| Autism is one of a group of serious developmental | | | | restrictive diets can result in nutritional deficiencies in |
| problems called autism spectrum disorders (ASD) that | | | | growing children. |
| appear in early childhood - usually before age 3. | | | | An effective treatment program will build on the |
| Though symptoms and severity vary, all autism | | | | child's interests, offer a predictable schedule, teach |
| disorders affect a child's ability to communicate and | | | | tasks as a series of simple steps, actively engage the |
| interact with others. | | | | child's attention in highly structured activities, and |
| It's estimated that three to six out of every 1,000 | | | | provide regular reinforcement of behavior. Parental |
| children in the United States have autism - and the | | | | involvement has emerged as a major factor in |
| number of diagnosed cases is rising. It's not clear | | | | treatment success. Parents work with teachers and |
| whether this is due to better detection and reporting | | | | therapists to identify the behaviors to be changed |
| of autism, a real increase in the number of cases, or | | | | and the skills to be taught. Recognizing that parents |
| both. | | | | are the child's earliest teachers, more programs are |
| Holding Therapy | | | | beginning to train parents to continue the therapy at |
| In this technique, the parent hugs the child for long | | | | home. |
| periods of time, even if the child resists. Those who | | | | Behavioral training and management- Behavioral |
| use the technique contend that it forges a bond | | | | training and management uses positive reinforcement, |
| between the parent and child. Some claim that it | | | | self-help, and social skills training to improve behavior |
| helps stimulate parts of the brain as the child senses | | | | and communication. Many types of treatments have |
| the boundaries of his or her own body. There is no | | | | been developed, including Applied Behavioral Analysis |
| scientific evidence, however, to support these claims. | | | | (ABA), Treatment and Education of Autistic and |
| Treatments of childhood autism | | | | Related Communication Handicapped Children |
| Music or dance therapy can bring a child with autism | | | | (TEACCH), and sensory integration. |
| out of isolation. Play therapy is effective for some | | | | TEACCH |
| kids with autism. | | | | Another program is called the Treatment and |
| Go gluten-free. Dealing with environmental and food | | | | Education of Autistic and Related Communication |
| sensitivities is important in treating childhood autism. | | | | Handicapped Children (TEACCH). TEACCH, developed |
| Since gluten is a common food sensitivity in both | | | | as a statewide program in North Carolina, uses |
| adults and kids with autism, it's best to eat | | | | picture schedules and other visual cues. These help |
| gluten-free products. Autism research shows that | | | | the child work independently and to organize and |
| almost 50% of people with autism have improved | | | | structure their environments. Though TEACCH tries |
| symptoms when on a gluten-free diet. | | | | to enhance a child's adaptation and skills, there is also |
| Proponents of restrictive diets believe that casein, a | | | | an acceptance of the deficits associated with autism |
| protein found in dairy products, and gluten, a protein | | | | spectrum disorders. In contrast to ABA programs, |
| found in many grains, affect brain development and | | | | TEACCH programs do not anticipate that children will |
| behavior, causing autism in some children. However, | | | | achieve typical developmental progress in response |
| there's no scientific evidence that this is true or that | | | | to the treatment. |
| restricting these foods improves autism. Furthermore, | | | | |