List of 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 children… 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 behavior is… 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 medicine,… 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), Cibalith-S… 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 addition to… 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. In… 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 diets are… 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 effective… 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 of applied… 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 associated with … 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 theory behind… 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 autism… 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, health… 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 help foster… read more