what is the most effective treatment for autism in children under 5 years of age?

Answer 1

The most effective treatments involve intensive therapy that focus on any number of critical developmental areas, including speech, motor skills, social skills, and age-appropriate academic areas (letters, numbers, shapes, etc.). Although the causes of the disorder are not fully understood, children who are diagnosed with autism at an early age can, with intensive treatment, sometimes make a full recovery and go on to lead a completely normal life. However, not all kids receiving the same treatment will recover, or even significantly improve. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, and the reasons for this are not yet fully understood, although considerable research is being done on this. Interestingly, one of the biggest predictor of prognosis for autistic preschoolers is actually motor skills. One might expect that the kids with least impaired social skills would do the best, since autism is generally thought of as primarily effecting social interaction, but it's actually the children with the best motor skills that are most likely to make a full recovery. For this reason, cutting-edge therapy tends to focus particularly on motor skills, as well as several other areas.

The best course of action for an autistic child is aggressive intervention from a trained professional beginning as soon as a diagnosis is made. Although proper diet is important for any child (or adult, for that matter), don't let anyone tell you vitamins and fish-sticks will cure an autistic child. The so-called "alternative" treatments are generally little more than modern-day snake oil.

Answer 2

I work with special needs children and adults, including quite a few with autism and unfortunately, there really is nothing that improves or cures this disorder. I would just suggest getting your child in with a specialist and start checking in on community-based centers that provide education and day-habilitation services for younger children. There are some medications that can lessen some of the more severe symptoms, so good luck with everything.

Answer 3

I disagree with EmilyRose and dodlydink, only because I live with a child, my own, and have seen MAJOR improvements in him by treating him with vitamins and such. To answer your question, there's two basic therapies for autism. One is ABA the other is Floortime. I don't know a lot about ABA because I decided right away it wasn't for my child. I use floortime with him. I have two good links below for each of these. I do my own therapies with my son, age 4, and a 2 yr old I babysit, both autistic and their improvement is amazing. I would be more then happy to go into detail with you on what I do. I'm not a 'trained professional', it's not necessary if you are willing to learn on your own as I did. Sensory integration therapy is a big part of our day as well, as sensory issues are the biggest reason behind a lot of their behaviors. I can help you with that, too, but you can get two books: The Out of Sync Child and The Out of Sync Child Has Fun. They not only explain how to determine what type of sensory issues your child has but how to help them deal with them and in a lot of cases, eliminate them. This has been proven especially in the one I babysit. Now, I use vitamins and supplements from a wellness company, and literally the same night I gave it to him for the first time, he started putting sentences together. I'm not the only mom of an autistic child that has seen results, so this isn't just my imagination. Yes, I've heard amazing results from fish oil as well, but don't use it for my kids at this time. PLEASE contact me, I would love to talk with you. I consult about eight different families and love to help others. I homeschool my kids as well, I don't believe in throwing a child with social and sensory issues into a 'sink or swim' mentality, but allow him to experience this in short bursts where he can handle it.

Answer 4

My brother has autism. You can not cure autism. You need to start teaching him the difference between right and wrong, and you need to get him a special tutor and/or send him to a special school.

Answer 5

i know a woman who's son is autistic with bipolar disorder...she tried every crap drug on the market and he was still having problems...she put him on omega 3 fish oils and essential fatty acids and started taking him to a chiropractor...he is a totally different kid...so i would take your child off of the drugs which all in all make the situation worse and try alternative medicine, and chiropractic/herbs/natural healing...our bodies weren't meant to have drugs and foreign poisons pumped into them...try this and you may see your child begin to feel normal like he/she should!!--good luck and God bless!!

Answer 6

Honestly don't know but these links may be of use to you.
http://www.autismeducation.net/specialeducationunder3.htm
http://www.education.ucsb.edu/news/releases/autism.html