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Types of Autism Treatments and Therapies

This page provides a list of common interventions broken down into different categories. (For a more academically rigorous perspective please see an Alternative set of categories widely accepted by the scientific community).

Like any division the categories below are somewhat arbitrary and subject to change over time. However we hope the categories allow you to see which interventions are broadly similar to which others. So, for example, we have grouped diets, hormones and nutritional supplements together since these all involve ingesting/injecting appropriate substances.

We recognise that there is considerable overlap between many different approaches. For example, strategies based on applied behavioural analysis are an integral part of many interventions, such as EIBI and PECS, while many alternative and augmentative communication systems rely on some form of technology.

We have not provided a separate category for ‘biomedical’ approaches since this is a very diverse group and means different things to different people. However, most ‘biomedical’ interventions can be found under Medication, Medical Procedures or Diets/Supplements.

Over time we hope to describe and evaluate most interventions, providing a rating which tells you the level of scientific evidence which supports or does not support its use.

Disclaimer

There are no interventions that can cure autism. And there are very few which have been scientifically proven to produce substantial, long-term benefits.

Many interventions are time consuming or expensive or both. And some may even be harmful or dangerous.

The fact that an intervention is listed on this page does not mean that there is currently any scientifically valid or reliable evidence for its effectiveness. Nor does it mean that we support its use.

Standard therapies

Interventions based on standard healthcare therapies i.e. therapies other than medication which are accepted and used by the majority of health care professionals with a range of clients in the UK.

Includes Art Therapy, Drama therapy, Music therapy, Occupational Therapy, Osteopathy, Physiotherapy, Play therapy, and Speech and language therapy.

Some people would also consider the creative therapies – such as art, drama and music – to be psychotherapeutic in nature i.e. allowing the individual to express his or her feelings in order to understand and manage them better.

Service-based interventions

Interventions which are based around the delivery of services. Includes Education, Employment, Parental support programmes, and Social services.

Educational services

Educational services can be divided into mainstream and specialist services. Specialist services include individual schools or groups, the Higashi schools, the schools run by Montessori movement, the National Autistic Society or Division TEACCH, or within the LEAP project, and the establishments run within the Camphill Movement.

Employment services

Services which are designed to help people with autistic spectrum disorders find and keep a job. Includes Supported employment services, such as the Prospects scheme run by the National Autistic Society in the UK.

Parental support services

Services which are designed to provide support to the parents of children with autistic spectrum disorders. Includes the National Autistic Society’s EarlyBird and Help! programmes, Helplines, Library and Information Services, Portage, Short Breaks, Websites.

Social services

Services which are designed to help individuals cope in the community. Includes Advocacy, Befriending Schemes, Mentoring, Residential Care and Social Groups.

Behavioural interventions

Interventions which are primarily based on training, showing or encouraging the individual to modify his or her behaviour.

Many of the more formal, trainer-led interventions are based on the principles of Applied Behavioural Analysis and include specific techniques such as modelling, shaping, and prompting.

Specific ABA-derived strategies include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (aka Cognitive Behavioural Modification) and Early Intensive Behavioural Interventions, as well as specific behavioural/educational techniques such as Cognitive Scripts, Decision Making Strategies, Discrete Trial Training, Functional Communication Training, Incidental teaching, Joint Action Routines, Milieu training, Pivotal Response Training, Social Skills Groups, Social Stories, Theory of Mind training, Video Modelling

In many of the less formal, naturalistic behavioural interventions the therapist follows what the student does in order to create that relationship or builds the intervention around the interests of the student. In some cases, the therapist will also try to create a sense of attachment or bonding with the individual.

Specific naturalistic interventions include the DIR Method (aka Floortime), Gentle Teaching, Holding Therapy, Play Therapy, Responsiveness Training, Relationship Development Intervention, and the Son-Rise programme (aka Options method)

Alternative and Augmentative Communication

Interventions which use alternative and augmentative communication systems, often for individuals who are non-verbal or with limited verbal abilities.

Includes Facilitated Communication, the Picture Exchange System, Sign Languages (such as British Sign Language and Makaton), Visual schedules, Voice Output Communication Aids

Physiological interventions

A wide range of interventions based on changing the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of the body.

Please note that important sub-groups, such as Medications and Diets and Supplements are listed separately.

Manipulation

Interventions which involve the therapist manipulating the body or parts of the body. Includes Acupressure, Acupuncture, the Bowen technique, Chiropractic, Emotional freedom technique, some forms of Massage, Osteopathy and Reflexology.

Also includes Patterning therapies, a type of manipulation therapy which aims to rewire the brain and repair any damage through bodily exercises. Patterning therapies include the Doman-Delcato method and Developmental Reflexive Rehabilitation

Balance and Coordination

Interventions which use one or more balance and coordination exercises. These differ from manipulation interventions in that the individual moves his or her own body. Includes the Dore Method and the Miller Method.

Sensory

Interventions which aim to mitigate sensitivity to the senses. Includes Auditory Integration Training, Bio-feedback therapy, Coloured filters, Deep Pressure Therapy, Lightwave stimulation, Prisms, Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy, Sensory Integration Therapy, and Weighted Items.

Medication

Interventions which use medicinal drugs including

Adrenergic antagonists/anti-hypertensives including alpha blockers, such as clonidine, guanfacine.
Anoretics such as fenfluramine
Anti-biotics, such as D-cycloserine, vancomycin
Anti-convulsants, such as carbamazepine, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, phenytoin, sodium valproate, topiramate
Anti-depressants including
- Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors, such as isocarboxazid, phenelzine, selegiline and tranylcypromine
- Tricyclics, such as amitriptyline, amoxapine, clomipramine, dosulepin, doxepin, imipramine, lofepramine, mianserin, nortriptyline, trimipramine, and trazodone.
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, such as citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, and sertraline.
Anti-fungals, such as fluconazole, ketoconosal, and nystatin
Anti-histamines, such as cyproheptadine, famotidine, niaprazine
Anti-psychotics
- Atypical or non-conventional, such as aripiprazole, olanzapine, pimozide, quetiapine, risperidone, ziprasidone
- Typical or conventional, such as aliphatic phenthiazine, butyrophenone (Haloperidol or Haldol), fluphenazine, molindone, piperidine phenthiazine, trifluoperazine, thiothixene, trifluperidol.
Anxiloytics or anti-anxiety medications including benodiazepines, such as diazepam, and buspirone
Cholinesterase inhibitors, such as donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, tacrine
Mood stabilisers, such as lithium and a range of medications also used as anti-convulsants, such as carbamazepine, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, phenytoin, sodium valproate, topiramate
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists, such as atomoxetine, mematine
Opioid antagonists, such as naltrexone, naloxone
Sedatives, such as chloral hydrate, hydroxyzine, secobarbital, phenobarbital, pentobarbital, dephenhydramine, promethazine
Steroids, such as ACTH, prednisone
Stimulant Medications, such as dextro – /levo- amphetamine, methylphenidate, magnesium pemoline

Medical procedures

Interventions which involve medical processes, such as surgery.

Includes Chelation, Electro-Convulsive Therapy, Hyperbaric Therapy, Testosterone Regulation, and a variety of surgical procedures.

Diets and supplements

Interventions based on the deliberate selection of foods and supplements.

Diets

Diets – there are many different kinds of special diet.

Supplement-diets are based on eating more of a particular substance. Includes Essential fatty acids , Probiotics, and Vitamins and minerals (which can also be taken as supplements).

Free or low-diets are based on eating less of, or avoiding, particular substances. Includes Feingold Diet Gluten-free, casein-free diet, Ketogenic diet, Low Salicylate Diet, or Yeast-Free Diet.

Other diets involve a combination of different approaches. Includes Specific carbohydrate diet and Sulphation

Hormones

Interventions which use hormones. Includes Immuno globulin, Leuprolide -as a form of testosterone regulation, ORG-2766, Oxytocin, Melatonin, and Secretin.

Supplements

Includes any intervention based on the use of supplements not listed in one of the other categories in this section.

Includes cell therapy, digestive enzymes, DMG, Glutathione, R-THBP, and homeopathic supplements.

It also includes a range of vitamins including including Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B9, Vitamin B12 , Vitamin C, and Vitamin D

Technology

Interventions which are mainly based around the use of technology. Some of these interventions also appear in other categories. For example, many alternative communication systems and many medical procedures rely on technology.

Low tech communication systems including the Picture Exchange System, Visual schedules

Hi tech equipment and devices including bio-feedback, interactive metronome, prompting devices, robotics, Voice Output Communication Aids

Computer/multi-media based interventions including Computer aided instruction, Online Communities, Video Modelling, virtual reality

Electro-magnetic stimulation i.e.where this is applied directly to the individual, including Electroconvulsive Therapy, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation,

Other interventions

This group includes any intervention not included within another category. Many of these interventions are alternative or complementary to mainstream – widely accepted by health care professionals – interventions.

Animals

Interventions which use animals of one kind or another. Includes assistance dogs and animal therapies – such as horse riding and dolphin therapy.

Environmental

Interventions which seek to change the external environment. Includes designed and modified environments (such as a bedroom or classroom).

Physical activities

Wide range of physical and sporting activities. Includes sports such as horse riding, movement therapies, physical exercise and surfing, as well as some of the activities undertaken within Physiotherapy or listed in the section on manipulation.

Political

Interventions which seek to influence other people. Includes Advocacy and Self Advocacy, disability awareness training, and political lobbying.

Relaxation

Range of techniques where the principal aim is to relax the person. Includes aromatherapy and some forms of massage.

Spiritual

Range of techniques which emphasize the importance of a spiritual dimension in dealing with issues. Includes Colour Therapy, Faith Healing, Rieki.

Combined interventions

Interventions which combine a wide-range of other interventions and approaches.

Includes the Baudhuin Preschool, the Camphill Movement, the Giant Steps schools, Higashi schools, LEAP, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, the SCERTS model, Son-Rise program, Speech and Language Therapy, TEACCH.

References

Charman, T. and Clare, P. (2004). Mapping autism research: identifying UK priorities for the future. London: National Autistic Society.

Green V.A. et al. (2006). Internet survey of treatments used by parents of children with autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 27(1), pp. 70-84. Read Abstract

National Autistic Society. (2007). Approaches to autism: An easy to use guide to many and varied approaches to autism. London: The National Autistic Society.

Simpson R.L. et al. (2005). Autism spectrum disorders: interventions and treatments for children and youth. California, Corwin Press.

Back to Interventions page

Last Updated : 21/07/2010 Back to Top

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