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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Aggression and Tantrums in Children with Autism: A Review of Behavioral Treatments and Maintaining Variables
Journal of Mental Health Research, by Matson, J., published in 2009, summarized Sep 9, 2010

A problem-solving approach that is combined with applied behavior analysis (ABA) may be helpful for children with autism who have tantrums and aggression.

This article reviews research-based treatments for tantrums, and describes the strengths and problems of each intervention approach. The most common treatment approach for problem behavior is ABA therapy that is skill building in nature. It appears that the use of functional assessment makes it more likely that the ABA therapy will work. Many of the treatment studies also taught the child how to communicate. The author notes that brain (antipsychotic) drugs are being used more and more often for younger and younger children.


Enhanced Independence and Quality of Life Through Treatment with Flotation-Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique of a Patient with Both Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Asperger Syndrome: A Case Report
Cases Journal, by Edebol, H., Kjellgren A., Bood S. - A., and Norlander T., published in 2009, summarized Sep 7, 2010

Flotation tanks may be a useful tool for calming the nervous system and helping with sensory integration in adults with Asperger syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

This case study describes an adult with Asperger syndrome and ADHD who was treated with flotation-Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique (flotation-REST). The 36-year old woman from Sweden also had depression. She was given 19 sessions over a year and at the end felt that she was better able to live life on her own. With time she learned to control how alert she was (arousal control). She also learned to control how active she was (activity regulation). Her senses relaxed and she became better at sensory integration.


Use of Peer-mediated Interventions in the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review
Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, by Chan, JM, R Lang, Rispoli M., O’Reilly M., Sigafoos J., and Cole H., published in 2009, summarized Sep 2, 2010

Peer-mediated intervention (PMI) may be very helpful for children with autism, and a strong research base supports use of PMI.

This review article was designed to describe all research in which therapy for children with autism was performed by the child’s peers. The review covered 42 studies that used PMI in the treatment of people with autism. Many of the studies did not measure whether or not the studied treatment plan was followed by the peers. Some studies did ask the questions: Did the treatment occur for at least 10 minutes? Are there at least 1 or 2 peers in the treatment? Was an adult there to watch the session? The authors note that future studies should focus on what level of PMI can be performed by children at each age.


QEEG Studies in the Assessment and Treatment of Childhood Disorders
Clinical EEG and Neuroscience, by Cantor, DS, and Chabot R., published in 2009, summarized Aug 24, 2010

Quantitative electroencephalographs (QEEG) may someday be able to measure the brain waves in people with autism and show how the brain waves improve in response to therapy.

This paper reviewed QEEG studies to see if this way of taking pictures of the brain could be used to measure a child’s progress in therapy. While people have tried to use QEEG to study the brains of people with autism, these studies have had problems because it has been hard to define autism. Some research has shown that the area of the brain called the temporal region is slower in people with autism.


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School District in South Carolina Receives Grants to Improve Schools for Children with Autism and Other Disabilities

Sep 8, 2010

The Berkeley School District in South Carolina received grant money from the South Carolina School for Exceptional Children specifically to upgrade programs for students with autism. Uses for the money include training for teachers in the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), transition services for children moving from elementary school into middle school, and a job awareness and community connection program for older students with mild to moderate mental disabilities. Dr. Karen Whitley, Chief Academic Officer for the school district said, “Special educators will receive training on 11 effective treatment practices and data collection procedures for children with ASD’s. . . . In addition, parents of Berkeley County youth with autism can receive training on facilitating effective home and school partnerships.”

Read original article: School District Awarded $196,000 in Grants


Grocery Store Operated by Differently Abled Celebrates One Year Anniversary in India

Sep 6, 2010

Swabodhini, a school for children with autism and other developmental and physical disabilities, recently celebrated the first anniversary of its grocery store, Swayam, run by the students. The school started with two rooms in 1989, in India, and now is a two-story, multi-function therapy center. Swabodhini's mission is to "cater to those with autism, cognitive disability, attention deficit disorder, Down's syndrome and children with delayed development, all aged between three and 25." Treatment begins with an individual education program (IEP) for each student and includes therapies such as occupational therapy, behavior management, yoga, computer training, and experiential learning. Once students reach the age of 15, they receive vocational training as well. As part of the training, Swayam was started, and along with groceries, sells stationery and copying services.

Read original article: Celebrating Agency


Speech-Language Teacher Co-Treats with Occupational Therapist in School Setting

Aug 13, 2010

Valerie Lill is a speech-language pathologist in a school-setting who works with children with autism and other disabilities. She became frustrated with all the therapy scheduling conflicts involving the students, who at times were missing out on valuable treatments required by their IEPs. She decided to co-treat with one of the occupational therapists at the school. She explains, “That's the great thing about communication — no matter what she [OT] was working on with the students, it was easy for me to embed the students' speech-language targets within the sessions.” Lill says that it doesn’t work for every child, but she found success in involving the OT because it allowed the children to generalize skills into different environments.

Read original article: Speech in the Schools: Co-Treatment with an OT


Interactive Metronome Therapy is One Stop on a Woman’s Treatment Path with Autism

Aug 6, 2010

Kathleen Tehrani at Examiner.com, recently interviewed Ann Millan, author and autism advocate. Ann’s daughter, Robin, was diagnosed with autism at a time when there was little awareness or support. The family worked together to find therapies that have allowed Robin to be independent, work, drive, and own a condo. One therapy that worked well for Robin was, and still is, interactive metronome (IM) therapy. This treatment combines sounds and movements to improve language skills and response time. Millan describes IM as a whole body experience, involving feet, eyes, hands, and ears. Robin listens to specific sounds in her headphones and then responds “according to the frequency, guided sounds or visual from the computer.”

Read original article: Asking Ann About Autism: Interactive Metronome Therapy


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Please comment on this autism topic.

Responding to Thorazine (chlorpromazine)

Aug 13, 2010 by PWSMom

In 2006 the FDA approved risperidone for the specific treatment of aggression and irritability in people (inc children) with autism, yet you have posted an expert opinion also from 2006 that anti-psychotics are not useful in treating autism. Please review your information. Risperidone is an anti-psychotic and has been found to be effective in treating patients with autism who are easily agitated and frequently aggressive. While I can not speak specifically to Thorazine, the professional opinion used to back up the information is outdated and no longer correct. 


Comment added from Healing Thresholds: Note that rarely is scientific consensus achieved in one year. Moreover, scientific consensus rarely occurs as the result of a regulatory decision (FDA approval). At Healing Thresholds we summarize medical research as it occurs and we provide the date of the medical research/medical opinion. We inlude both mainstream and alternative views as long as those studies/opinons have been subjected to the scientific peer review process. We encourage all readers to consider the date of the research/opinion (and the source of the research/opinion) when evaluating how the results relate to their own child's therapy program.


Responding to art therapy

May 18, 2010 by Anonymous

     Art Therapy is a mental health profession that requires a master degree, specializing in art therapy, from an accredited university or college. Art therapy uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. It is based on the belief that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression, guided by a professional art therapist, helps people to resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness and achieve insight. (Please see the official website of the American Art Therapy Association at arttherapy.org.)


     Art therapy may be especially beneficial for persons with autism because of its inherent ability to surpass language barriers.  Children and adults can easily use "hands-on" expression to make therapeutic gains when traditional "talk therapy" is not feasible.  In addition to be effective, art therapy is often enjoyable for clients and they look forward to it.  Skill as an artist is NOT important.  The therapeutic process is the focus in treatment, rather than the artistic product.


     Art therapists in your area can be located by going to www.arttherapy.org.  One may also search local Yellow Pages under Counselors, Licensed Professional Counselor, Therapists, Psychologists, and other mental health professions. 


Does Vision Therapy Work?

Mar 18, 2010 by Anonymous

Unfortunately the article written in the NY Times was frequently quite biased. We have the research to show that optometric vision therapy works (http://www.covd.org/Home/ResearchWhitePapers/tabid/188/Default.aspx) for many vision and learning related vision problems. We do not know very much about the vision system and autism. We are just starting to figure out if optometric vision therapy is a form of treatment that can help the child on the Autism Spectrum....you can say the same for many therapies now being developed in this area.

Dominick M. Maino, OD, MEd, FAAO, FCOVD-A; Professor of Pediatrics/Binocular Vision Illinois Eye Institute/Illinois College of Optometry

Questions? Contact me at dmaino@ico.edu


Responding to homeopathy

Feb 23, 2010 by Anonymous

I am  James K. Feldman, Attorney at Law, located 1115 Tall Grass Circle, Stow, Ohio 44224, telephone (330) 920-1507, personal email:  JimFriend@aol.com  I was born May 30,1938 with Asperger's and Tourette's syndormes, and was treated for these disorders with sparse success with phenothiazine and benzodiasapine drugs, megavitamin therapy and psychological counselling until December, 1996.   At that point in time I was prescribed homeopathic treatment by the Family Holistic Health Center, 556 West Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44223, telephone (330) 923-3060.  Their modality of therapy is best described at the website:  www.drugfreeasperger.com  Before starting treatment I was unable to practice law.  I had needed to drop out of the Akron Universityh Law School 9 times in 14 years before graduating in 1975, and had barely passed the bar exam by the skin of my teeth.  Since I have been treated with homeopathy, I have been able to practice successfully in this profession and I have participated in many activities in behalf of folks with autism spectrum disorder and do extensive writing on the subject.  My higly detailed case history and all material I have written is available free upon request.   Among the homeopathic remedies which I was administered in succession were Anacardium, Stramonium, Lyssin, Sulphur and Calcium carbonate.  These can be checked out on the internet by entering the name of each one of them after the word "homeopathy". 


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