Parkinson's Disease

While there is no "cure" for autism, there are several effective interventions that can improve a child's functioning:

• Social skills training: Done in group or individual settings, this intervention helps children with autism improve their ability to navigate social situations

• Speech & language therapy: Can improve the child's speech patterns and understanding of language

• Occupational therapy: Can address adaptive skills deficits with activities of daily living, as well as problems with handwriting

• Parent management training: Parents learn effective ways of responding to problematic behavior and encouraging appropriate behavior in their child. Parent support groups help parents cope with the stressors of raising a child with autism

• Special education services: Are provided by schools under an Individual Education Plan and can include a range of services and accommodations for social communication deficits, restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. This can include special classes for very young children to address language, social skills and other needs.

• Treating co-occurring conditions: Children with autism are more likely to experience insomnia, ADHD, intellectual disability, anxiety, and depression than peers without autism. These conditional also need to be addressed. The impact of these conditions can be reduced with the proper services, which can include any of the above, as well as psychotherapy and/or medication. Treating these conditions typically involves coordination with a pediatrician or primary care clinician.

• Medication: A child psychiatrist can evaluate for other mental health conditions and prescribe medication if appropriate. For example, autism-related irritability can be reduced by medications such as aripiprazole and risperidone (the two medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration for irritability associated with autism), prescribed judiciously by a knowledgeable clinician in collaboration with the child's parents. 

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​Several complementary and alternative interventions involving special diets and supplements have been tried over the years by parents/caregivers seeking ways to help their child with autism function better. To date compelling evidence has not been found to clearly recommend any such specific interventions. Research into these types of interventions continues, and parents/caregivers interested in them should discuss them with their child's treating clinician.