Autism Explained
Could Your Child Have Autism?
Is There A Cure For Autism?
If you need a truthful answer to this question, then no, there is not a cure for autism at the moment. By cure we mean total restoration from this functional disorder. There is no treatment or medication that can restore an autistic individual to normal functioning. Prevention, too, is not an option with regard to autism. Strong genetic connections are seen in this condition and research is underway towards genetic intervention to ensure possible preventative measures. One of the major problems with arriving at a cure for autism is that it does not have any common symptoms. As a spectrum disorder, symptoms vary from person to person. Instead of talking of cure for autism, what we have to talk about are approaches to handling autism. There are various approaches to handling autism and working with people with this functional disorder. Some of the therapies include linguistic therapy or speech therapy, behavior modification therapy, dietary interventions, music therapy, sensory integration, art therapy and auditory training. The scope of these therapies is to reduce the symptoms and to teach individuals to cope with the disability. It is to help the individuals to lead a life that is as normal as possible. Behavior modification therapies seem to help if the process is started at an early or preschool age. These therapies are aimed at replacing problem behavior with positive behavior. There are other forms of therapy that are employed such as music therapy, art therapy and many other forms of therapy that claim to improve the quality of life of the autistic individual. Using art therapy, the child with this functional disorder is taught to communicate and express itself through non-verbal means. Music and singing is used to improve the speech patterns of the autistic individual. It has to be noted that there is no evidence that these therapies have any effect. Due to the uniqueness of the symptoms manifested, treatment should be on a 1:1 approach. Flexible behavior modification programs that address individual traits seem to bear fruit. Social skill development should be done at the earliest age possible. There are no drugs available that address the basic symptoms of autism. Drugs are often used to control secondary symptoms such as hyperactivity and aggressive behavior. When it comes to autism, it is just not the autistic individual who suffers functional disorder, it is the entire family that suffers. The entire family suffers emotional outbursts and burn-outs. It is important that the entire family learns coping skills. If not addressed properly, it might result in problems such as irritability among family members. Families with autistic members should make use of the support groups and other organizations that help parents with useful advice and resources. You need to realize that one cannot fight it alone. The autistic child requires a lot of attention, care and love from its family members. In the case of normal children, close attention is required only until they grow up, but in the case of autistic children, they never really grow up. Proper counseling and guidance are essential to decide the treatment and the education of the autistic child. Autism Symptom Autism Visual Support Autism Vs Aspergers Autistic Behavior Treatment Choosing A School Dealing With Autistic Child Degrees Of Autism A View From The Autistic Child Sensory Integration Autism Partners What Is Autism When Can Autism Be Diagnosed |
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