What Are the Best Autism Treatments?

By Dream Big

Aug 11, 2021 . 5 min read

We know it’s hard to believe, but roughly one in 160 children has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? Yes, you read that correctly.

And yes, that means more people than you may have realized are living with autism. Although lots of people live with autism – ranging from children to adults – there has never been one solid, perfected way to manage it.

Some individuals prefer medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), while others favor therapy-based treatments. The best part about finding autism treatments is that so many options are available!

This knowledge is genuinely hopeful because no two people with autism are the same. After all, autism is on a spectrum, meaning every child’s needs are different.

It can sometimes feel overwhelming to know which method is the best for you or your loved one. We’re here to help! Keep reading to learn more!

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy

The National Center for Biotechnology Information says that ABA therapy is the gold standard for children with autism. As one of the most common autism treatments, ABA has also received the highest amount of scientific backing.

Applied behavior analysis therapy is exactly what it sounds like: analyzing specific behaviors and applying them in practice. At Dream Big, we’ve worked hard to create treatment plans to help improve communication, socialization, and language learning skills with the help of an ABA therapist in a fun and playful environment! We believe that Early intervention has the potential to change your child’s entire life!

Paired with pivotal response training, early intervention incorporates play in a warm and nurturing setting so that the learning happens instinctively. ABA methods really show that autism treatments can be fun.

Not only is ABA a fantastic approach to treating autism but there are numerous benefits, including the following:

Individualized benchmarks
Management of challenging behaviors
Education in better supporting your child or loved one
Increased independent growth and life
The ability to lead a full life

If you’ve been working with other autism treatments and haven’t tried ABA, it is a wonderful place to start. Our ABA therapists are certified and trained, and you and your child will love our fun and playful centers!

Speech Therapy

ASD often has an impact on speech and the development of language. Speech is an important component when seeking to understand autism better.

Signs that an individual with autism is having difficulty in communicating include:

No attempts to speak or relay information; completely nonverbal
Babbling with word-like sounds emerging from time to time
Harsh, loud sounds like grunts or shrieks
Making robotic-like noises
Repeating or attempting to repeat what another person says
Not knowing how to correctly use tone of voice

If your child or loved one has been showing signs that they are struggling with communication, speech therapy might be a good place to start.

Speech therapy can serve as the foundation for skill building in all areas of speaking and language development. Additional benefits include the following:

Strong articulation of words and phrases
Learning the appropriate time to say certain phrases, such as “Good night”
Exchanging ideas, emotions, and other thoughts
Understanding of other individuals’ communication styles
Learning and being able to identify the difference between verbal and nonverbal communication
Communicating by oneself without encouragement or motivation from others

If communication is the main issue in your child or loved one with autism, speech therapy would be a great fit.

Occupational Therapy

A person with autism may experience barriers that might keep them from enjoying activities. The ability to play and have fun is crucial to everyone!

That’s where occupational therapy comes in.

This form of autism treatment places a heavy focus on addressing sensory issues, growth, and how a child with autism interacts with their environment.

Occupational therapists work one-on-one with someone who has autism. They use multiple strategies to build a variety of skills, such as the following:

Physical, hands-on activities to promote self-awareness
Developmental activities
Play activities to encourage peer connection
Activities that help with adapting or transitioning throughout the day

As you can see, these activities are mainly structured around lifestyle. People with autism might not have the same abilities that people without autism have, like knowing how to brush their teeth or write their name.

Some of the many occupational therapy benefits include:

Building perception skills
Development of gross and fine motor skills, such as riding a bike (gross motor) and grasping objects (fine motor)
Building body awareness in relation to themselves and others
Learning daily living skills, such as feeding themselves, going to the bathroom, and getting dressed
Promotion of emotional regulation skills

Occupational therapy is a great choice in autism treatments if your child or loved one could use support in growing the skills of self-care and independence.

The Best Autism Treatments

If you’ve made it this far, we suspect that you’ve been looking for the best autism treatments for a long time. It can be easy to get sucked into an endless loop of Google page after Google page, we know!

The great news is that there is hope and help available! You are the one who knows your child best- we’re here to help you find the jumping-off point.

ABA therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy are all wonderful choices, with a wide range of benefits in each one, might we add!

We have great therapists and amazing play centers ready to serve you in these locations: