Complementary And Alternative Medicine Treatments
To relieve the symptoms of ASD, some parents and healthcare professionals use treatments that are outside of what is typically recommended by pediatricians. These treatments are known as complementary and alternative medicine treatments. CAM treatments refer to products or services that are used in addition to or instead of traditional medicine. They might include special diets, dietary supplementsexternal icon, chelation , biologicals , or mind-body medicine .
Many of these treatments have not been studied for effectiveness moreover, a review of studies on chelation found some evidence of harm and no evidence to indicate it is effective in treating children with ASD . Current research shows that as many as one-third of parents of children with ASD may have tried CAM treatments, and up to 10% may be using a potentially dangerous treatment . Before starting such a treatment, talk to your childs doctor.
To learn more about CAM therapies for ASD, go to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicines Autismexternal icon webpage. The FDA has information about potentially dangerous treatments hereexternal icon.
Common Myths About Autism
Myth 1: All people with Autism are alike.
Fact: Autism Spectrum Disorder is a spectrum or group of development disorders that affect social, communication and behavioral abilities. They affect each person in a different way.
Myth 2: Autism in a child is caused due to poor parenting and an unloving environment.
Fact: Though the exact reason for Autism is not known, but certainly it has nothing to do with how a child is raised. Autism is a neurological condition.
Myth 3: Autism can be cured.
Fact: An early intervention can significantly help in a childs development process but no cure for Autism has been found yet.
Myth 4: People with Autism should be employed in a job that requires a repetitive task.
Fact: As people with ASD are different from each other, no particular job can be said to be best suited for all.
Myth 5: People with ASD cannot form relationships.
Fact: Though social interaction is impaired in ASD, people with Autism do form fulfilling relationships with parents, spouse, children and friends.
Myth 6: Vaccines cause Autism.
Fact: No such evidence has been found that can support the link between vaccines and Autism.
Myth 7: People with Autism cant feel the emotions like happiness or sadness.
Fact: Autism does not make a person emotionless. The only difference is that they communicate their emotion differently.
Myth 8: People with Autism are intellectually disabled.
Myth 9: Autistic people always need help. They cannot live independently.
Can Autism Be Cured Or Can A Child Lose An Autism Diagnosis
Note: I may earn money or products from the companies, products, or links mentioned in this post.
I talked to a friend the other day and since I have two kids with autism, she asked me this question: Can Autism be cured?
Youre much more familiar with autism than I am so please tell me if Im totally wrong, but Ive got a friend telling me how you can basically cure autism with early intervention services. I dont agree, but wanted to know if this was true?
To be honest, this is not a new question for me. Ive had many friends and family members ask this question and Ive had just as many tell me about all the ways they think autism can be cured.
If you google, Can Autism be Cured? many different articles come up. There are stories about parents who claim they cured their childs autism and there are articles about what autism is and how it cant be cured. So which is it?
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Mom Uses Junk Science To Treat Child With Autism Shares It Online
I think that given the complexity and the variability of the causes and the manifestations of autism, trying to come up with a cure is probably not the right approach, said autism researcher and psychologist Len Abbeduto, director of the University of California, Davis, MIND Institute in Sacramento.
An estimated 80 percent of autism cases involve genetic factors, and it tends to run in families, but there is no single autism gene, Abbeduto explained. In fact, research has shown that more than 100 genes, and maybe upwards of 1,000, may play a role. Researchers also suspect that environmental factors such as exposures to infectious agents, pesticides or other toxins in pregnancy may play a role.
Scientists are investing a lot of work into understanding the genes but were also realizing its a lot more complicated than anybody ever thought when they started out, psychologist Ann Wagner, national autism coordinator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said.
Its highly likely that there are different causes for different kinds of ASD.
We do know that its highly genetic, we just havent identified how particular kinds of genes might interact with each other or with other factors to cause autism spectrum disorder, Wagner said. Autism is such a heterogenous disorder, so its highly likely that there are different causes for different kinds of ASD.
A Third Of Children With Autism Can Be Completely Cured Doctors
Civil sector experts discuss the changes that the healthcare system needs to help treat the autism spectrum disorder at early stages.
Thirty per cent of children with autism can be completely cured. Main thing is to diagnose the disorder in time and start the treatment. Its cost will also depend on the childs age. If diagnosed correctly and started being treated at the age of 3-4, the child will completely catch up with the peers, and no one will ever think that the disorder ever existed, said Volodymyr Stefanyshyn, director of LLC IGP during a press-briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
Seven-year-old Olenka started showing the signs of the autism spectrum disorder when she was four months old, however, doctors failed to diagnose it correctly at that time. We started noticing some signs starting from the fourth month. The child lost some skills, she stopped looking in the eyes. But doctors were saying that nothing serious was happening and we needed to wait. The child started having some typical symptoms when she was about thirteen months old. When Olenka was two years and 10 months old, this diagnosis was made. We did not give up and continued inquiring into what exactly leads to the pathology, said Oleksiy Yehorov, the father of the child.
Contact information and account numbers to raise funds on the subject:
Childs dad: Yehorov Oleksiy tel.: +38 700-21-24, e-mail:
Childs mother, Natalia V. Yehorova, tel.: +38 461-30-93, e-mail:
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What’s It Like To Have Autism Spectrum Disorder
A kid with autism might have trouble:
- talking and learning the meaning of words
- making friends or fitting in
- dealing with changes
- dealing with loud noises, bright lights, or crowds
Kids also might move in an unusual way or do the same thing over and over .
A kid with autism may have a little trouble with these things, or a lot. Some kids need only a little bit of help, and others might need a lot of help with learning and doing everyday stuff.
Speech And Communication Problems
At Therapeutic Pathways, we use the most recent and research-based findings in speech and language pathology in each childs treatment plan. Our speech, language and communication goals are integrated into our comprehensive Applied Behavior Analysis treatment plan to help children develop the skills they need to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and needs.
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How Common Is Autism Spectrum Disorder
Based on most recent CDC report, ASD is estimated to affect about 1 in 54 children, with boys being more likely to have ASD than girls. There were more than 5 million adults in the US, or 2.21% of the population, with ASD as of 2017. Government statistics suggest that the prevalence of ASD has risen 10% to 17% in recent years.
Is Aba Therapy Covered By Insurance
Most insurance plans cover ABA therapy. Behavioral Innovations accepts most major insurance providers and have experienced insurance specialists that can help you navigate the process of funding your ABA services with your insurance coverage. In addition, Behavioral Innovations staff can help you determine the exact coverage eligibility and benefits that your insurance provider offers.
Behavioral Innovations accepts the following insurance plans:
- United Healthcare: Optum
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What Are The Signs Of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Signs of ASD range from mild to severely disabling, and every person is different. The following signs are considered to be red flags that indicate your young child may be at risk for autism. If your child shows any of the following signs, please get in touch with your childs healthcare provider to discuss a referral for an autism evaluation.
The signs include the following:
- Your child doesnt respond to their name being called at all or responds inconsistently.
- Your child doesnt smile widely or make warm, joyful expressions by the age of 6 months.
- Your child doesnt engage in smiling, making sounds and making faces with you or other people by the age of 9 months.
- Your child doesnt babble by 12 months.
- No back-and-forth gestures such as showing, pointing, reaching or waving by 12 months.
- No words by 16 months.
- No meaningful, two-word phrases by 24 months.
- Any loss of speech, babbling or social skills at any age.
What Research Is Being Done
The mission of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease. The NINDS is a component of the National Institutes of Health , the leading supporter of biomedical research in the world. NINDS and several other NIH Institutes and Centers support research on autism spectrum disorder.
Nearly 20 years ago the NIH formed the Autism Coordinating Committee to enhance the quality, pace, and coordination of efforts at the NIH to find a cure for autism. The NIH/ACC has been instrumental in promoting research to understand and advance ASD. The NIH/ACC also participates in the broader Federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee , composed of representatives from various U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agencies, the Department of Education, and other governmental organizations, as well as public members, including individuals with ASD and representatives of patient advocacy organizations. One responsibility of the IACC is to develop a strategic plan for ASD research, which guides research programs supported by NIH and other participating organizations.
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Treating Autism With Educational/behavioral Interventions
Behavioral therapy is the mainstay treatment for children with autism. Even when a childs behavior is good, this type of therapy can help to teach her new skills, and improve her language and social abilities. Social skills training, for example, can teach individuals with autism how to interpret gestures, eye contact, tone of voice, humor, and sarcasm. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help to manage obsessive behavior and anxiety. Ongoing behavioral therapy is linked with better long-term health outcomes, even when symptoms of ASD are mild.
In early-intervention therapy, the entire family works with professionals to improve social, learning, and communication skills. Parent-training programs teach families how to best cope with autism, and teach parents how to administer therapy at home. Among the most highly trusted parent-training programs are Floortime , TEACCH autism program, the Lovaas Model ), and the Early Start Denver Model .
Going Forward Achieving Better Outcomes For All
The World Health Organization declares that the highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental right for all human beings. Leaving aside entirely the idea of a cure for autism, people with autism deserve much better health care and health research than they currently enjoy.
By adequately identifying and addressing medical issues associated with autism, a wide range of individuals challenges and difficulties can potentially be reduced, including anxiety, impulsivity, headaches, poor sleep, depression, aggression, self-injury, obsessive and compulsive behaviours, gastrointestinal problems to name a few.
No one should be expected to suffer a lower standard of health simply because of an autism diagnosis, yet diagnostic overshadowingattributing medical symptoms and conditions to the diagnosis of autism and therefore not offering appropriate investigation or treatmentis widespread.
If an individuals experience of autism does not involve health problems that result in suffering, and if the symptoms of autism are not perceived to be an impediment to happiness, independence, success, an enjoyable social and personal life, and to being in control of their lives, then there would no reason to seek intervention. However, for the majority of those diagnosed with autism, there is sufficient suffering and serious disability to rightfully deserve thorough investigation and appropriate intervention.
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When Can We Expect An Autism Cure
If cures were available, families wouldn’t search social media for DIY solutions. Unfortunately, it’s not clear when an autism cure, verified by medical experts, will become clear.
When researchers kick off studies, they disclose when the work will be done. Often, they miss deadlines. Experts say just 20% of autism studies have on-time results published.
It’s hard to wait for answers to autism questions. For now, that’s exactly what we must do. Invest in therapies proven to help, like applied behavior analysis . Support your loved one as best you can. And hope that the cure we’re looking for emerges soon.
Autism In My Son Adam
My son has high-functioning autism. The psychologist who diagnosed him told us that he could lose the diagnosis when hes older, but it has taken him years of therapy to get him to be where he is today.
Adam was diagnosed with autism at age 2. He was non-verbal until age 4, and even after that he had and it was extremely hard to understand what he was saying.
My son ate nothing but canned baby food and applesauce until he was over age 4. He was almost put on a feeding tube.
He had feeding therapy from 12 months old to age 6, occupational therapy since 12 months old and he is still getting it two times per week. Speech therapy started at 16 months old and he still gets it two times per week and ABA therapy since he was two and still going. And while people cant seem to tell that he has autism anymore, he still has deficits that he has to work on.
As his mom, I will always see the autism in him.
I See Autism
I see autism in the way he refuses to eat raspberries because of the tiny hairs they have on them.
I see autism in his extremely literal and black-and-white thinking.
I see autism in the way he talks sometimes.
I see autism in the anxiety he has.
I see autism when he struggles at school.
His autism will always be there, but the therapies hes had over the years give him the gift of knowing how to cope with the struggles he has and to adapt to the ways hes different, making them his strengths.
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Dont Wait For A Diagnosis
As the parent of a child with ASD or related developmental delays, the best thing you can do is to start treatment right away. Seek help as soon as you suspect somethings wrong. Dont wait to see if your child will catch up later or outgrow the problem. Dont even wait for an official diagnosis. The earlier children with autism spectrum disorder get help, the greater their chance of treatment success. Early intervention is the most effective way to speed up your childs development and reduce the symptoms of autism over the lifespan.
When your child has autism
Learn about autism. The more you know about autism spectrum disorder, the better equipped youll be to make informed decisions for your child. Educate yourself about the treatment options, ask questions, and participate in all treatment decisions.
Become an expert on your child. Figure out what triggers your kids challenging or disruptive behaviors and what elicits a positive response. What does your child find stressful or frightening? Calming? Uncomfortable? Enjoyable? If you understand what affects your child, youll be better at troubleshooting problems and preventing or modifying situations that cause difficulties.
Dont give up. Its impossible to predict the course of autism spectrum disorder. Dont jump to conclusions about what life is going to be like for your child. Like everyone else, people with autism have an entire lifetime to grow and develop their abilities.
Why Autism Speaks Dropped The Word ‘cure’ From Its Mission Statement
Autism Speaks, the nations largest organization dedicated to autism advocacy and science, recently updated its mission statement for the first time since its founding in 2005.
They dropped the word cure.
This may seem odd for an organization founded on the goal of finding a cure for autism spectrum disorder. But the organization grew to believe that autism is something to be worked with for promoting fulfilling and productive lives of people on the spectrum rather than something that has to be done to, board of directors member Stephen Shore told The Huffington Post.
The nonprofits mission statement now says it is dedicated to support and advocacy for individuals living with ASD, increasing awareness and acceptance of the disorder and working to advance research into its causes.
According to Shore, a clinical assistant professor at the Ammon School of Education at Adelphi University, the biggest change from the old mission statement is a new emphasis on supporting individuals with ASD throughout their lifetime.
The update underscores a purposeful advancement in how we perceive family members, friends and coworkers who live on the autism spectrum. It is not a mental illness meant to be struggled through, but rather a neurological difference that can be prepared for and ultimately appreciated.
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