Treatments for Autism

by Ricker Polsdorfer, MD

• Main Page
• Risk Factors
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Screening
• Reducing Your Risk
• Talking to Your Doctor
• Living With Autism
• Resource Guide

En Espaol (Spanish Version)

Managing people with autism can be very challenging. It involves major life changes for all those intimately involved.

Treatment must be individualized and constantly evaluated for results. No one knows what the outcome will be in any individual case. Remember that half of all people with autism will never speak. Talk with your child's doctors often so that you can develop realistic expectations.

Treatment involves the following:

• Lifestyle changes
• Medications
• Alternative and complementary therapies

There are no surgical procedures for the treatment of autism.

References:

Autism Society of America website. Available at: http://www.autism-society.org. Accessed February 13, 2006.

Center for the Study of Autism. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) website. Available at: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/. Accessed February 13, 2006.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development website. Available at: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/. Accessed February 13, 2006.

Rapin I. An 8-year-old boy with autism. JAMA . 2001;285:1749-1757.