glossary
- hyperactivity
- Hyperactivity means having difficulty controlling your movements. Children with hyperactivity may 'wiggle', tap a pencil, tap their feet, talk a lot, or run unexpectedly around a room.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited ("BMJ Group") 2007. All rights reserved
This information does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.
