Treatments for Autism

Adderall (Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine)

Overview
Adderall is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996 for treating attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. As many as 30 percent of childre... read more

Applied Behavior Analysis

Overview
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is an established, well-respected approach to understanding behavior, motivating learning and teaching new skills. ABA therapists seek to understand ways in which behav... read more

Biomedical Treatment

Overview
The biomedical approach to treating autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is based on the premise that autism is a biological disease affecting the whole body. Biomedical treatments emphasize functional med... read more

Cibalith-S

Overview
Cibalith-S is a prescription drug. Its active ingredient, lithium carbonate, was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1970. In children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), Cib... read more

Complementary and Alternative Treatments

Overview
Studies show that as many as 95 percent of U.S. parents with children on the autistic spectrum try incorporating non-traditional therapies into their treatment plan. These treatments may be in additio... read more

Depakote (Divalproex sodium)

Overview
Depakote is a prescription drug that was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1983 to treat epilepsy. It is also approved to treat manic episodes in people with bipolar disorder... read more

Dietary Approach

Overview
Special diets are a popular way to treat autism spectrum disorders (ASD). As many as 38 percent of parents try a special diet in the hopes that their child’s autism symptoms will improve. Special diet... read more

Discrete Trial Training

Overview
Discrete trial training (DTT), also known as discrete trial teaching, is an instructional method that breaks down skills into discrete components and teaches them one by one. DTT can be an extremely e... read more

Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI)

Overview
Early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) is a treatment aimed at reducing social and communication deficits in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). EIBI utilizes many principles o... read more

Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)

Overview
The Early start Denver model (ESDN) is a comprehensive early education model designed for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ESDN is used for children ages 12 to 60 months. ESDN is associa... read more

Floortime

Overview
Floortime is a type of social-pragmatic play therapy based on the Developmental Individual-difference Relationship-based model (DIR) created by Stanley Greenspan, M.D. and Serena Wieder, Ph.D. The the... read more

Focalin (Dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride)

Overview
Focalin is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2001 for treating attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As many as 30 percent of children diagnosed with... read more

Hippotherapy (horseback)

Overview
Hippotherapy, or horse therapy, is the therapeutic use of horseback riding to encourage social, physical, and emotional development in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

In some states,... read more

Music Therapy

Overview
Music therapy uses music as an element to promote intellectual and emotional development. In autism spectrum disorders (ASD), music helps to motivate, relax, and engage children. Music therapy can hel... read more

Neurotherapy

Overview
Neurotherapy, also known as neurofeedback training or EEG biofeedback, allows children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to visualize their brainwaves. Scientists theorize that a part of the brain c... read more

Occupational Therapy

Overview
Occupational therapy is focused on helping children with autism gain and improve the skills to engage in daily activities. An occupational therapist can help autistic children improve participation in... read more

Physical Therapy

Overview
Physical therapy, or PT, is focused on helping children with autism improve their motor skills, coordination and sensory integration. A physical therapist can help autistic children improve posture, b... read more

Pivotal Response Training

Overview
Pivotal response training (PRT), also known as pivotal response teaching or pivotal response therapy, is a comprehensive interventional model for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). PRT targ... read more

Prozac (Fluoxetine hydrochloride)

Overiview
Prozac is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1987 to treat depression. In children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), Prozac can be effective in treating sel... read more

Relationship Development Integration

Overview
Relationship development integration (RDI) is a type of family-based behavioral therapy focused on building personal relationships. RDI fosters dynamic intelligence, described as the ability to think ... read more

Risperdal (Risperidone)

Overview
Risperdal is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of irritability associated with autistic disorder. Risperdal is also known by its drug name, Rispe... read more

Ritalin (Methylphenidate hydrochloride)

Overiview
Ritalin is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1955 for treating attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As many as 30 percent of children diagnosed wit... read more

Social Skills Therapy

Overiview
Social skills therapy is focused on helping children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) build social skills such as greeting, starting and stopping conversations, play skills, maintaining eye contac... read more

Speech Therapy

Overview
All children with autism spectrum disorders have difficulty with social communication. One in three children with autism has difficulty producing understandable speech sounds. Speech-language patholog... read more

Strattera (Atomoxetine hydrochloride)

Overview
Strattera is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002 for treating attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As many as 30 percent of children diagnosed wi... read more

Verbal Behavior Intervention

Overview
Verbal behavior (VB) intervention, also known as or verbal behavior therapy applied verbal behavior, is a type of therapy that focuses on motivating children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to co... read more

Wellbutrin (Bupropion hydrochloride)

Overview

Wellbutrin is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1985 to treat depression. In children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), Wellbutrin may be effective in tre... read more