Flickr: Cupck

by Kimberly Mayo-Achan MA, CCC-SLP

Since the number of children being diagnosed with autism has steadily increased over the last few years, the need for effective treatment of this disorder has become extremely prevalent.

In the fall of 2009, the National Standards Report, which is one of the most comprehensive analysis of treatments for children and adolescents diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), was released by the National Autism
Center.

The NSR serves as a primary source of information for not only families of children diagnosed with ASD, but for caregivers, services providers
and educators as well.

The findings of this report will enable
individuals to make appropriate decisions on the type of therapy and
treatment needed based on over 775 research studies that have been
compiled over the last 4 years.

The studies show that there are 11 treatments for ASD that have received
the highest level of “empirical support” with other treatments at the
“probably efficacious” level.

There are also 5 well known
interventions that have been labeled “unestablished” or bear little
scientific support to show that these types of treatment work.

Additional research shows that “facilitated communication” is deemed
harmful by the APA and most recently that Gluten and Casein Free diets
have been associated with physically harmful effects.

Remember that each child is different and no one specific type of
therapy is designated as beneficial to everyone.

Check out the entire
report and findings at www.nationalautismcenter.org and tell us what you think about standardized therapy and treatment for children diagnosed with ASD.