There is no permanent cure to autism yet. But many autism intervention strategies have been developed over time, to help reduce the symptoms of the disease and make it easier to cope with.
Autism intervention strategies are helpful in enhancing one’s cognitive abilities and boosting their capability to perform better in life. Every individual fighting ASD, experiences a different impact of it. Some might not feel the effects very strongly and some might. Thus, each individual faces a set of unique challenges and has different strengths. This is why, each person needs a unique intervention or treatment strategy for themselves which is promising in targeting their individual needs and helping them fight the challenges effectively.
Types of Autism Intervention Treatments:
There are several types of treatments and approaches in the world of ASD. and each one differs in the way they work and the impact that they have on the individual. But the types are generally segregated in 4 categories;
- Medication
- Communication and behaviour approaches
- Alternative or complementary medicines
- Dietary approaches
Medication:
There is no proper medication for ASD which aims to fully cure the issue. However, medicines are available that help an autism driven individual, perform better on a daily basis. For instance, through medication, they can manage their energy levels efficiently, deal with depression and anxiety and get to focus more as well. The symptoms of autism make the dilemma harder to manage and thus, with the right medication plan, one can reduce their impact. You can get a professional medical scribe for your medication, to understand the plan better and ensure that your child is managing their medication properly.
Communication and Behaviour Approaches:
These approaches help in offering a direction and structure to autistic people.
For instance, applied behaviour analysis is one of the most commonly used treatment plans by healthcare experts. It helps in boosting positive behaviour in autistic people, to enhance their focus and other abilities. There are different types of ABA, and your healthcare professional decides, as to which one would work perfectly for you, given your situation.
There are several other types of behavioural and communication approaches like assistive technology, occupational therapy and speech therapy etc. for instance, in speech therapy, as the name suggests, an individual’s communication skills are enhanced. Occupational therapy includes all the skills that are required by a person to go on in their lives independently. Thus, each therapy or approach of treatment, helps boost a certain skill in autistic people, reducing the impact of the symptoms largely.
The most important of all is the relationship based approach. As autistic children find it impossible to express themselves, the floortime technique is utilised to develop their emotional skills. This works on developing their feelings and also boosts their daily life sensory feelings like sound, smell and sight. It focuses on relational and emotional development and plays a huge part in managing ASD.
Alternative or Complementary Medicine Treatments:
In some cases, alternative or complementary medicine treatments are used by healthcare professionals. These medicines are outside of what pediatricians usually recommend for ASD. These are commonly used in addition to traditional medicine plans and usually have dietary supplements included in them. However, studies are underway to see whether they are effective or not. But it is always recommended to discuss the whereabouts of these treatments with your doctor in detail before opting for them.
Dietary Approaches:
Dietary approaches have also been set up to look into reducing the symptoms of ASD. Some interventions do demand for dietary changes in an individual. These can include removal of some specific foods or addition of some supplements or multivitamins to fulfill the bodily requirements of the patient. We all know that a healthy body enriches a healthy mind, so this approach might be helpful in controlling the negative impact of ASD medicines etc. Many parents have stated that they do notice a change in their child’s behaviour after dietary changes have been made. Thus, this approach is used widely by pedestrians along with medicines etc, to cope up with ASD effectively.
The Bottom Line
Autism intervention techniques are being used widely these days to enhance the coping mechanism of dealing with ASD. as no permanent solution or treatment has been developed till yet, to cure ASD; the intervention strategies do work quite well in coping with the hurdles for an ASD individual. The effects of these interventions are different on children and adults and vary from person to person as well. But according to studies, there is sufficient evidence that showcases that these techniques and treatments do work and have a positive impact on an individual.