Autism Therapies and Treatments

Parenting neurodiverse children often requires us to have contact with many different kinds of professionals. This creates, what can be, an overwhelming amount of appointments, and many appointments, that in and of themselves are overwhelming. We often find it necessary to put children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) into situations that make them especially uncomfortable

Vocational therapy is a branch of occupational therapy. It uses work scenarios as a means of treatment to help strengthen and develop interpersonal skills in a workplace environment. Many young adults with autism who are getting ready to choose a career typically benefit from learning various skills beforehand. These skills can be taught and made

There are very few prescription medications approved for autism spectrum disorders. Some feel this encourages off-label use of drugs to alleviate challenging autism symptoms of children on the spectrum. Clonidine is one such drug; frequently mentioned as a beneficial treatment option for sleep disturbances and behavioral challenges. Parents often experience frustration due to the lack

What are the benefits of telehealth and Discrete Video Modeling (DVM) for families with autistic children across the globe? In the United States (US), an estimated 222 per 10,000 children received a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 2020—one of the world’s highest rates. Only South Korea (263) and Hong Kong (372) reported greater

The world of complementary and alternative medicine may seem a little mystical and vague. Search suggestions from Google emphasize what many parents want to know: “Does it actually work?” But, more specifically, is acupuncture effective in treating a complex condition like autism spectrum disorder? What is acupuncture? Acupuncture has been around for a long time;

Some of us enjoy the occasional trip to the spa; not only is it a form of self-care but it also offers us the opportunity to relieve tension. Treatments offered can range from hot stones, to trigger point massages including vibration massages. It’s therefore hardly surprising that vibration therapy for autism is believed to soothe

CEASE therapists are accused of making false claims about curing autism. With promises like “complete elimination of toxic imprints” CEASE therapy for autism fuels hope and derision in equal measure. As much as I dislike typing these words, many parents have admitted they want a”cure for autism”. They don’t want a “cure” because they don’t

Discoveries about the biological treatment of autism symptoms are growing and are hot topics for parents seeking solutions to assist their children. One area scientists have been looking into for some years with limited success is secretin as a treatment for symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The first study into the use of secretin

Historically, dance has been used as a form of healing. In African culture, dance resonates across a variety of tribes to symbolize connection with a higher power and to bring people together in communities to honor the rights of passage, but have you heard of dance therapy for autism?  Of course, engagement through dance exists

Intense tantrums, aggression, and self-injury are some of the most worrying symptoms associated with autism. These behaviors are usually addressed with therapy, but doctors may decide that medication is needed.  Risperidone is an antipsychotic sometimes prescribed to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Let’s explore what this drug does and whether it’s effective for kids

Ever since my autism diagnosis 25 years ago, doctors and therapists have been a regular part of my life. I’ve run the gamut of antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs; I’ve seen countless therapists in my journey recovering from PTSD, social anxiety, and addiction. Despite keeping an open mind, when I was offered a course of hypnotherapy

Autism Parenting Magazine has revealed almost 20% of people caring for a child with autism give their child CBD, while 31.3% started usage during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a survey sent out by Autism Parenting Magazine (APM) to more than 160,000 email subscribers around the world, 18.6% of respondents confirmed they use CBD for a

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex condition with symptoms varying from difficulties in communication and interaction, to special interests and repetitive behaviors, to sensory sensitivities. For this reason, new autism treatment methods are regularly unveiled and often focus on different elements of the spectrum. It is important to note that, while scientists drive research

Most of us are familiar with the scientific fact that any living, breathing animal, insect etc. is made up of cells. These cells form tissues and organs that support the existence of the host. Many of us have also heard of stem cells therapy for autism but are unsure about its validity. Scientists have studied

During my 20+ years of treating children diagnosed on the autism spectrum, I have always been asked: “How do I get my child to eat healthier foods?” The first step I take in addressing feeding concerns is to complete a full history assessment. To properly assist with the issue, we must learn what is/are the

For some families at-home therapy, led by parents as primary therapists, became a necessity during lockdown. Relationship Development Intervention is a home-based, potentially effective treatment that may help parents promote dynamic intelligence, social skills and flexibility in their autistic children. Banana bread, zooming (that’s a verb now) in pajama bottoms, and doing everything from home

How do we think about movement? Are the differences between healthy movement patterns and deficits easy to spot? How much do individual movement skills vary? Families of children with autism spectrum disorder are often confronted with technical terms and diagnoses related to physical abilities; “low tone”,“motor planning delays”,and “trunk stability deficits”. Physical therapy can provide

The wonders of modern medicine have led to a greater understanding of how our bodies function from the cellular level and how these manifest in the physical. In turn, this has lead to the evolution of suramin for autism as well as other drugs for neurological conditions. Several drugs have been developed over recent years and,

Parents seeking advice about herbs for children with autism may be entering a battlefield; with conventional, western medicine on one side and complementary and alternative medicine on the other… Many proponents of herbal, Chinese, complementary and alternative treatments view these remedies with an almost religious fervour. Sceptics, including many in the medical profession, roll their

To be completely honest I had my doubts when we introduced online services at AIMS Global.  We, just like the rest of the world, had to adapt to a “new normal” and thus created training workshops to help our current therapists transfer their amazing “in-home” support to a virtual platform. With any change, anxiety increases

Talk about transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS therapy, is raising hopes of parents who wonder if the treatment could work for their child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Parents with children on the spectrum are wary of the term “cure”. For some, it’s because they’ve been disappointed by snakeoil and false hope more than they

At birth new parents often wrap their crying babies up tightly; instinctively they’re using deep pressure to soothe their distressed infants. Deep touch pressure may benefit your child on the autism spectrum too—in this article we’ll take a closer look at deep pressure therapy; what it is, and how it could help your child. What

One mom shares her experience of Peer Coaching Circles and explains how, by joining with other parents, autism families can find great support. Everyone travels on their own path. On my journey, I have moved, overcome, and in vain left some of the pebbles behind. Each path is a path of clearing, reclaiming, and reconnection to

Rebecca shares insight into how occupational therapy has helped support her family and her son through sensory processing disorder. I was a behavioral intervention specialist for children with autism before becoming a dedicated mother of two—and I still couldn’t get a grip on my bulldozer of a son who could demolish a room or family

Our bodies have an intrinsic ability to sense and position themselves in space, called proprioception. A set of sensory receptors in our joints and muscles shape the proprioceptive system, responsible for building full-body awareness. There are simple tests you can do to try this out, like stretching your arms out in front of you, eyes

This is the story of Frankie, a young boy with autism who stopped toe-walking and learned to talk after his family discovered MeRT therapy. For the first few months of Frankie’s life, his father, Frank, had no inkling that something might be different. Frankie is his first and only child, and in the glow of

Parents of children with autism are likely to have heard about the concept of using a fecal transplant in hopes of reducing autism symptoms. The idea is one that has undoubtedly gained momentum and popularity in the field over the past few years. If you’re a parent wanting to learn about the fecal transplant procedure

From my sensational family to yours… What does a parent who wants his/her child to follow directions, pay attention, and perform well at school have in common with a teacher who wants his/her student to keep his/her body in his/her own space, do his/her work in a timely, neat manner, and stop disrupting the entire

Music has a strong effect on our mind. Music can work like a bridge of communication. This makes music therapy suitable for treating the particularities of many autistic children. However, due to limited information, parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have many questions. Does music therapy simply mean singing with my autistic child?

Justin Bieber sleeps in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. He has one at home and one at his studio. No, if you are wondering, JB has never been diagnosed with autism. He says he uses the therapy to rid his body of toxins and decrease anxiety by supplying more oxygen to the brain. Consumer interest in

What’s happening to my child? I was a behavioral intervention specialist for children with autism before becoming a dedicated mother of two—and I still couldn’t get a grip on my bulldozer of a son who could demolish a room or family gathering and leave no survivors. I’m talking wild. Not just difficult in a mischievous,

I said it in my head… As I got back to the car, I felt destroyed. I’d carried Rory into school, he cried so bad, his body was like a real dead weight, he was like concrete, he had somehow found a way to be heavier, he is so strong but today he was even

I grew up having nine older siblings and adore them all to this day. But from the time Isaac gave me my first swirly, Maureen tickled me to tears, and Laura manipulated me into believing frogs aren’t animals, I learned that peaceful sibling relations require work and the ability to memory-hole trauma. Fortunately, I’m now

You’ve been through the identification process, and you have a diagnosis of autism for your child after noticing differences in behaviors and preferences; you may have been told by friends and family that your child would ‘grow out of ‘ something or that he is a late bloomer; after all, children do develop at their

The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for many and can be particularly difficult for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). With little time to prepare, they had to leave school and acclimate to distance learning, which doesn’t offer the support and structure of the classroom. Add in the boredom and frustration that can come with

When parenting children with autism, it is essential for parents and carers to understand all behavior is a form of communication. When that behaviour challenges parents and carers it is most often the environment, which includes the people within it, which triggers anxiety and the Fight or Flight response. Learning to understand your child and

“Imagine your son was dropped in the middle of China, without a phone, a map or a grasp of the language and he was expected to find his way home by himself.  Picture that and then you have an inkling of what life is like for him every day.”. (Tsachi Manor, Clinical Psychologist) If we

At first glance, simple toys may seem less “exciting” than the complex, high-tech toys children often find fascinating. All there is to do with wooden blocks is stack them, right? Wrong! Simple toys overflow with educational potential and have such an important role in development. From addressing fine motor skills to fostering imaginative play to