Autism Therapy: treatment

definition of treatment: Something given to or performed on a person to improve health or behaviors. A treatment can include medical interventions such as giving medications. A treatment can also include non-medical interventions such as acupuncture. A treatment is usually considered something done in limited numbers. A series of treatments is often called therapy.

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Effective Methylphenidate Treatment of an Adult Aspergers Syndrome and a Comorbid ADHD: A Clinical Investigation with fMRI
Journal of Attention Disorders, by Roy, M., Dillo W., Bessling S., Emrich HE, and Ohlmeier MD, published in 2009, summarized Nov 9, 2010

Methylphenidate may help adults who are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Asperger syndrome.

This case study presents an adult patient with ADHD and Aspergers syndrome. The 26-year old man had had problems since childhood with making and keeping social contacts. The authors note that when an adult has both ADHD and Aspergers syndrome the case may be complex and hard to diagnose. This is because both ADHD and Aspergers syndrome may result in poor social skills and lack of attention. In the case of this patient, treatment with methylphenidate improved his ability to function and reduced his ADHD symptoms.


Gastrointestinal Symptoms in a Sample of Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders
J Autism Dev Disord, by , published in 2009, summarized Nov 4, 2010

Children’s GI problems appear less likely to respond to autism treatment and therefore GI symptoms may need to be considered and treated when creating a treatment plan for a child with autism.

The purpose of this study was to study the GI problems in a large sample of children with autism. The authors studied 172 children who entered two large-scale autism drug therapy trials. The groups (GI problems and no GI problems) were the same with regards to sex, race, special education placement, and family background. It seemed that those children who had more GI problems also had more behavioral problems. Children with autism and GI problems also had more social problems than children without GI problems.


A Classroom-Based Antecedent Intervention Reduces Obsessive–Repetitive Behavior in an Adolescent with Autism
Clinical Case Studies, by Sigafoos, J., Green VA, Payne D., O’Reilly MF, and Lancioni GE, published in 2009, summarized Oct 28, 2010

Providing leisure activities may distract children with autism from long-terms habits of obsessively rearranging objects.

Many people with autism insist on sameness and do not like change. This case study was aimed at seeing if structured leisure time would help a student (15-year-old boy) with autism to spend less time moving the objects on his desk. This treatment approach was an antecedent intervention that gave the student a chance to do his behavior at a time when it was okay with the teacher. The treatment approach reduced obsessive-compulsive behavior and also caused the child to be more social in the classroom. The authors suggested that this treatment approach may be helpful for children with autism and repetitive behaviors.


Evaluation of a Self-Instructional Manual for Conducting Discrete-Trials Teaching with Children with Autism
Behavior Modification, by Thiessen, C., Fazzio D., Arnal L., Martin GL, Yu CT, and Keilback L., published in 2009, summarized Oct 26, 2010

A newly revised training manual may be helpful to teach college students and parents to use applied behavior analysis (ABA) to help children with autism.

ABA is seen by many to be the treatment of choice for children with autism. There is a large need for research-based, low-cost, rapid training to train tutors and parents to conduct discrete trial training with children with autism. This study was designed to see if a revised version of the training book used to teach students to do this type of ABA therapy was useful. The authors found that the revised manual was good at training college students to use discrete trial training to teach three tasks to children with autism. The authors note that the college students did not really work with children with autism, but instead worked with people who acted like children with autism.


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New Autism Research Shows Promise Using Music and Motor Activities

Nov 17, 2011

Auditory-Motor Mapping Training (AAMT) is a recently researched therapy that shows music may help communication skills in children with autism. Catherine Wan, PhD, a researcher in the Music and Neuroimaging Laboratory of Beth Deaconess Medical Center’s Department of Neurology, explains that AAMT uses “singing (intonation) and motor activities to strengthen a network of brain regions that is thought to be abnormal in children with autism.” The researchers based their study on another similar therapy, Melodic Intonation Therapy that was successful in helping stroke victims recover their speech. The children involved in the AAMT study showed increased communication during the treatment as well as at home.

Read original article: Research Shows New Therapy Helps Nonverbal Children with Autism to Say First Words


Early Diagnosis and Intervention Still Key in Therapeutic Interventions for Autism

Oct 27, 2011

We do our best to keep up with therapeutic interventions for kids with autism, however, as this article discusses, early diagnosis and intervention are still important tools. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that doctors administer a standardized test at the 18-month and 24-month well baby checkups. Research done by The Commonwealth Medical College (TCMC) students demonstrated that in Pennsylvania, only 1 in 10 children were diagnosed with autism by the pediatrician in 2009 and 2010. For this reason, TCMC is recommending outreach programs for family doctors and other health care professionals. Mary Christine Remick, at Northeast Regional Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Friendship House explains that if doctors screened for autism, up to 70% of cases could be discovered early and therapy could begin.

Read original article: Early Diagnosis Key to Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorders


Documentary About Autism May Help Families Navigate Treatment

Oct 10, 2011

Erik and Jennie Linthorst first learned their son might have autism when he was 18 months old. They did what many parents do – they searched for any and all information on therapies and treatments. The Linthorsts were fortunate; they tried therapies that worked and those that didn’t. They had the time and the resources to find good doctors and get answers to their questions. They were able to take advantage of early intervention techniques. They also understand that many parents don’t have a lot of time and/or money, so Erik, a screenwriter, made a documentary about their experience. Autistic-Like: Graham’s Story is a “map” of their experience. Their hope is that their story may shorten another family’s search for answers.

Read original article: Son's Autism Leads to Family Documentary


Drug Therapy May Improve Language and Social Skills in Children with Autism

Oct 6, 2011

This article focuses on a new study using the drug propranolol to help increase social skills and language in people with autism. Propranolol is typically used to treat high blood pressure, control heart rate, and reduce test anxiety. Dr. David Beversdorf, MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, and his group are the first to study the potential benefits of this drug on autism in a controlled manner. They believe the drug acts on the brains of people with autism to assist in language and communication. In earlier studies, researchers discovered that propranolol helped with word unscrambling and word fluency. In follow-up studies, Beversdorf hopes to be able to discover who with autism will respond favorably to the drug.

Read original article: Promising Drug Treatment for Improving Language, Social Function in People with Autism


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Please comment on this autism topic.

AUTISM = California ABA Behavior Analysis + Special Education is the "3 in 1" Autism Therapies Treatment in California & Singapore

Oct 13, 2011 by Anonymous

St. Andrew Autism Center is the Help and service provider in Singapore for autism therapies in ABA behavior intervention and special education.

Autism is an EPIDEMIC affecting Singapore children. The "3 in 1" Autism Therapies Treatment of " Autism + ABA + Special Education"  is to help children with Autism, ADHD, Attention Deficit Disorder, Asperger Syndrome, Giftedness etc and related disabilities with learning, emotional and developmental needs to develop the communication, academic and social skills necessary so that they can successfully participate in their Singapore MOE schools or pre-schools, and communities. 

SeokLay Lau MA in Special Education, California State University Los Angeles, CalABA member.

Seoklay Lau's Public Profile <http://sg.linkedin.com/pub/seoklay-lau/34/621/5b>


Responding to insurance

Sep 13, 2011 by Anonymous

I live in North Carolina.  My daughter was diagnosed with autism and in the hopes of getting the best treatment and intervention available, she is being left behind. Her insurance, medicaid, pays for very little of her early intervention services.  And to add to our disappointment, medicaid does not pay for ABA services.  


Responding to relationship development intervention (RDI)

Jul 12, 2011 by Anonymous

RDI is not a fad therapy.  It is based on years of clinical research into how typical parent/child relationships and childrens' brains develop from infancy.  It then seeks to recapture what was not possible because of autism.  It helps remediate the core deficits and rebuild new neural pathways.  If the brain is re-wired then all the other behavioral issues can be remediated as well without scripted, rote learning. 


Just because it is fairly new and the focus has been on developing the program and helping children/families (rather than funding and documenting for research purposes, which IS needed), that does not mean that it's a fad. 


Also, as a parent of a child on the spectrum there has been NOTHING else I have found that has focused on the family and actually helps us goal-set and apply techniques in our everyday, busy life.  This is a God-send and, I believe, will become the standard course of treatment for autistic individuals in the years to come.  It's not a fad.


Sincerely,


Leigh Reeves, mother of precious 4 year old Angeleah who is getting much-needed help with RDI


Autism treatment

Feb 25, 2011 by Anonymous

Getting to the kids early makes all the difference.


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Please comment on treatment or other autism therapy topics.

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