Therapy Options for Autistic Individuals

There is currently no one standard treatment for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but there are many ways to assist autistic individuals in areas in which they struggle. People who have ASD have the best chance of using all of their abilities and skills if they receive appropriate therapies and interventions.

The most effective therapies and interventions are different for each person. Even for individuals without significant developmental delays, treatment has been very effective to help autistic individuals with daily living activities. The following are various types of treatment for ASD:

1. Early Intervention
2. Educational and school-based therapies
3. Joint Attention Therapy
4. Nutritional Therapy
5. Occupational Therapy
6. Physical Therapy
7. Social Skills Therapy
8. Speech-language Therapy
9. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)*
10. Behavioral Therapy

*ABA therapy has a controversial background but has changed significantly over the years and should be researched before forming an opinion. ABA is a therapy based on the science of learning and behavior. It focuses on understanding how behavior works, how behavior is affected by the environment and how learning takes place. ABA care doesn’t focus on changing a person’s perspective, opinions, or reasoning but aims to modify behaviors that hinder their adaptation to their environment. More information on ABA can be found at Atlanta Parent – ABA Uncovered