TREATMENT EVALUATION GUIDELINES
Principles of Evaluating Treatments
Questions to Ask Regarding Specific Treatments
Freeman, B. J. (1993). Diagnosis of the syndrome of autism: Questions parents ask. Autism Society of America.
Evaluating Your Educational Program (.pdf file)
Evaluating Your Educational Program Form (.pdf file)
LEARNING STRATEGIES & TREATMENT OPTIONS
The purpose of this portion of the website is not to recommend specific treatment options, but rather give a general overview of what is available. Your child may benefit from many types of therapies depending on his/her symptoms and responses. Each child is unique and learns differently and at various rates. One treatment may benefit one child, but not the other. Even professionals differ in their opinions on what is the most beneficial for your child. Professionals do agree, however, that the earlier the intervention, the better the prognosis. Highly structured programs implemented as early as possible have been shown to give the child the best chance to reach his or her potential. As the parent, you know your child the best and will need to base your decisions from your experiences with your child with the advise of your doctor(s).
The ACU does not endorse any specific therapy. The following descriptions are for informational purposes only.
Many treatment approaches have been developed to address the range of social, language, sensory, and behavioral difficulties. These include the following:
If your child is under age 3, he or she may be eligible for services funded by the State of Utah through a local early intervention agency.
From the age of 3 through the age of 21, your child is guaranteed a free appropriate public education supplied by your local education agency. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal mandate that guarantees this education.
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Because there currently is not a cure for autism, some find it beneficial to use a variety of methods to help the underlying symptoms. Some families have found that certain vitamins, minerals, and or diet changes have helped their child’s behavior or autism symptoms improve. Over the years there have been reports of specific vitamins helping behavior, such as B6 and magnesium, and the removal of gluten and casein in the diet to aid with digestion and overall gastrointestinal health. Not all researchers agree that these vitamins and/or dietary changes are really effective and/or necessary. * Not all researchers agree that these vitamins and/or dietary changes are really effective and/or necessary. However, both parents and physicians are increasingly reporting improvements seen in individuals using various nutritional supplements.
Over the past 10 years or more, claims have been made that vitamin and mineral supplements may improve the symptoms of autism, in a natural way. While not all researchers agree about whether these therapies are scientifically proven, many parent, and an increasing number of physicians, report improvement in people with autism when using individual or combined nutritional supplements.
Malabsorption problems and nutritional deficiencies have been addressed in several, as-of-yet, unreplicated studies. A few studies conducted in 2000 suggest that intestinal disorders and chronic gastrointestinal inflammation may reduce the absorption of essential nutrients and cause disruptions in immune and general metabolic functions that are dependent upon these essential vitamins. Other studies have shown that some children with autism may have low levels of vitamins A, B1, B3, B5, as well as biotin, selenium, zinc, and magnesium, while others may have an elevated serum copper to plasma zinc ratio, suggesting that people with autism should avoid copper and take extra zinc to boost their immune system. Other studies have indicated a need for more calcium.
Perhaps the most common vitamin supplement used in autism is vitamin B, which plays an important role in creating enzymes needed by the brain. In 18 studies on the use of vitamin B and magnesium (which is needed to make vitamin B effective), almost half of the individuals with autism showed improvement. The benefits include decreased behavioral problems, improved eye contact, better attention, and improvements in learning. Other research studies have shown that other supplements may help symptoms as well. Cod liver oil supplements (rich in vitamins A and D) have resulted in improved eye contact and behavior of children with autism. Vitamin C helps in brain function and deficiency symptoms like depression and confusion. Increasing vitamin C has been shown in a clinical trial to improve symptom severity in children with autism. And in a small pilot study in Arizona, using a multivitamin/mineral complex on 16 children with autism, improvements were observed in sleep, gastrointestinal problems, language, eye contact, and behavior.
USING VITAMINS AND MINERALS
If you are considering the addition of vitamins or minerals to your child's diet, a laboratory and clinical assessment of nutritional status is highly recommended. The most accurate method for measuring vitamin and mineral levels is through a blood test. It is also important to work with someone knowledgeable in nutritional therapy. While large doses of some vitamins and minerals may not be harmful, others can be toxic. Once supplements are chosen, they should be phased in slowly (over several weeks) and then the effects should be observed for one to two months.
Individuals with autism may exhibit low tolerance or allergies to certain foods or chemicals. While not a specific cause of autism, these food intolerances or allergies may contribute to behavioral issues. Many parents and professionals have reported significant changes when specific substances are eliminated from the child's diet.
Individuals with autism may have trouble digesting proteins such as gluten.Research in the U.S. and England has found elevated levels of certain peptides in the urine of children with autism, suggesting the incomplete breakdown of peptides from foods that contain gluten and casein. Gluten is found in wheat, oats and rye, and casein in dairy products. The incomplete breakdown and the excessive absorption of peptides may cause disruption in biochemical and neuroregulatory processes in the brain, affecting brain functions. Until there is more information as to why these proteins are not broken down, the removal of the proteins from the diet is the only way to prevent further neurological and gastrointestinal damage.
It is important not to withdraw gluten/casein food products at once from a child's diet, as there can be withdrawal symptoms. Parents wishing to pursue a gluten/casein free diet should consult a gastroenterologist or nutritionist, who can help ensure proper nutrition.
Some hypothesize that children with autism have what is referred to as a "leaky gut" -- tiny holes in their intestinal tract that may be caused by an overgrowth of yeast. Some believe that this overgrowth may contribute to behavioral and medical problems in individuals with autism, such as confusion, hyperactivity, stomach problems, and fatigue. The use of nutritional supplements, anti-fungal drugs and/or a yeast-free diet may reduce the behavioral problems. However, caution should be paid to the fact that just as antibiotics can lead to bacterial resistance, antifungals can lead to fungal resistance.
Copyright 2007 Autism Society of America