| Autism is a puzzling disorder. As of this writing, the | | | | therapy emphasizes the development of receptive |
| cause and cure remain unknown and mysterious. Yet | | | | and expressive language and relationships. It was |
| several different types of therapies have emerged as | | | | developed by Stanley I. Greenspan, MD. For more |
| being potentially useful in treating autism spectrum | | | | information contact the Interdisciplinary Council on |
| disorder. Children are all different so it is difficult to | | | | Developmental and Learning Disorders. |
| predict the best therapies for children with autism. | | | | 5. Son Rise Program. The Son Rise program at the |
| Parents must try and decide for themselves. Following | | | | Autism Treatment Center of America Option Institute |
| are some of the best therapies for children with | | | | teaches families how to implement a home based child |
| autism: | | | | centered program based upon acceptance and |
| 1. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Applied Behavior | | | | "joining." Parents are taught how to recruit and train |
| Analysis is a very widely used therapy in which | | | | support team. |
| complex skills are broken down systematically into a | | | | 6. DAN! (Defeat Autism Now) Conference. The DAN! |
| series of simpler tasks. Positive reinforcement is used | | | | Conference is an annual conference at which the |
| to teach children complex skills like language. | | | | DAN! Treatment protocol for treatment of autism is |
| 2. Dietary Interventions. Many children with autism are | | | | discussed by parents and professionals. The |
| on one or several of various choices for special | | | | conference is put on by the Autism Research Institute. |
| dietary interventions. These special diets often entail | | | | 7. Fast ForWord. Some parents and speech |
| gluten- free, casein- free or specific carbohydrates. For | | | | pathologists have used a software program called |
| more information, contact the Autism Network for | | | | Fast ForWord with their children. Fast ForWord |
| Dietary Intervention (ANDI.) | | | | generally slows speech sounds down and then |
| 3. Augmentative Communication. Some children who | | | | gradually speeds them up again so that children can |
| are nonverbal or only limited verbal can be taught to | | | | learn to process them. |
| use augmentative communication devices such as the | | | | 8. Auditory Integration Training. Some children |
| DynaWrite. DynaWrite is a keyboard with a language | | | | experience hyperacute (painful) hearing. This does not |
| engine inside it that can voice what is typed- a kind of | | | | have to do with deafness at all, rather the sounds are |
| "talking computer." Some nonverbal autistic people | | | | heard at distorted pitches which causes pain for the |
| have gone to universities and colleges with these | | | | child. Some children put their hands over their ears. |
| enormously helpful devices. | | | | Auditory Integration Training attempts to address this. |
| 4. Floor Time Therapy. The Floor Time model of | | | | |