Alternatives to ABA Therapy
Treatments for Autism
Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can vary based on a variety of factors including severity, age, and parental preferences. One of the most well established treatments for ASD is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). ABA focuses on how behavior is learned and how it can be modified to create different outcomes. It has been shown to be effective in improving daily living skills, communication skills, social / play skills, and reducing challenging behaviors. However, ABA is not the only option for treating ASD. There are many alternatives to ABA therapy. While each alternative varies, many treatments have not shown to be effective according to research. Families should be familiar with the different options for treating ASD when deciding on which path to choose.
The types of treatments generally can be broken down into the following categories:
Behavior and Communication Approaches
Dietary Approaches
Medication
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Behavior and Communication Approaches
These approaches provide structure, direction, and organization for the child in addition to family participation, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
ABA aims to improve an individual’s developmental, cognitive and behavioral functioning by encouraging positive behaviors and discouraging negative behaviors. There are different types of ABA, including the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), Pivotal Response Training (PRT), Natural Environment Training (NET) and Discrete Trial Training (DTT).
Occupational Therapy
This type of therapy focuses on the development of independent living skills. These include teeth brushing, dressing, eating, and toileting. Additionally, many occupational therapists focus on sensory regulation.
Social Skills Training
Social skills training develops skills children need to interact with others.
Speech Therapy
Speech therapy focuses on developing a child’s communication skills, which includes both verbal and non-verable communication.
Assistive Technology
This includes such devices such as communication boards and electronic tablets and is designed to assist people with ASD communicate with the people around them. For example, individuals may use a tablet to help generate speech or as a communication device. Programming for this is often embedded into Speech Therapy and/or ABA Therapy.
Developmental, Individual Differences, Relationship-Based Approach (aka “Floortime”)
This type of treatment focuses on emotional and relational development with caregivers and how the child handles sensory inputs. While this is not considered an evidence based practice, there is research that shows some effectiveness.
Dietary Approaches
Dietary approaches are founded on the idea that food allergies or a deficiency in certain vitamins and minerals cause or exacerbate certain symptoms of ASD. Therefore, the treatment focuses on making certain changes to one’s diet to improve their symptoms. A 2017 review of 19 randomized control trials found little evidence to support the use of dietary treatments for children with ASD .
Medication
There has been no evidence that medication can cure autism, but some can treat certain symptoms. For example, some medications might help reduce anxiety or depression in children with autism. One thing to keep in mind is that children with autism may react differently to medications than neurotypical children. Parents and doctors should monitor a child’s progress and reactions while taking medication.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatments
Some parents seek alternative treatments beyond what is generally recommended from doctors and other healthcare professionals (often called complementary and alternative medicine). These treatments can include certain supplements, chelation (a treatment to remove heavy metals from the body), or the administration of biologicals (e.g. secretin).
The effectiveness of these treatments in many cases has not been studied. In the case of chelation, there is some evidence of harm and no evidence to indicate it is effective in treating children with ASD. Nonetheless, as many as one-third of parents of children with ASD may have tried alternative treatments. The FDA has published warnings about potentially dangerous products that claim to treat autism.
References
About Behavior Analysis. Behavior Analyst Certification Board.
Treatment and Intervention Services for Autism Spectrum Disorder. CDC
Therapies for Autism Spectrum Disorder. WebMD.
Autism and Alternative Treatments: Are They Effective? Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Be Aware of Potentially Dangerous Products and Therapies that Claim to Treat Autism. FDA