Autism therapies

Short description: Therapy aimed at autistic people

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Autism therapies

A three-year-old with autism points to fish in an aquarium, as part of an experiment (2004) on the effect of intensive shared-attention training on language development.[1]

[edit on Wikidata]

Autism therapies encompass educational and psychosocial interventions as well as medical management, all designed to improve communication, learning, adaptive skills of autistic people. Such methods of therapy seek to aid autistic people in dealing with difficulties and increase their functional independence. Treatment is typically catered to the person's needs. Training and support are also given to families of those diagnosed with autism.[2]

Available approaches include applied behavior analysis (ABA), developmental models, structured teaching, speech and language therapy, social skills therapy, and occupational therapy.[2] ABA is a behavioral therapy that aims to teach autistic children certain social and other behaviors by prompting using rewards and reinforcement learning through play, expressive labeling, and requesting as well as reduce aggressive and self-injurious behavior by assessing its environmental causes and reinforcing replacement behaviors. Occupational therapists work with autistic children by creating interventions that promote social interaction like sharing and cooperation.[3] They also support the autistic child by helping them work through a dilemma as the OT imitates the child and waiting for a response from the child.[3] For autistic adults, key treatment issues include residential care, job training and placement, sexuality, social skills, and estate planning.[4]

Studies of interventions have some methodological problems that prevent definitive conclusions about efficacy.[5] Although many psychosocial interventions have some positive evidence, suggesting that some form of treatment is preferable to no treatment, the systematic reviews have reported that the quality of these studies has generally been poor, their clinical results are mostly tentative, and there is little evidence for the relative effectiveness of treatment options.[6] Intensive, sustained special education programs and behavior therapy early in life can help children with ASD acquire self-care, social, and job skills,[2] and often can improve functioning, and decrease severity of the signs and observed behaviors thought of as maladaptive;[7] Early, intensive ABA has demonstrated effectiveness, but many randomized clinical studies lacked adverse event monitoring, although such adverse effects may be common.[8] The limited research on the effectiveness of adult residential programs shows mixed results.[9]

Medical management addresses co-occurring challenges such as irritability, hyperactivity, anxiety, and sleep disturbances rather than core social and communication traits. Many such treatments have been prescribed off-label in order to target specific symptoms.[10] Antipsychotic medications such as risperidone and aripiprazole can reduce severe behavioral issues, while stimulants may help with attention and activity levels.[11][12] Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, oxytocin, and other agents have shown inconsistent results.[13][14] Many alternative or complementary treatments, including dietary restrictions, chelation, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, sensory integration, and acupuncture, lack scientific support and may pose health or financial risks.[15][16]

## Contents

* 1 Applied behavior analysis
* 1.1 Criticisms and Considerations
* 1.2 Discrete trial training
* 1.3 Pivotal response training
* 1.4 Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)
* 2 Educational interventions
* 2.1 SCERTS
* 2.2 National education policies
* 2.2.1 U.S.
* 2.2.1.1 Perceived disadvantages of autistic people in the U.S. in the 2010s
* 2.2.2 Mexico
* 2.2.3 United Nations and internationally
* 3 Communication interventions
* 4 Relationship Development Intervention
* 4.1 Son-Rise
* 4.2 Sensory integration
* 4.3 Animal-assisted therapy
* 4.3.1 Old model
* 4.3.2 New model
* 4.4 Neurofeedback
* 4.5 Patterning
* 4.6 Other methods
* 5 Environmental enrichment
* 5.1 Massage therapy
* 5.2 Music
* 5.3 Sensory enrichment therapy
* 5.4 Mindfulness
* 6 Parent-mediated interventions
* 6.1 TEACCH
* 7 Medical management
* 7.1 Medication
* 7.2 Prosthetics
* 7.3 Transcranial magnetic stimulation
* 8 Alternative medicine
* 8.1 Acupuncture
* 8.2 Chiropractic
* 8.3 CEASE therapy
* 8.4 Craniosacral therapy
* 8.5 Chelation therapy
* 8.6 Diets and dietary supplements
* 9 Fringe therapies
* 9.1 Electroconvulsive therapy
* 9.2 Hyperbaric oxygen
* 9.3 Stem cell therapy (2007-2012)
* 9.4 Packing
* 10 Religious interventions
* 10.1 Exorcism
* 10.2 Other religious practices
* 10.3 Other practices involving spirituality
* 11 No intervention perspective
* 12 See also
* 13 References
* 14 Further reading
* 15 External links

## Applied behavior analysis

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is the applied research field of the science of behavior analysis, and it underpins a wide range of techniques used to treat autism and many other behaviors and diagnoses,[17] including those who are patients in rehab or in whom a behavior change is desired. ABA-based interventions focus on teaching tasks one-on-one using the behaviorist principles of stimulus, response and reward,[18] and on reliable measurement and objective evaluation of observed behavior.[2]

The use of technology has begun to be implemented in ABA therapy for the treatment of autism.[19] Robots, gamification, image processing, storyboards, augmented reality, and web systems have been shown to be useful in the treatment of autism.[19] These technologies are used to teach children with autism skill acquisition.[19] The web programs were designed to address skills such as attention, social behavior, communication, and/or reading.[19]

### Criticisms and Considerations

While ABA is often described as a “gold standard” intervention for autism, it is not without criticism. Considered the most evidence-based and widely used intervention for autism, ABA has also been the subject of ethical debate. Some key considerations include:

* The need to ensure ethically appropriate goals: interventions must respect the individual’s dignity, preferences and long-term well-being, rather than simply enforcing compliance.[20]
* The importance of generalisation and maintenance of learned behaviours — not just training in a specific context.[21]
* Access and implementation challenges: availability of trained practitioners, cost, family involvement and setting quality all impact outcomes.[22]

Critics argue that ABA can, in some forms, overemphasize compliance or normalization rather than fostering autonomy and self-advocacy.[20]Recent scholarship emphasizes the importance of ensuring that ABA interventions respect individual dignity, focus on meaningful life outcomes, and are implemented with compassion and consent.[21]

There is wide variation in the professional practice of behavior analysis and among the assessments and interventions used in school-based ABA programs.[23] Conversely, various major figures within the autism community have written biographies detailing the harm caused by the provision of ABA, including restraint, sometimes used with mild self stimulatory behaviors such as hand flapping, and verbal abuse. Punishment procedures are very rarely used within the field today; these procedures were once used in the 70s and 80s however now there are ethical guidelines in place to prohibit the use. [24]

Some autistic individuals and advocacy groups argue that ABA can be distressing and may contribute to PTSD symptoms, while others consider it an effective intervention for skill development.[25][26][27][28][29][30] The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) opposed the use of ABA, arguing that it encourages masking and compliance rather than supporting autistic identity. However, ABA remains a widely used intervention among clinicians and educators.[31][32]

Some diagnosed with ASD or similar disorders advocate against behavioral therapies more broadly, like ABA and CBT, often as part of the autism rights movement, on the grounds that these approaches frequently reinforce the demand on autistic people to mask their neurodivergent characteristics or behaviors to favor a more 'neurotypical' and narrow conception of normality.[33][34] [35] In the case of CBT and talking therapies, the effectiveness varies, with many reporting that they appeared 'too self-aware' to gain significant benefit, as the therapy was designed with neurotypical people in mind.  In autistic children, specifically, they also report that it is only mildly beneficial in aiding with their anxieties.

### Discrete trial training

Many intensive behavioral interventions rely heavily on discrete trial teaching (DTT) methods, which use stimulus-response-reward techniques to teach foundational skills such as attention, compliance, and imitation.[36] While DTT is effective for teaching foundational skills such as attention, compliance, and imitation, children may struggle to apply these skills to real-world settings.[2] These students are also taught with naturalistic teaching procedures to help generalize these skills. In functional assessment, a common technique, a teacher formulates a clear description of a problem behavior, identifies antecedents, consequences, and other environmental factors that influence and maintain the behavior, develops hypotheses about what occasions and maintains the behavior, and collects observations to support the hypotheses.[2] A few more-comprehensive ABA programs use multiple assessment and intervention methods individually and dynamically.[23]

ABA-based techniques have demonstrated effectiveness in several controlled studies: children have been shown to make sustained gains in academic performance, adaptive behavior, and language, with outcomes significantly better than control groups.[2] A 2009 review of educational interventions for children, whose mean age was six years or less at intake, found that the higher-quality studies all assessed ABA, that ABA is well-established and no other educational treatment is considered probably efficacious, and that intensive ABA treatment, carried out by trained therapists, is demonstrated effective in enhancing global functioning in preschool children.[37] These gains may be complicated by initial IQ.[38]

A 2008 evidence-based review of comprehensive treatment approaches found that ABA is well established for improving intellectual performance of young children with ASD.[7] A 2009 comprehensive synthesis of early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI), a form of ABA treatment, found that EIBI produces strong effects, suggesting that it can be effective for some children with autism; it also found that the large effects might be an artifact of comparison groups with treatments that have yet to be empirically validated, and that no comparisons between EIBI and other widely recognized treatment programs have been published.[39]

A 2009 systematic review came to the same principal conclusion that EIBI is effective for some but not all children, with wide variability in response to treatment; it also suggested that any gains are likely to be greatest in the first year of intervention.[40] A 2009 meta-analysis concluded that EIBI has a large effect on full-scale intelligence and a moderate effect on adaptive behavior.[41] However, a 2009 systematic review and meta-analysis found that applied behavior intervention (ABI), another name for EIBI, did not significantly improve outcomes compared with standard care of preschool children with ASD in the areas of cognitive outcome, expressive language, receptive language, and adaptive behavior.[42] ABA is cost effective for administrators.[43]

A multi-site randomized control trial study in 2023 compared 25 hours per week of discrete trial training (DTT) to 2.5 to 20 hours per week of JASPER therapy, a naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention. Progress was identified with both approaches: 45% of participants gained typical spoken language, and the children with lower receptive language skills who received DTT showed larger gains in the long-term.[44]

Recently, behavior analysts have built comprehensive models of child development (see Behavior analysis of child development) to generate models for prevention as well as treatment for autism.

### Pivotal response training

Pivotal response treatment (PRT) is a naturalistic intervention derived from ABA principles. Instead of individual behaviors, it targets pivotal areas of a child's development, such as motivation, responsivity to multiple cues, self-management, and social initiations; it aims for widespread improvements in areas that are not specifically targeted. The child determines activities and objects that will be used in a PRT exchange. Intended attempts at the target behavior are rewarded with a natural reinforcer: for example, if a child attempts a request for a stuffed animal, the child receives the animal, not a piece of candy or other unrelated reinforcer.[45]

### Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)

Main article: Philosophy:Early Start Denver Model

Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) is a subtype of applied behavior analysis (ABA) designed for autistic toddlers and preschoolers, typically between 12 and 48 months of age.[46] Developed in the 1980s by psychologists Sally J. Rogers and Geraldine Dawson, the model integrates behavioral, developmental, and relationship-based approaches to promote early learning.[47] It emphasizes natural play routines, joint attention, and parent participation to build language, social interaction, imitation, and cognitive skills.[48]

Research, including randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses, has found that ESDM can improve cognitive and language development and may reduce autism symptoms over time.[49][50] The model is recognized internationally, including by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States,[51] the National Disability Insurance Scheme in Australia,[52] and health authorities in France and Brazil.[53][54]

## Educational interventions

Educational interventions attempt to help children not only to learn academic subjects and gain traditional readiness skills, but also to improve functional communication and spontaneity, enhance social skills such as joint attention, develop cognitive skills such as symbolic play, reduce disruptive behavior, and generalize learned skills by applying them to new situations. Several program models have been developed, which in practice often overlap and share many features, including:[2]

* early intervention that is not dependent upon a definitive diagnosis;
* intense intervention, at least 25 hours per week, 12 months per year;
* low student/teacher ratio;
* family involvement, including training of parents;
* interaction with neurotypical peers;
* social stories, ABA and other visually based training;[55]
* structure that includes predictable routine and clear physical boundaries to lessen distraction; and
* ongoing measurement of a systematically planned intervention, resulting in adjustments as needed.

Several educational intervention methods are available, as discussed below. They can take place at home, at school, or at a center devoted to autism treatment; they can be implemented by parents, teachers, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists.[2][3] A 2007 study found that augmenting a center-based program with weekly home visits by a special education teacher improved cognitive development and behavior.[56]

Many intervention studies have methodological limitations, such as small sample sizes and inconsistent outcome measures, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about efficacy.[5] Although many psychosocial interventions have some positive evidence, suggesting that some form of treatment is preferable to no treatment, the methodological quality of systematic reviews of these studies has generally been poor, their clinical results are mostly tentative, and there is little evidence for the relative effectiveness of treatment options.[6] Concerns about outcome measures, such as their inconsistent use, most greatly affect how the results of scientific studies are interpreted.[57] A 2009 Minnesota study found that parents follow behavioral treatment recommendations significantly less often than they follow medical recommendations, and that they adhere more often to reinforcement than to punishment recommendations.[58] Intensive, sustained special education programs and behavior therapy early in life can help children acquire self-care, social, and job skills,[2] and often improve functioning and decrease symptom severity and maladaptive behaviors;[7] claims that intervention by around age three years is crucial are not substantiated.[40] Mind-body therapies are frequently utilized by autistic individuals. However, there remains a lack of comprehensive examination into the specific types of mind-body therapies used for ASD and their intended outcomes.[59]

#### SCERTS

The SCERTS model[60] is an educational model for working with children with ASD. It was designed to help families, educators, and therapists work cooperatively together to maximize progress in supporting the child.

The acronym refers to the focus on:

* SC – social communication – the development of functional communication and emotional expression.
* ER – emotional regulation – the development of well-regulated emotions and ability to cope with stress.
* TS – transactional support – the implementation of supports to help families, educators, and therapists respond to children's needs, adapt the environment, and provide tools to enhance learning.

### National education policies

#### U.S.

In the United States, there have been three major policies addressing special education in the United States. These policies were the Education for All Handicapped Children Act in 1975, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1997, and the No Child Left Behind in 2001. The development of those policies showed increased guidelines for special education and requirements; such as requiring states to fund special education, equality of opportunities, help with transitions after secondary schooling, requiring extra qualifications for special education teachers, and creating a more specific class setting for those with disabilities.[61][62][63] The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, specifically had a large impact on special education as public schools were then required to employ high qualified staff. In 2009, for one to be a Certified Autism Specialist the requirements included: a master's degree, two years of career experience working with the autism population, earn 14 continuing education hours in autism every two years, and register with the International Institute of Education.[64]

##### Perceived disadvantages of autistic people in the U.S. in the 2010s

Martha Nussbaum discusses how education is one of the fertile functions that is important for the development of a person and their ability to achieve a multitude of other capabilities within society.[65] Autism can present challenges in traditional educational environments, particularly in areas such as imitation, observational learning, and communication. As of 2014, of all disabilities affecting the population, autism ranked third lowest in acceptance into a postsecondary education institution.[66] In a 2012 study funded by the National Institute of Health, Shattuck et al. found that only 35% of autistics are enrolled in a 2 or 4 year college within the first two years after leaving high school compared to 40% of children who have a learning disability.[67] Due to the growing need for a college education to obtain a job, this statistic shows how autistics are at a disadvantage in gaining many of the capabilities that Nussbaum discusses and makes education more than just a type of therapy for those with autism.[66] According to the 2012 study by Shattuck, only 55% of children with autism participated in any paid employment within the first two years after high school. Furthermore, those with autism that come from low income families tend to have lower success in postsecondary schooling.[67]

Oftentimes, schools lacked the resources to create (what at the time was considered) an optimal classroom setting for those 'in need of special education'. In 2014 in the United States, it could cost between $6,595 to $10,421 extra to educate a child with autism.[68] In the 2011–2012 school year, the average cost of education for a public school student was $12,401. In some 2015 cases, the extra cost required to educate a child with autism nearly doubled the average cost to educate the average public school student.[69] As the abilities of autistic people vary highly, it is highly challenging to create a standardized curriculum that will fit all autistic learning needs. In the United States, in 2014 many school districts required schools to meet the needs of disabled students, regardless of the number of children with disabilities there are in the school.[70] This combined with a shortage of licensed special education teachers has created a deficiency in the special education system. In 2011 the shortage caused some states to give temporary special education licenses to teachers with the caveat that they receive a license within a few years.[71]

#### Mexico

In 1993, Mexico passed an education law that called for the inclusion of those with disabilities. This law was very important for Mexico education, however, there have been issues in implementing it due to a lack of resources.[72]

#### United Nations and internationally

There have also been multiple international groups that have issued reports addressing issues in special education. The United Nations on "International Norms and Standards relating to Disability" in 1998. This report cites multiple conventions, statements, declarations, and other reports such as: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, The Salamanca Statement, the Sundberg Declaration, the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action, and many others. One main point that the report emphasizes is the necessity for education to be a human right. The report also states that the "quality of education should be equal to that of persons without disabilities." The other main points brought up by the report discuss integrated education, special education classes as supplementary, teacher training, and equality for vocational education.[73] The United Nations also releases a report by the Special Rapporteur that has a focus on persons with disabilities. In 2015, a report titled "Report of the Special Rapporteur to the 52nd Session of the Commission for Social Development: Note by the Secretary-General on Monitoring of the implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities" was released. This report focused on looking at how the many countries involved, with a focus on Africa, have handled policy regarding persons with disabilities. In this discussion, the author also focuses on the importance of education for persons with disabilities as well as policies that could help improve the education system such as a move towards a more inclusive approach.[74] The World Health Organization has also published a report addressing people with disabilities and within this there is a discussion on education in their "World Report on Disability" in 2011.[75] Other organizations that have issued reports discussing the topic are UNESCO, UNICEF, and the World Bank.[76]

## Communication interventions

The inability to communicate, verbally or nonverbally, is a core deficit in autism. Children with autism are often engaged in repetitive activity or other behaviors because they cannot convey their intent any other way. They do not know how to communicate their ideas to caregivers or others. Helping a child with autism learn to communicate their needs and ideas is absolutely core to any intervention. Communication can either be verbal or nonverbal. Some autistic children benefit from intensive interventions to develop communication skills.

Communication interventions fall into two major categories. First, many autistic children do not speak, or have little speech, or have difficulties in effective use of language.[77] Social skills have been shown to be effective in treating children with autism.[77] Interventions that attempt to improve communication are commonly conducted by speech and language therapists, and work on joint attention, communicative intent, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methods such as visual methods,[78] for example visual schedules. AAC methods do not appear to impede speech and may result in modest gains.[79] A 2006 study reported benefits both for joint attention intervention and for symbolic play intervention,[80] and a 2007 study found that joint attention intervention is more likely than symbolic play intervention to cause children to engage later in shared interactions.[81]

Second, social skills treatment attempts to increase social and communicative skills of autistic individuals, addressing a core deficit of autism. A wide range of intervention approaches is available, including modeling and reinforcement, adult and peer mediation strategies, peer tutoring, social games and stories, self-management, pivotal response therapy, video modeling, direct instruction, visual cuing, Circle of Friends and social-skills groups.[82] A 2007 meta-analysis of 55 studies of school-based social skills intervention found that they were minimally effective for children and adolescents with ASD,[83] and a 2007 review found that social skills training has minimal empirical support for children with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism.[84]

## Relationship Development Intervention

Main article: Medicine:Relationship Development Intervention

Relationship based models give importance to the relationships that help children reach and master early developmental milestones. These are often missed or not mastered in children with ASD. Examples of these early milestones are engagement and interest in the world, intimacy with a caregiver, intentionality of action.

Relationship development intervention[85] is a family-based treatment program for children with ASD. This program is based on the belief that the development of dynamic intelligence (the ability to think flexibly, take different perspectives, cope with change and process information simultaneously) is key to improving the quality of life of children with autism.

### Son-Rise

Main article: Medicine:Son-Rise

Son-Rise is a home-based program that emphasizes on implementing a color- and sensory-free playroom. Before implementing the home-based program, an institute trains the parents how to accept their child without judgment through a series of dialogue sessions. Like Floortime, parents join their child's ritualistic behavior for relationship-building. To gain the child's "willing engagement", the facilitator continues to join them only this time through parallel play. Proponents claim that children will become non-autistic after parents accept them for who they are and engage them in play. The program was started by the parents of Raun Kaufman, who is claimed to have gone from being autistic to normal via the treatment in the early 1970s.[86] A stated goal of the program is to increase eye contact.[87] In a 2017 qualitative study it was found that autistic people have reported to find eye contact distressing.[88] No independent study has tested the efficacy of the program, but a 2003 study found that involvement with the program led to more drawbacks than benefits for the involved families over time,[89] and a 2006 study found that the program is not always implemented as it is typically described in the literature, which suggests it will be difficult to evaluate its efficacy.[90]

### Sensory integration

Main article: Medicine:Sensory processing disorder

Unusual responses to sensory stimuli are more common and prominent in children with autism, although there is not good evidence that sensory symptoms differentiate autism from other developmental disorders.[91] Several therapies have been developed to treat sensory processing disorder (SPD).[92] Some of these treatments (for example, sensorimotor handling) have a questionable rationale and have no empirical evidence. Other treatments have been studied, with small positive outcomes, but few conclusions can be drawn due to methodological problems with the studies. These treatments include prism lenses, physical exercise, auditory integration training, and sensory stimulation or inhibition techniques such as "deep pressure"—firm touch pressure applied either manually or via an apparatus such as a hug machine or a pressure garment.[93] Weighted vests, a popular deep-pressure therapy, have only a limited amount of scientific research available, which on balance indicates that the therapy is ineffective.[94] Although replicable treatments have been described and valid outcome measures are known, gaps exist in knowledge related to SPD and therapy.[95] In a 2011 Cochrane review, no evidence was found to support the use of auditory integration training as an ASD treatment method.[96] Because empirical support is limited, systematic evaluation is needed if these interventions are used.[97]

The term multisensory integration, in simple terms, means the ability to use all of one's senses to accomplish a task. Occupational therapists sometimes prescribe sensory treatments for children with autism. However, in general, there has been little or no scientific evidence of effectiveness.[93]

### Animal-assisted therapy

#### Old model

Animal-assisted therapy, where an animal such as a dog or a horse becomes a basic part of a person's treatment, was a controversial treatment for some symptoms. A 2007 meta-analysis found that animal-assisted therapy was associated with "a moderate improvement in autism spectrum symptoms".[98] Reviews of published dolphin-assisted therapy (DAT) studies found important methodological flaws and concluded that there is no compelling scientific evidence that DAT is a legitimate therapy or that it affords any more than fleeting improvements in mood.[99]

#### New model

Modern animal-assisted therapy as relating to autism is not about 'controlling autistic symptoms' but about a natural way to bring about socializing[100] (via bridging the 'double empathy gap') and also for stress reduction.[101][102] As in a 2020 program: "the remarkable adherence to the therapy program by study participants and the program's clinically relevant effects indicate that AAT with dogs can be used to reduce perceived stress and symptoms of agoraphobia, and to improve social awareness and communication in adults with ASD with normal to high intelligence."[103] In 2021, a study was conducted on this topic, specifically on "autonomic and endocrine activity in adults with autism spectrum disorder"[102] in part for stress reduction, particularly as for autistic people the "downside of social camouflaging is that it is a major source of stress".[102]

### Neurofeedback

Main article: Philosophy:Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback attempts to train individuals to regulate their brainwave patterns by letting them observe their brain activity more directly. In its most traditional form, the output of EEG electrodes is fed into a computer that controls a game-like audiovisual display. Neurofeedback has been evaluated 'with positive results for ASD', but studies have lacked random assignment to controls.[104] This research is ongoing as of 2019 though now focused on "improving attention" and "reducing anxiety".[105]

### Patterning

Patterning is a set of exercises that attempts to improve the organization of a child's neurologic impairments. It has been used for decades to treat children with several unrelated neurologic disorders, including autism. The method, taught at The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential, is based on oversimplified theories and is not supported by carefully designed research studies.[106]

### Other methods

There are many simple methods such as priming, prompt delivery, picture schedules, peer tutoring, and cooperative learning, that have been proven to help autistic students to prepare for class and to understand the material better. Priming is done by allowing the students to see the assignment or material before they are shown in class. Prompt delivery consists of giving prompts to the autistic children in order to elicit a response to the academic material. Picture schedules are used to outline the progression of a class and are visual cues to allow autistic children to know when changes in the activity are coming up. This method has proven to be very useful in helping the students follow the activities. Peer tutoring and cooperative learning are ways in which an autistic student and a nondisabled student are paired together in the learning process. This has shown be very effective for "increasing both academic success and social interaction."[107] There are more specific strategies that have been shown to improve an autistic's education, such as LEAP, Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children, and Non-Model-Specific Special Education Programs for preschoolers. LEAP is "an intensive 12-month program that focuses on providing a highly structured and safe environment that helps students to participate in and derive benefit from educational programming" and focuses on children from 5-21 who have a more severe case of autism.[108] The goal of the program is to develop functional independence through academic instruction, vocational/translational curriculum, speech/language services, and other services personalized for each student.[108] While LEAP, TEACCH, and Non-Model Specific Special Education Programs are all different strategies, there has been no evidence that one is more effective than the other.[109]

## Environmental enrichment

Main article: Philosophy:Environmental enrichment

Environmental enrichment is concerned with how the brain is affected by the stimulation of its information processing provided by its surroundings (including the opportunity to interact socially). Brains in richer, more-stimulating environments, have increased numbers of synapses, and the dendrite arbors upon which they reside are more complex. This effect happens particularly during neurodevelopment, but also to a lesser degree in adulthood. With extra synapses there is also increased synapse activity and so increased size and number of glial energy-support cells. Capillary vasculation also is greater to provide the neurons and glial cells with extra energy. The neuropil (neurons, glial cells, capillaries, combined) expands making the cortex thicker. There may also exist (at least in rodents) more neurons.

Research on nonhuman animals finds that more-stimulating environments could aid the treatment and recovery of a diverse variety of brain-related dysfunctions, including Alzheimer's disease and those connected to aging, whereas a lack of stimulation might impair cognitive development.

Research on humans suggests that lack of stimulation (deprivation—such as in old-style orphanages) delays and impairs cognitive development. Research also finds that higher levels of education (which is both cognitively stimulating in itself, and associates with people engaging in more challenging cognitive activities) results in greater resilience (cognitive reserve) to the effects of aging and dementia.

### Massage therapy

A review of massage therapy as a symptomatic treatment of autism found limited evidence of benefit. There were few high quality studies, and due to the risk of bias found in the studies analyzed, no firm conclusions about the efficacy of massage therapy could be drawn.[110]

### Music

Music therapy uses the elements of music to let people express their feelings and communicate. A 2014 review (updated in 2022) found that music therapy may help in social interactions and communication.[111]

Music therapy can involve various techniques depending on where the subject is sitting on the ASD scale.[112] Somebody who may be considered as 'low-functioning' would require vastly different treatment to somebody on the ASD scale who is 'high-functioning'. Examples of these types of therapeutic techniques include:[113]

* Free improvisation – No boundaries or skills required
* Structured improvisation – Some established parameters within the music
* Performing or recreating music – Reproducing a pre-composed piece of music or song with associated activities
* Composing music – Creating music that caters to the specific needs of that person using instruments or the voice
* Listening – Engaging in specific musical listening base exercises

Improvisational Music Therapy (IMT), is increasing in popularity as a therapeutic technique being applied to children with ASD. The process of IMT occurs when the client and therapist make up music, through the use of various instruments, song and movement. The specific needs of each child or client need to be taken into consideration. Some children with ASD find their different environments chaotic and confusing, therefore, IMT sessions require the presence of a certain routine and be predictable in nature, within their interactions and surroundings.[114] Music therapy has been explored as a potential method to support social interactions and communication in autistic individuals. The allowance of parents or caregivers to sessions can put the child at ease and allow for activities to be incorporated into everyday life.[114]

### Sensory enrichment therapy

In all interventions for autistic children, the main strategy is to aim towards the improvement of sensitivity in all senses. Autistic children may lack the ability to name or even feel their own emotions. This can also impact relating to other people's emotions and inferring the moods of others.[115] Many autistic children also live with a Sensory Processing Disorder.[116] In sensory-based interventions, there have been signs of progress in children responding with an appropriate response when given a stimulus after being in sensory-based therapies for a period of time. However, at this time, there is no concrete evidence that these therapies are effective for autistic children.[116] Autism spectrum disorder varies from child to child, which can make it challenging for clinicians to assess and know what therapies to apply.

The purpose of these differentiated interventions are to intervene at the neurological level of the brain in hopes to develop appropriate responses to the different sensations from one's body and also to outside stimuli in one's environment. Scientists have used music therapies, massage therapies, occupational therapies and more. With the Autistic Spectrum being so diverse and widespread, each case or scenario is different.[93]

### Mindfulness

Emerging evidence for mindfulness-based interventions for improving mental health in adults with autism has support through a recent systematic review. This includes evidence for decreasing stress, anxiety, ruminating thoughts, anger, and aggression.[117]

## Parent-mediated interventions

Parent-mediated interventions offer support and practical advice to parents of autistic children.[78] A 2013 Cochrane Review found that there was no evidence of gains in most of the primary measures of the studies (e.g., the child's adaptive behavior), however there was strong evidence for a positive pattern of change in parent-child interactions. There was some uncertain evidence of changes in the child's language and communication.[118] A very small number of randomized and controlled studies suggest that parent training can lead to reduced maternal depression, improved maternal knowledge of autism and communication style, and improved child communicative behavior, but due to the design and number of studies available, definitive evidence of effectiveness is not available.[119]

Early detection of ASD in children can often occur before a child reaches the age of three years old. Methods that target early behavior can influence the quality of life for a child with ASD. Parents can learn methods of interaction and behavior management to best assist their child's development. A 2013 Cochrance review concluded that there were some improvements when parent intervention was used.[118]

### TEACCH

Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH), which has come to be called "structured teaching", emphasises structure by using organized physical environments, predictably sequenced activities, visual schedules and visually structured activities, and structured work/activity systems where each child can practice various tasks.[2] Parents are taught to implement the treatment at home. A 1998 controlled trial found that children treated with a TEACCH-based home program improved significantly more than a control group.[120] A 2013 meta-analysis compiling all the clinical trials of TEACCH indicated that it has small or no effects on perceptual, motor, verbal, cognitive, and motor functioning, communication skills, and activities of daily living. There were positive effects in social and maladaptive behavior, but these required further replication due to the methodological limitations of the pool of studies analysed.[121]

## Medical management

Drugs, supplements, or diets are often used to alter physiology in an attempt to relieve common autistic symptoms such as seizures, sleep disturbances, irritability, and hyperactivity that can interfere with education or social adaptation or (more rarely) cause autistic individuals to harm themselves or others.[122] There is plenty of anecdotal evidence to support medical treatment; many parents who try one or more therapies report some progress, and there are a few well-publicized reports of children who are able to return to mainstream education after treatment, with dramatic improvements in health and well-being. However, this evidence may be confounded by improvements seen in autistic children who grow up without treatment, by the difficulty of verifying reports of improvements, and by the lack of reporting of treatments' negative outcomes.[123] Only a very few medical treatments are well supported by scientific evidence using controlled experiments.[122] Many therapies marketed towards people with autism and/or their parents claim outcomes that have not been supported by Level of Research (LOE) Level 1 (highest level assigned based on the methodological quality of their design, validity, and applicability to patient care). Level 1 research includes evidence from a systematic review or meta-analysis of all relevant RCTs (randomized controlled trial) or evidence-based clinical practice guidelines based on systematic reviews of RCTs or three or more RCTs of good quality that have similar results.[124]

### Medication

Many medications are used to treat problems associated with ASD.[125] More than half of U.S. children diagnosed with ASD are prescribed psychoactive drugs or anticonvulsants, with the most common drug classes being antidepressants, stimulants, and antipsychotics.[126]

Between the 1950s and 1970s LSD was studied, however, has not been studied in this capacity since.[127]

Research has focused on atypical antipsychotics, especially risperidone, which has the largest amount of evidence that consistently shows improvements in irritability, self-injury, aggression, and tantrums associated with ASD.[128] Risperidone is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating symptomatic irritability in autistic children and adolescents.[129] In short-term trials (up to six months) most adverse events were mild to moderate, with weight gain, drowsiness, and high blood sugar requiring monitoring; long term efficacy and safety have not been fully determined.[130] It is unclear whether risperidone improves autism's core social and communication deficits.[129] The FDA's decision was based in part on a study of autistic children with severe and enduring problems of tantrums, aggression, and self-injury; risperidone is not recommended for autistic children with mild aggression and explosive behavior without an enduring pattern.[131]

Other drugs are prescribed off-label in the U.S., which means they have not been approved for treating ASD. Large placebo-controlled studies of olanzapine and aripiprazole were underway in early 2008.[129] Aripiprazole may be effective for treating autism in the short term, but is also associated with side effects, such as weight gain and sedation.[132]

Some selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and dopamine blockers can reduce some maladaptive behaviors associated with ASD.[133] Although SSRIs reduce levels of repetitive behavior in autistic adults,[134] a 2009 multisite randomized controlled study found no benefit and some adverse effects in children from the SSRI citalopram, raising doubts whether SSRIs are effective for treating repetitive behavior in autistic children.[135] A further study of related medical reviews determined that the prescription of SSRI antidepressants for treating ASDs in children lacked any evidence, and could not be recommended.[136]

Reviews of evidence found that the psychostimulant methylphenidate may be efficacious against hyperactivity and possibly impulsivity associated with ASD, although the findings were limited by low quality evidence.[137] There was no evidence that methylphenidate "has a negative impact on the core symptoms of ASD, or that it improves social interaction, stereotypical behaviours, or overall ASD."[137] Of the many medications studied for treatment of aggressive and self-injurious behavior in children and adolescents with autism, only risperidone and methylphenidate demonstrate results that have been replicated.[138]

A 1998 study of the hormone secretin reported improved symptoms and generated tremendous interest, but several controlled studies since have found no benefit.[139] An experimental drug STX107 has stopped overproduction of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 in rodents, and it has been hypothesized that this may help in about 5% of autism cases, but this hypothesis has not been tested in humans.[140]

Oxytocin may play a role in autism and may be a possible treatment for repetitive and affiliative behaviors;[141] Two related studies in adults found that oxytocin decreased repetitive behaviors and improved interpretation of emotions, but these preliminary results do not necessarily apply to children.[140] Recent research suggests that oxytocin may decrease the noisiness of the brain's auditory system, increasing perception of social cues and the ability to react in social situations. However, the cues detected may not always be positive: increasing awareness of a trusted adult may be beneficial, but increasing awareness of an aggressor may increase distress. The possibility that oxytocin's effects are context-dependent means that its use as a treatment in ASD should be carefully monitored.[142][143] According to a 2022 systematic review/network meta-analysis, evidence from large trials didn't show efficacy in children/adolescent for oxytocin and balovaptan (both vasopressin-V1A receptor antagonist), however in adults oxytocin improved repetitive behaviors with small-to-medium effect-sizes and moderate-quality evidence (this result needs to be replicated since participants were mainly high-functioning autistic and age-dependent treatment response isn't excluded). Moreover, according to the same systematic review/network meta-analysis, based on two large studies balovaptan wasn't found efficacious in adults, but small improvements in quality of life were noted.[144]

Aside from antipsychotics,[129] there is scant reliable research about the effectiveness or safety of drug treatments for adolescents and adults with ASD.[145] Results of the handful of randomized controlled trials that have been performed suggest that risperidone, the SSRI fluvoxamine, and the typical antipsychotic haloperidol may be effective in reducing some behaviors, that haloperidol may be more effective than the tricyclic antidepressant clomipramine, and that the opioid antagonist naltrexone hydrochloride is not effective.[146] In small studies, memantine has been shown to significantly improve language function and social behavior in children with autism.[147][148] Research is underway on the effects of memantine in adults with ASDs.[149] A person with ASD may respond atypically to medications and the medications can have adverse side effects.[150][151]

### Prosthetics

Unlike conventional neuromotor prostheses, neurocognitive prostheses would sense or modulate neural function in order to physically reconstitute cognitive processes such as executive function and language. No neurocognitive prostheses are currently available but the development of implantable neurocognitive brain-computer interfaces has been proposed to help treat conditions such as autism.[152]

Affective computing devices, typically with image or voice recognition capabilities, have been proposed to help autistic individuals improve their social communication skills.[153] These devices are still under development. Robots have also been proposed as educational aids for autistic children.[154]

### Transcranial magnetic stimulation

Transcranial magnetic stimulation, which is a somewhat well established treatment for depression, has been proposed, and used, as a treatment for autism.[155] A review published in 2013 found insufficient evidence to support its widespread use for ASDs.[156] A 2015 review found tentative but insufficient evidence to justify its use outside of clinical studies.[157] New findings show TMS can positively affect gamma brainwave oscillations and help improve performance accuracy.[158]

## Alternative medicine

Many alternative therapies and interventions used to be popular in the 1990s and early 2000s, ranging from elimination diets to chelation therapy, though few were supported by scientific studies.[84][159][160][161][162] Treatment approaches lacked empirical support in quality-of-life contexts, and many programs focused on success measures that lack predictive validity and real-world relevance.[163] Scientific evidence appeared to matter less to service providers than program marketing, training availability, and parent requests.[164] Back then, it was presumed that even if they did not help, conservative treatments such as changes in diet were "expected to be harmless aside from their bother and cost"[165] except that didn't take into account the mental health toll that attitude would have on the children in question who are now adults speaking out against such practices.[166]

### Acupuncture

Acupuncture was studied and has not been found to be 'helpful in treating autism'.[167][168]

### Chiropractic

Chiropractic is an alternative medical practice whose main hypothesis is that mechanical disorders of the spine affect general health via the nervous system, and whose main treatment is spinal manipulation. A significant portion of the profession rejects vaccination, as traditional chiropractic philosophy equates vaccines to poison.[169] Most chiropractic writings on vaccination focus on its negative aspects,[170] claiming that it is hazardous, ineffective, and unnecessary,[169] and in some cases suggesting that vaccination causes autism[170] or that chiropractors should be the primary contact for treatment of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.[171] Chiropractic treatment has not been shown to be effective for medical conditions other than back pain,[172] and there is insufficient scientific evidence to make conclusions about chiropractic care for autism.[173]

### CEASE therapy

Main article: Unsolved:CEASE therapy

A number of naturopathic practitioners claim that CEASE therapy, a mixture of homeopathy, supplements and 'vaccine detoxing', can help people with autism however no robust evidence is available for this.

### Craniosacral therapy

Craniosacral therapy is an alternative medical practice whose main hypothesis is that restrictions at cranial sutures of the skull affect rhythmic impulses conveyed via cerebrospinal fluid, and that gentle pressure on external areas can improve the flow and balance of the supply of this fluid to the brain, relieving symptoms of many conditions.[174] There is no scientific support for major elements of the underlying model,[175] there is little scientific evidence to support the therapy, and research methods that could conclusively evaluate the therapy's effectiveness have not been applied.[174] No published studies are available on the use of this therapy for autism.[159]

### Chelation therapy

Based on the speculation that heavy metal poisoning may trigger the symptoms of autism, particularly in small subsets of individuals who cannot excrete toxins effectively, some parents have turned to alternative medicine practitioners who provide detoxification treatments via chelation therapy. However, evidence to support this practice has been anecdotal and not rigorous. Strong epidemiological evidence refutes links between environmental triggers, in particular thiomersal-containing vaccines, and the onset of autistic symptoms. In 2002 Thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide (TTFD) was hypothesized to act as a chelating agent in children with autism and a 2002 pilot study administered TTFD rectally to ten autism spectrum children, and seemed to find beneficial clinical effect.[176] This study has not been replicated, and a 2006 review of thiamine by the same author did not mention thiamine's possible effect on autism.[177] There is not sufficient evidence to support the use of thiamine (vitamin B1) to treat autism.[160] Dubious invasive treatments are a much more serious matter: for example, in 2005, botched chelation therapy killed a five-year-old boy with autism.[178]

No scientific data supports the claim that the mercury in the vaccine preservative thiomersal causes autism[179] or its symptoms,[180] and there is no scientific support for chelation therapy as a treatment for autism.[181][182]

### Diets and dietary supplements

1990s hypotheses

In the early 1990s, it was hypothesized that autism could be caused or aggravated by opioid peptides like casomorphine that are metabolic products of gluten and casein.[183] Based on that hypothesis, diets that eliminate foods containing either gluten or casein, or both, are widely promoted, and many testimonials can be found describing benefits in autism-related symptoms, notably social engagement and verbal skills. Studies supporting those claims had significant flaws, so those data were inadequate to guide treatment recommendations.[165][184] Vitamin C decreased stereotyped behavior in a small 1993 study.[185] The study had not been replicated as of 2005, and vitamin C had limited popularity as an autism treatment. High doses might cause kidney stones or gastrointestinal upset such as diarrhea.[122]

2000-2014 hypotheses and research

In the early 2000s, many parents gave their children dietary supplements in an attempt to 'treat autism' or to 'alleviate its symptoms'. The range of supplements given was wide and few are supported by scientific data.[160][122]

In 2005, it was thought that: although some children with autism also have gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, there is a lack of published rigorous data to support the theory that autistic children have more or different GI symptoms than usual;[186] studies report conflicting results, and the relationship between GI problems and ASD is unclear.[2] Atypical eating behavior was thought to occur in about three-quarters of children with ASD, to the extent that it was formerly a diagnostic indicator. Selectivity is the most common problem, although eating rituals and food refusal also occur;[187] at the time it did not appear to result in malnutrition in studies. Other elimination diets were also proposed, targeting salicylates, food dyes, yeast, and simple sugars. No scientific evidence has established the efficacy of such diets in 'treating autism' in children. An elimination diet may create nutritional deficiencies that harm overall health unless care is taken to assure proper nutrition.[160]

In 2006 studies suggested that complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapy use in children with chronic illnesses is higher than in children in the general population. In a study by Helen H L Wong and Ronald G Smith, they investigated patterns of CAM therapy use in children diagnosed with ASD (n = 50) as compared to a control population of children with no ASD (n = 50). Over half of the parents in the ASD group reported using, or had used at least one CAM therapy for their child (52%) as compared to 28% of the control group (P = 0.024). Seventy percent of therapies used in the ASD group were biologically based therapies consisting of special diets or supplements, and parents felt that 75% of the therapies used were beneficial.[188]

For example, a 2008 study found that autistic boys on casein-free diets had significantly thinner bones than usual, presumably because the diets contribute to calcium and vitamin D deficiencies.[189] A 2009 review found some low-quality evidence to support the use of vitamin B6 in combination with magnesium at high doses, but the evidence was equivocal and the review noted the possible danger of fatal hypermagnesemia.[190] A 2005 Cochrane Review of the evidence for the use of B6 and magnesium found that "[d]ue to the small number of studies, the methodological quality of studies, and small sample sizes, no recommendation can be advanced regarding the use of B6-Mg as a treatment for autism."[191]

Probiotics containing potentially beneficial bacteria were hypothesized to 'relieve some symptoms of autism' by minimizing yeast overgrowth in the colon. The hypothesized yeast overgrowth has not been confirmed by endoscopy, the mechanism connecting yeast overgrowth to autism is only hypothetical, and no clinical trials as of 2005 had been published in the peer-reviewed literature.[122]

Dimethylglycine (DMG) was hypothesized to improve speech and 'reduce autistic behaviors',[160] and was a commonly used supplement.[122] Two double-blind, placebo-controlled studies found no statistically significant effect on 'autistic behaviors',[160] and no peer-reviewed studies have addressed treatment with the related compound trimethylglycine.[122]

Melatonin is sometimes used to manage sleep problems. Adverse effects were generally reported to be mild, including drowsiness, headache, dizziness, and nausea; however, an increase in seizure frequency was reported among susceptible children.[160] Several small RCTs indicated that melatonin was effective in treating insomnia in autistic children, but further large studies are needed.[192] A 2013 literature review found 20 studies that reported improvements in sleep parameters as a result of melatonin supplementation, and concluded that "the administration of exogenous melatonin for abnormal sleep parameters in ASD is evidence-based."[193]

Although omega-3 fatty acids, which are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), were 'a popular treatment for children with ASD' in the 2000s and 2010s, there is very little high-quality scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness.[194][195] Several other supplements were hypothesized 'to relieve autism symptoms', including BDTH2,[196] carnosine, cholesterol,[197] cyproheptadine, D-cycloserine, folic acid, glutathione, metallothionein promoters, other PUFA such as omega-6 fatty acids, tryptophan, tyrosine, thiamine (see Chelation therapy), vitamin B12, and zinc. These lack reliable scientific evidence of efficacy or safety in treatment of autism.[160][122]

2015–Present research

It is now known that "children with ASD are at risk of having alimentary tract disorders – mainly, they are at a greater risk of general gastrointestinal (GI) concerns, constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain"[198][199][200] and as succinctly summarized the Mayo Clinic website in 2019, "Yes, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) tend to have more medical issues, including gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea, compared with their peers."[201] Presently, there is not 'a diet for autism' just advice to not ingest things the individual's body seems to reject, for example: gluten if the person happens to have Celiac disease.[166] As of 2021, "there is no clinical evidence for applying specific (e.g., gluten-free or probiotic) diets" to the topic of autism.[10]

## Fringe therapies

### Electroconvulsive therapy

In 2009 studies indicated that 12–17% of adolescents and young adults with autism satisfy diagnostic criteria for catatonia, which is loss of or hyperactive motor activity. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) have been used to treat cases of catatonia and related conditions in people with autism but as of 2009 no controlled trials had been performed of ECT in autism, and there are serious ethical and legal obstacles to its use.[202]

### Hyperbaric oxygen

A boy with ASD, and his father, in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber (photo submitted in 2005)

In 2007 further studies were needed in order for practitioners and families to make more conclusive and valid decisions concerning HBOT treatments.[203] One small 2009 double-blind study of autistic children found that 40 hourly treatments of 24% oxygen at 1.3 atmospheres provided significant improvement in the children's behavior immediately after treatment sessions but this study has not been independently confirmed.[204] This spawned a relatively large-scale controlled studies since to investigate HBOT. For example, in 2010 using treatments of 24% oxygen at 1.3 atmospheres, though it found less promising results. A 2010 double-blind study compared HBOT to a placebo treatment in children with autistic disorder. Both direct observational measures of behavioral symptoms and standardized psychological assessments were used to evaluate the treatment. No differences were found between the HBOT group and the placebo group on any of the outcome measures.[205] A second 2011 single-subject design study also investigated the effects of 40 HBOT treatments of 24% oxygen at 1.3 atmospheres on directly observed behaviors using multiple baselines across 16 participants. Again, no consistent outcomes were observed across any group and further, no significant improvements were observed within any individual participant.[206] Together, these studies suggest that HBOT at 24% oxygen at 1.3 atmospheric pressure does not result in a clinically significant improvement of the behavioral symptoms of autistic disorder. Nonetheless, news reports and related blogs indicated that HBOT was used for many cases of children with autism in the 2010s.

When considering the financial and time investments required in order to participate in this treatment and the inconsistency of the present findings, HBOT seems to be riskier and thus, often less favorable. As of May 2011 HBOT could cost up to $150 per hour with individuals using anywhere from 40 to 120 hours as a part of their integrated treatment programs. In addition, purchasing (at $8,495–27,995) and renting ($1,395 per month) of the HBOT chambers is another option some families use.[206]

As of 2017, "Hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides a higher concentration of oxygen delivered in a chamber or tube containing higher than sea level atmospheric pressure. Case series and randomized controlled trials show no evidence to support the benefit of HBOT for children with ASD. Only 1 randomized controlled trial reported effectiveness of this treatment, and those results have yet to be repeated."[207]

### Stem cell therapy (2007-2012)

Mesenchymal stem cells and cord blood CD34\+ cells have been proposed to treat autism in 2007[208] and as of 2012 it was thought they may represent a future treatment.[209] Since immune system deregulation has been implicated in autism, mesenchymal stem cells show the greatest promise as treatment for the disorder. Changes in the innate and adaptive immune system have been observed- those with autism show an imbalance in CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells, as well as in NK cells.[209] In addition, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) overproduce IL-1β.[209] It was theorized that MSC mediated immune suppressive activity could restore this immune imbalance.

### Packing

In packing, children were wrapped tightly for up to an hour in wet sheets that have been refrigerated, with only their heads left free. The treatment was repeated several times a week, and could continue for years. It was intended as treatment for autistic children who harm themselves and mostly children who could not speak. Similar envelopment techniques had been used for centuries, such as to calm violent patients in Germany in the 19th century; it was re-popularized in France in the 1960s, based on psychoanalytic theories such as the theory of the refrigerator mother. As of 2007, packing was practiced in some French clinics. There was no scientific evidence for the effectiveness of packing in 2007, and there was some concern about risk of adverse health effects.[210] As of 2019: "The main French associations of parents with autistic children succeeded in obtaining the prohibition of packing, announced by the French Secretary of State to the Ministry of Health in April 2016."[211]

## Religious interventions

### Exorcism

The Table Talk of Martin Luther contains the story of a twelve-year-old boy who some believe was 'severely autistic'.[212] According to Luther's notetaker Mathesius, Luther thought the boy was a soulless mass of flesh possessed by the devil, and suggested that he be suffocated.[213]

In 2003, an autistic boy in Wisconsin suffocated during an exorcism by an Evangelical minister in which he was wrapped in sheets.[214][215]

### Other religious practices

Ultraorthodox Jewish parents in Israel sometimes used spiritual and mystical interventions such as prayers, blessings, recitations of religious text, amulets, changing the child's name, and exorcism.[216]

### Other practices involving spirituality

A 2009 study has suggested that spirituality of mothers with ASDs led to positive outcomes whereas religious activities of mothers were associated with negative outcomes for the child.[217]

## No intervention perspective

Some autism self-advocacy organizations view autism as a different neurology rather than a mental disorder and advocate for acceptance over intervention. However, other advocacy groups, parents, and medical professionals continue to explore treatments aimed at addressing autism-related challenges.[31][32][218][219]

Criticisms of most educational, social, and behavioral focused autism therapies as put forth by autistic adults, teachers, and researchers frequently fall into the idea of these programs encouraging[220] or even training behavioral responses directed toward "camouflaging",[221][222][223][224][225][226][227][228] "passing as non-autistic",[220][229][230] or "masking".[221][228][231][232][233][234][235][226][236] Recent studies indicate that, among autistic people, burnout and mental health difficulties associated with masking[237][238] "driven by the stress of masking and living in an unaccommodating neurotypical world"[239][240] is an issue (which also impacts autistic young people[241] and children).[242] Animal-assisted therapy used to be directed toward symptoms of autism and some studies of the programs are now directed toward burnout.[102]

In 2018 more studies began involving the experiences of autistic adults[243][244] including their experiences with general practice medicine.[245] Subsequent related studies have focused on communication preferences of autistic adults[246] and the idea of "the 'Autistic Advantage', a strengths-based model".[247][248][249]

## See also

* Autistic rights movement
* Autism friendly
* Equine-assisted therapy on autistic people
* List of investigational autism and pervasive developmental disorder drugs
* Ryan's Law
* Special education

## References

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2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 "Management of children with autism spectrum disorders". Pediatrics 120 (5): 1162–82. November 2007. doi:10.1542/peds.2007-2362. PMID 17967921.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Evidence-based review of interventions for autism used in or of relevance to occupational therapy". The American Journal of Occupational Therapy 62 (4): 416–29. 2008-07-01. doi:10.5014/ajot.62.4.416. PMID 18712004.
4. ↑ "Treatment planning for patients with autism spectrum disorders". The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 66 (Suppl 10): 38–45. 2005. PMID 16401149.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Behavioural and developmental interventions for autism spectrum disorder: a clinical systematic review". PLOS ONE 3 (11). 2008. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0003755. PMID 19015734. Bibcode: 2008PLoSO...3.3755O.
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7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Evidence-based comprehensive treatments for early autism". Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology 37 (1): 8–38. January 2008. doi:10.1080/15374410701817808. PMID 18444052.
8. ↑ "Autism intervention meta-analysis of early childhood studies (Project AIM): updated systematic review and secondary analysis". BMJ 383: e076733. November 2023. doi:10.1136/bmj-2023-076733. PMID 37963634.
9. ↑ "Effects of a model treatment approach on adults with autism". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 33 (2): 131–40. April 2003. doi:10.1023/A:1022931224934. PMID 12757352.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Practitioner's review: medication for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and comorbid conditions" (in English). Neuropsychiatrie 35 (3): 113–134. September 2021. doi:10.1007/s40211-021-00395-9. PMID 34160787.
11. ↑ "Risperidone in children with autism and serious behavioral problems". N Engl J Med 347 (5): 314–21. August 2002. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa013171. PMID 12151468.
12. ↑ "Aripiprazole in the treatment of irritability in children and adolescents with autistic disorder". Pediatrics 124 (6): 1533–40. December 2009. doi:10.1542/peds.2008-3782. PMID 19948625.
13. ↑ "Lack of efficacy of citalopram in children with autism spectrum disorders and high levels of repetitive behavior: citalopram ineffective in children with autism". Arch Gen Psychiatry 66 (6): 583–90. June 2009. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2009.30. PMID 19487623.
14. ↑ "Oxytocin and Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials". Pharmacopsychiatry 50 (1): 5–13. January 2017. doi:10.1055/s-0042-109400. PMID 27574858.
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16. ↑ "Gluten-free and casein-free diets in the therapy of autism". Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 18 (6): 572–5. November 2015. doi:10.1097/MCO.0000000000000228. PMID 26418822.
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18. ↑ "A comparison of intensive behavior analytic and eclectic treatments for young children with autism". Research in Developmental Disabilities 26 (4): 359–83. 2005. doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2004.09.005. PMID 15766629.
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 "Applied Behavior Analysis for the Treatment of Autism: A Systematic Review of Assistive Technologies". IEEE Access 8: 118664–118672. 2020. doi:10.1109/ACCESS.2020.3005296. ISSN 2169-3536. Bibcode: 2020IEEEA...8k8664A.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "The Controversy Around ABA". 2024. https://childmind.org/article/controversy-around-applied-behavior-analysis/.
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Ethical Applications of Applied Behavior Analysis: Promoting Autonomy and Quality of Life in Autism Support". Behavioral Sciences 15 (6): 814. 2024. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/6/814. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
22. ↑ "Parent-Led Applied Behavior Analysis to Impact Clinical Outcomes for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder". JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting. 2024. https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2024/1/e62878/. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Applied behavior analysis: beyond discrete trial teaching". Psychology in the Schools 44 (1): 91–9. 2007. doi:10.1002/pits.20208.
24. ↑ Minshawi, N. F.; Hurwitz, S.; Fodstad, J. C.; Biebl, S.; Morriss, D. H.; McDougle, C. J. (2014). "The association between self-injurious behaviors and autism spectrum disorders". Psychology Research and Behavior Management 7: 125–136. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S44635. PMID 24748827.
25. ↑ "Evidence of increased PTSD symptoms in autistics exposed to applied behavior analysis" (in en). Advances in Autism 4 (1): 19–29. 2018-01-02. doi:10.1108/AIA-08-2017-0016. ISSN 2056-3868. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/AIA-08-2017-0016/full/html.
26. ↑ "How much compliance is too much compliance: Is long-term ABA therapy abuse?" (in en). Cogent Psychology 6 (1). January 2019. doi:10.1080/23311908.2019.1641258. ISSN 2331-1908.
27. ↑ "Ethical Concerns with Applied Behavior Analysis for Autism Spectrum "Disorder"". Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal 30 (1): 31–69. 2020. doi:10.1353/ken.2020.0000. PMID 32336692.
28. ↑ "Research Review: Conflicts of Interest (COIs) in autism early intervention research - a meta-analysis of COI influences on intervention effects". Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines 62 (1): 5–15. January 2021. doi:10.1111/jcpp.13249. PMID 32353179.
29. ↑ ""Recalling hidden harms": autistic experiences of childhood applied behavioural analysis (ABA)" (in en). Advances in Autism 7 (4): 269–282. 2021-10-26. doi:10.1108/AIA-04-2020-0025. ISSN 2056-3868. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/AIA-04-2020-0025/full/html.
30. ↑ "Long-term ABA Therapy Is Abusive: A Response to Gorycki, Ruppel, and Zane" (in en). Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders 5 (2): 126–134. June 2021. doi:10.1007/s41252-021-00201-1. ISSN 2366-7532.
31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Autistic Self Advocacy Network. "Autistic Self Advocacy Network – Nothing About Us Without Us". http://www.autisticadvocacy.org/.
32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 "Is the Most Common Therapy for Autism Cruel?". 2016-08-11. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/08/aba-autism-controversy/495272/.
33. ↑ "Commentary: The autistic community is having a reckoning with ABA therapy. We should listen" (in en). https://fortune.com/2022/05/13/autistic-community-reckoning-aba-therapy-rights-autism-insurance-private-equity-ariana-cernius/.
34. ↑ ""Recalling hidden harms": autistic experiences of childhood applied behavioural analysis (ABA)". Advances in Autism 7 (4): 269–282. January 2020. doi:10.1108/AIA-04-2020-0025. ISSN 2056-3868. https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/73753/1/McGill_Robinson_AA_2020_autistic_experiences_of_childhood_Applied_Behavioural_Analysis.pdf.
35. ↑ ""Putting on My Best Normal": Social Camouflaging in Adults with Autism Spectrum Conditions". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 47 (8): 2519–2534. August 2017. doi:10.1007/s10803-017-3166-5. PMID 28527095.
36. ↑ "Post-training Discrete-Trial Teaching Performance by Instructors of Young Children with Autism in Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention". The Behavior Analyst Today 6 (1): 1–16. 2005. doi:10.1037/h0100052.
37. ↑ "Outcome of comprehensive psycho-educational interventions for young children with autism". Research in Developmental Disabilities 30 (1): 158–78. 2009. doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2008.02.003. PMID 18385012.
38. ↑ "The Relationship Between Early Learning Rates and Treatment Outcome For Children With Autism Receiving Intensive Home-Based Applied Behavior Analysis". The Behavior Analyst Today 7 (1): 96–100. 2006. doi:10.1037/h0100140.
39. ↑ "Comprehensive synthesis of early intensive behavioral interventions for young children with autism based on the UCLA young autism project model". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 39 (1): 23–41. January 2009. doi:10.1007/s10803-008-0596-0. PMID 18535894.
40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 "Systematic review of early intensive behavioral interventions for children with autism". American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 114 (1): 23–41. January 2009. doi:10.1352/2009.114:23-41. PMID 19143460.
41. ↑ "Meta-analysis of Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention for children with autism". Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology 38 (3): 439–50. May 2009. doi:10.1080/15374410902851739. PMID 19437303.
42. ↑ "Efficacy of applied behavioral intervention in preschool children with autism for improving cognitive, language, and adaptive behavior: a systematic review and meta-analysis". The Journal of Pediatrics 154 (3): 338–44. March 2009. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2008.09.012. PMID 18950798.
43. ↑ "Converting to a Behavior Analysis Format for Autism Services: Decision-Making for Educational Administrators, Principals, and Consultants". The Behavior Analyst Today 1 (3): 6–16. 2000. doi:10.1037/h0099889.
44. ↑ "Spoken language outcomes in limited language preschoolers with autism and global developmental delay: RCT of early intervention approaches". Autism Research 16 (6): 1236–1246. June 2023. doi:10.1002/aur.2932. PMID 37070270.
45. ↑ Pivotal response therapy:
* Pivotal Response Treatments for Autism: Communication, Social, & Academic Development. Brookes. 2006. ISBN 1-55766-819-1.
* "Pivotal response intervention I: overview of approach". Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps 24 (3): 174–85. 1999. doi:10.2511/rpsd.24.3.174.
46. ↑ Rogers, Sally J.; Dawson, Geraldine (2010). Early Start Denver Model for Young Children with Autism: Promoting Language, Learning, and Engagement. New York: Guilford Press. ISBN 978-1-60623-631-4. OCLC 406124029.
47. ↑ Rogers, Sally J. (2013). "Early Start Denver Model". in Fred R. Volkmar. Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. New York: Springer. pp. 1034–1042. doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3_1821. ISBN 978-1-4419-1698-3.
48. ↑ Vivanti, Giacomo; Stahmer, Aubyn C. (2021). "Can the Early Start Denver Model Be Considered ABA Practice?". Behavior Analysis in Practice 14 (1): 230–239. doi:10.1007/s40617-020-00474-3. PMID 33732593.
49. ↑ Fuller, Elizabeth A.; Oliver, Kelsey; Vejnoska, Sarah F.; Rogers, Sally J. (2020). "The Effects of the Early Start Denver Model for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Meta-Analysis". Brain Sciences 10 (6): 368. doi:10.3390/brainsci10060368. PMID 32545615.
50. ↑ Wang, Zhi; Loh, Sau Cheong; Tian, Jing; Chen, Qian Jiang (2022). "A Meta-Analysis of the Effect of the Early Start Denver Model in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder". International Journal of Developmental Disabilities 68 (5): 587–597. doi:10.1080/20473869.2020.1870419. PMID 36210899.
51. ↑ "Treatment and Intervention Services for Autism Spectrum Disorder". 9 March 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/treatment.html.
52. ↑ "Naturalistic Developmental Behavioural Interventions". https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/research-and-evaluation/early-interventions-and-high-volume-cohorts/evidence-review-early-interventions-children-autism/naturalistic-developmental-behavioural-interventions.
53. ↑ "ANS amplia regras de cobertura para tratamento de transtornos globais do desenvolvimento" (in pt). https://www.gov.br/ans/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/beneficiario/ans-altera-regras-de-cobertura-para-tratamento-de-transtornos-globais-do-desenvolvimento.
54. ↑ "ESDM early start denver model" (in fr). https://www.ba-eservice.info/esdm.
55. ↑ "Social Signals – Mike's Crush". American Journal of Sexuality Education 7 (3): 282–284. September 2012. doi:10.1080/15546128.2012.707095.
56. ↑ "A randomized, controlled trial of a home-based intervention program for children with autism and developmental delay". Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics 28 (4): 308–16. August 2007. doi:10.1097/DBP.0b013e318032792e. PMID 17700083.
57. ↑ "The Cochrane Library and Autism Spectrum Disorder: an overview of reviews". Evidence-Based Child Health 3 (1): 3–15. 2008. doi:10.1002/ebch.218. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/117947952/main.html,ftx_abs.
58. ↑ "Adherence to behavioral and medical treatment recommendations by parents of children with autism spectrum disorders". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 39 (8): 1173–84. August 2009. doi:10.1007/s10803-009-0729-0. PMID 19333747.
59. ↑ "Autism and Mind-Body Therapies: A Systematic Review". Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 23 (5): 331–339. May 2017. doi:10.1089/acm.2016.0336. PMID 28437148.
60. ↑ The SCERTS manual: a comprehensive educational approach for young children with autism spectrum disorders. Baltimore, Md.: Paul H. Brookes. 2005. ISBN 978-1-55766-818-9.
61. ↑ Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975
62. ↑ Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997
63. ↑ No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
64. ↑ "Standards". International Institute of Education Standards, Inc.. http://www.iies.us/.
65. ↑ Creating Capabilities: The Human Development Approach. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. 2009. pp. 17–45. ISBN 978-0-674-07235-0.
66. ↑ 66.0 66.1 "Addressing the Academic Needs of Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder in Secondary Education". Remedial and Special Education 35 (2): 68–79. 2014-03-01. doi:10.1177/0741932513518823. ISSN 1538-4756.
67. ↑ 67.0 67.1 "Postsecondary education and employment among youth with an autism spectrum disorder". Pediatrics 129 (6): 1042–9. June 2012. doi:10.1542/peds.2011-2864. PMID 22585766.
68. ↑ "Economic burden of childhood autism spectrum disorders". Pediatrics 133 (3): e520-9. March 2014. doi:10.1542/peds.2013-0763. PMID 24515505.
69. ↑ "The Condition of Education 2015". 2015-05-28. https://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2015144.
70. ↑ "Special-education overhaul leaves students less isolated, but schools struggle to keep up". Chalkbeat New York. 2014-08-11. http://ny.chalkbeat.org/2014/08/11/special-education-overhaul-leaves-students-less-isolated-but-schools-struggle-to-keep-up/.
71. ↑ "The Need Grows for Special Education Teachers in the U.S.". CFNC. 2011. https://www1.cfnc.org/Plan/For_A_Career/Career_Cluster_Profile/Cluster_Article.aspx?articleId=wmpz3NDihGoZXAP2BPAXoj8Gw4PFAXAP3DPAXXAP3DPAX&cId=BI1JKTSUyth8XAP2FPAXn7VPoxI8gXAP3DPAXXAP3DPAX&sectionId=3.
72. ↑ "Autism and Special Education Policy in Mexico". 2010-03-26.
73. ↑ "UN Enable – Compilation of International Norms And Standards Relating to Disability". United Nations Enable. July 2002. https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/discom00.htm.
74. ↑ "Special Rapporteur on Disability of the Commission for Social Development". 2015. https://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=183.
75. ↑ World report on disability. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization. 2011. ISBN 978-92-4-156418-2.
76. ↑ "Global Reports". https://www.cec.sped.org/Special-Ed-Topics/International-Special-Education/Global-Reports.
77. ↑ 77.0 77.1 "Social skills interventions for preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A description of single – subject design studies". Journal of Early and Intensive Behavior Intervention 4 (3): 532–548. 2007. doi:10.1037/h0100390.
78. ↑ 78.0 78.1 Assessment, diagnosis and clinical interventions for children and young people with autism spectrum disorders. Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). July 2007. ISBN 978-1-905813-08-7. http://sign.ac.uk/pdf/sign98.pdf. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
79. ↑ "Effects of augmentative and alternative communication intervention on speech production in children with autism: a systematic review". American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology 17 (3): 212–30. August 2008. doi:10.1044/1058-0360(2008/021). PMID 18663107.
80. ↑ "Joint attention and symbolic play in young children with autism: a randomized controlled intervention study". Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines 47 (6): 611–20. June 2006. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2005.01567.x. PMID 16712638. "Erratum". Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 48 (5): 523. 2007. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01768.x. "no".
81. ↑ "Children with autism's response to novel stimuli while participating in interventions targeting joint attention or symbolic play skills". Autism 11 (6): 535–46. November 2007. doi:10.1177/1362361307083255. PMID 17947289.
82. ↑ "Social-skills treatments for children with autism spectrum disorders: an overview". Behavior Modification 31 (5): 682–707. September 2007. doi:10.1177/0145445507301650. PMID 17699124.
83. ↑ "A meta-analysis of school-based social skills interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders". Remedial and Special Education 28 (3): 153–62. 2007. doi:10.1177/07419325070280030401.
84. ↑ 84.0 84.1 "Social skills interventions for children with Asperger's syndrome or high-functioning autism: a review and recommendations". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 38 (2): 353–61. February 2008. doi:10.1007/s10803-007-0402-4. PMID 17641962.
85. ↑ "Evaluation of the relationship development intervention program". Autism 11 (5): 397–411. September 2007. doi:10.1177/1362361307079603. PMID 17942454.
86. ↑ Son-Rise: the Miracle Continues. HJ Kramer. 1995. ISBN 0-915811-61-8. https://archive.org/details/sonrise00barr.
87. ↑ "Training Parents to Promote Communication and Social Behavior in Children with Autism: The Son-Rise Program" (in en). https://www.autismtreatmentcenter.org/media/pdf/training-parents-to-promote-communication-and-social-behavior-inchildren-with-autism-the-sonrise-program-2375-4427-1000147.pdf.
88. ↑ "How do adults and teens with self-declared Autism Spectrum Disorder experience eye contact? A qualitative analysis of first-hand accounts". PLOS ONE 12 (11). 2017-11-28. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0188446. PMID 29182643. Bibcode: 2017PLoSO..1288446T.
89. ↑ "The Son-Rise Program intervention for autism: an investigation into family experiences". Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 47 (Pt 4-5): 291–9. 2003. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2788.2003.00491.x. PMID 12787161.
90. ↑ "The Son-Rise Program intervention for autism: prerequisites for evaluation". Autism 10 (1): 86–102. January 2006. doi:10.1177/1362361306062012. PMID 16522712.
91. ↑ "Annotation: what do we know about sensory dysfunction in autism? A critical review of the empirical evidence". Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines 46 (12): 1255–68. December 2005. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2005.01431.x. PMID 16313426.
92. ↑ "Sensory integrative therapy". Research Autism. http://www.researchautism.net/interventionitem.ikml?print&ra=28&infolevel=4.
93. ↑ 93.0 93.1 93.2 "Efficacy of sensory and motor interventions for children with autism". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 32 (5): 397–422. October 2002. doi:10.1023/A:1020541906063. PMID 12463517.
94. ↑ "The use of weighted vests with children with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 39 (1): 105–14. January 2009. doi:10.1007/s10803-008-0605-3. PMID 18592366.
95. ↑ "Occupational therapy using a sensory integrative approach for children with developmental disabilities". Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews 11 (2): 143–8. 2005. doi:10.1002/mrdd.20067. PMID 15977314.
96. ↑ "Auditory integration training and other sound therapies for autism spectrum disorders (ASD)". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011 (12). December 2011. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003681.pub3. PMID 22161380.
97. ↑ "Somatosensory stimulation interventions for children with autism: literature review and clinical considerations". Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy 74 (5): 393–400. December 2007. doi:10.2182/cjot.07.013. PMID 18183774.
98. ↑ "Animal-assisted therapy: a meta-analysis". Anthrozoös 20 (3): 225–38. 2007. doi:10.2752/089279307X224773.
99. ↑ "Dolphin-Assisted Therapy: more flawed data and more flawed conclusions". Anthrozoös 20 (3): 239–49. 2007. doi:10.2752/089279307X224782. http://www.marineconnection.org/docs/DAT Paper 2007.pdf. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
100. ↑ "Improving social participation of children with autism spectrum disorder: Pilot testing of an early animal-assisted intervention in Spain". Health & Social Care in the Community 28 (4): 1220–1229. July 2020. doi:10.1111/hsc.12955. PMID 32022346.
101. ↑ "Process Evaluation of Animal-Assisted Therapy: Feasibility and Relevance of a Dog-Assisted Therapy Program in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder". Animals 9 (12): 1103. December 2019. doi:10.3390/ani9121103. PMID 31835401.
102. ↑ 102.0 102.1 102.2 102.3 "The effects of Animal Assisted Therapy on autonomic and endocrine activity in adults with autism spectrum disorder: A randomized controlled trial". General Hospital Psychiatry 72: 36–44. 2021-09-01. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2021.05.003. PMID 34237553.
103. ↑ "Effects of Dog Assisted Therapy for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 50 (6): 2153–2163. June 2020. doi:10.1007/s10803-019-03971-9. PMID 30900194.
104. ↑ "Neurofeedback for autistic spectrum disorder: a review of the literature". Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback 35 (1): 83–105. March 2010. doi:10.1007/s10484-009-9117-y. PMID 19856096.
105. ↑ "Developing and evaluating a BCI video game for neurofeedback training: the case of autism" (in en). Multimedia Tools and Applications 78 (10): 13675–13712. 2019-05-01. doi:10.1007/s11042-018-6916-2. ISSN 1573-7721.
106. ↑ "American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Children with Disabilities. The treatment of neurologically impaired children using patterning". Pediatrics 104 (5 Pt 1): 1149–51. November 1999. doi:10.1542/peds.104.5.1149. PMID 10545565.
107. ↑ "Including children with autism in general education classrooms. A review of effective strategies". Behavior Modification 25 (5): 762–84. October 2001. doi:10.1177/0145445501255006. PMID 11573339.
108. ↑ 108.0 108.1 "LEAP Program (Lifeskills and Education for Students with Autism and Other Pervasive Behavioral Challenges)." Kennedy Krieger Institute: Unlocking Potential. 2012. Accessed November 1, 2015.
109. ↑ "Comparative efficacy of LEAP, TEACCH and non-model-specific special education programs for preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 44 (2): 366–80. February 2014. doi:10.1007/s10803-013-1877-9. PMID 23812661.
110. ↑ "Massage therapy for children with autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review". The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 72 (3): 406–11. March 2011. doi:10.4088/JCP.09r05848whi. PMID 21208598.
111. ↑ "Music therapy for autistic people". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2022 (5). May 2022. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004381.pub4. PMID 35532041.
112. ↑ NurseJournal Staff (June 2021). "The Benefits of Music Therapy for Autistic Children". NurseJournal.org. https://nursejournal.org/articles/the-benefits-of-music-therapy-for-autistic-children/.
113. ↑ "Music therapy for individuals with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review.". Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 2 (1): 39–54. 2015. doi:10.1007/s40489-014-0035-4.
114. ↑ 114.0 114.1 "Common Characteristics of Improvisational Approaches in Music Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Developing Treatment Guidelines". Journal of Music Therapy 52 (2): 258–81. 2015. doi:10.1093/jmt/thv005. PMID 26019303.
115. ↑ "Strategies and interventions". The National Autistic Society. United Kingdom. http://www.researchautism.net/autism-interventions/types/motor-sensory-interventions/combined-multi-component, motor-sensory-interventions.
116. ↑ 116.0 116.1 "Effectiveness of sensory integration interventions in children with autism spectrum disorders: a pilot study". The American Journal of Occupational Therapy 65 (1): 76–85. 2011. doi:10.5014/ajot.2011.09205. PMID 21309374.
117. ↑ "Interventions to address health outcomes among autistic adults: A systematic review". Autism 24 (6): 1345–1359. August 2020. doi:10.1177/1362361320913664. PMID 32390461.
118. ↑ 118.0 118.1 "Parent-mediated early intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD)". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 4 (4). April 2013. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009774.pub2. PMID 23633377.
119. ↑ "Parent implemented early intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review". Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice 13 (1): 120–129. February 2007. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2753.2006.00674.x. PMID 17286734.
120. ↑ "Effectiveness of a home program intervention for young children with autism". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 28 (1): 25–32. February 1998. doi:10.1023/A:1026006818310. PMID 9546299.
121. ↑ "The TEACCH program for children and adults with autism: a meta-analysis of intervention studies". Clinical Psychology Review 33 (8): 940–53. December 2013. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2013.07.005. PMID 23988454.
122. ↑ 122.0 122.1 122.2 122.3 122.4 122.5 122.6 122.7 "Novel treatments for autistic spectrum disorders". Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews 11 (2): 131–42. 2005. doi:10.1002/mrdd.20062. PMID 15977319.
123. ↑ "Critical evaluation of issues in autism". The Science and Fiction of Autism. Harvard University Press. 2005. ISBN 0-674-01931-8. https://archive.org/details/sciencefictiono00laur.
124. ↑ "Levels of Evidence". https://libguides.winona.edu/ebptoolkit/Levels-Evidence.
125. ↑ "Pharmacological treatment options for autism spectrum disorders in children and adolescents". Harvard Review of Psychiatry 16 (2): 97–112. 2008. doi:10.1080/10673220802075852. PMID 18415882.
126. ↑ Medications for U.S. children with ASD:
* "Medication use among children with autism spectrum disorders". Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology 17 (3): 348–55. June 2007. doi:10.1089/cap.2006.17303. PMID 17630868.
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127. ↑ "Flashback to the 1960s: LSD in the treatment of autism". Developmental Neurorehabilitation 10 (1): 75–81. 2006. doi:10.1080/13638490601106277. PMID 17608329.
128. ↑ "Atypical antipsychotics in children with pervasive developmental disorders". Paediatric Drugs 9 (4): 249–66. 2007. doi:10.2165/00148581-200709040-00006. PMID 17705564.
129. ↑ 129.0 129.1 129.2 129.3 "Antipsychotics in the treatment of autism". The Journal of Clinical Investigation 118 (1): 6–14. January 2008. doi:10.1172/JCI32483. PMID 18172517.
130. ↑ "Risperidone: a review of its use in the treatment of irritability associated with autistic disorder in children and adolescents". Paediatric Drugs 9 (5): 343–54. 2007. doi:10.2165/00148581-200709050-00006. PMID 17927305.
131. ↑ "How do I decide whether or not to use medication for my child with autism? Should I try behavior therapy first?". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 38 (6): 1197–8. July 2008. doi:10.1007/s10803-008-0573-7. PMID 18463973.
132. ↑ "Aripiprazole for autism spectrum disorders (ASD)". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016 (6). June 2016. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009043.pub3. PMID 27344135.
133. ↑ "The status of pharmacotherapy for autism spectrum disorders". Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy 8 (11): 1579–603. August 2007. doi:10.1517/14656566.8.11.1579. PMID 17685878.
134. ↑ "Citalopram treatment in children with autism spectrum disorders and high levels of repetitive behavior". Archives of General Psychiatry 66 (6): 581–2. June 2009. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2009.42. PMID 19487622.
135. ↑ "Lack of efficacy of citalopram in children with autism spectrum disorders and high levels of repetitive behavior: citalopram ineffective in children with autism". Archives of General Psychiatry 66 (6): 583–590. June 2009. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2009.30. PMID 19487623.
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136. ↑ "Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for autism spectrum disorders (ASD)". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013 (8). August 2013. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004677.pub3. PMID 23959778.
137. ↑ 137.0 137.1 "Methylphenidate for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2017 (11). November 2017. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011144.pub2. PMID 29159857.
138. ↑ "Psychopharmacology of aggression in children and adolescents with autism: a critical review of efficacy and tolerability". Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology 18 (2): 157–178. April 2008. doi:10.1089/cap.2007.0041. PMID 18439113.
139. ↑ "Autism interventions: a critical update". Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 47 (7): 493–9. July 2005. doi:10.1017/S0012162205000952. PMID 15991872.
140. ↑ 140.0 140.1 "Search for potential autism treatments turns to 'trust hormone'". Nature Medicine 14 (4): 353. April 2008. doi:10.1038/nm0408-353. PMID 18391923.
141. ↑ "Oxytocin and experimental therapeutics in autism spectrum disorders". Advances in Vasopressin and Oxytocin — from Genes to Behaviour to Disease. Progress in Brain Research. 170. 2008. pp. 451–62. doi:10.1016/S0079-6123(08)00435-4. ISBN 978-0-444-53201-5.
142. ↑ "Oxytocin's effects aren't just about love". Knowable Magazine. 11 February 2022. doi:10.1146/knowable-021122-1. https://knowablemagazine.org/article/mind/2022/oxytocins-effects-arent-just-about-love. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
143. ↑ "Oxytocin, Neural Plasticity, and Social Behavior". Annual Review of Neuroscience 44 (1): 359–381. July 2021. doi:10.1146/annurev-neuro-102320-102847. PMID 33823654.
144. ↑ "Pharmacological and dietary-supplement treatments for autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and network meta-analysis". Molecular Autism 13 (1). March 2022. doi:10.1186/s13229-022-00488-4. PMID 35246237.
145. ↑ "Children and autism--Part 1--recognition and pharmacological management". Australian Family Physician 36 (9): 741–244. September 2007. PMID 17915375. http://www.racgp.org.au/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/AustralianFamilyPhys/2007issues/afp200709/200709angley.pdf.
146. ↑ "Systematic review of the effectiveness of pharmacological treatments for adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder". Autism 11 (4): 335–48. July 2007. doi:10.1177/1362361307078132. PMID 17656398.
147. ↑ "Memantine as adjunctive therapy in children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders: an observation of initial clinical response and maintenance tolerability". Journal of Child Neurology 22 (5): 574–579. May 2007. doi:10.1177/0883073807302611. PMID 17690064.
148. ↑ "A retrospective study of memantine in children and adolescents with pervasive developmental disorders". Psychopharmacology 191 (1): 141–147. March 2007. doi:10.1007/s00213-006-0518-9. PMID 17016714.
149. ↑ "A Study of Memantine Hydrochloride (Namenda®) for Cognitive and Behavioral Impairment in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders". 26 February 2016. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01333865.
150. ↑ "Why have drug treatments been so disappointing?". Autism: Neural Basis and Treatment Possibilities. Novartis Foundation Symposia. 251. 2003. pp. 235–44; discussion 245–9, 281–97. doi:10.1002/0470869380.ch14. ISBN 978-0-470-85099-2.
151. ↑ "Autism spectrum disorders (pervasive developmental disorders)". National Institute of Mental Health. 2007. http://nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/autism/complete-publication.shtml.
152. ↑ "Techniques and devices to restore cognition". Behavioural Brain Research 192 (2): 149–65. October 2008. doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2008.04.007. PMID 18539345.
153. ↑ "The Internet for educating individuals with social impairments". Journal of Computer Assisted Learning 19 (4): 546–56. 2003. doi:10.1046/j.0266-4909.2003.00057.x.
154. ↑ "Affective computing and autism". Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1093 (1): 228–48. December 2006. doi:10.1196/annals.1382.016. PMID 17312261. Bibcode: 2006NYASA1093..228K.
155. ↑ "Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Autism". Neurologica Blog. 1 July 2013. http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation-for-autism/.
156. ↑ "Use of transcranial magnetic stimulation in autism spectrum disorders". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 45 (2): 524–36. February 2015. doi:10.1007/s10803-013-1960-2. PMID 24127165.
157. ↑ "Transcranial magnetic stimulation in autism spectrum disorder: Challenges, promise, and roadmap for future research". Autism Research 9 (2): 184–203. February 2016. doi:10.1002/aur.1567. PMID 26536383.
158. ↑ "How Gamma Oscillations Can Be Used as a Vital Biometric for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Diagnosis". August 2020. https://nevadaautism.com/how-gamma-oscillations-can-be-used-as-a-vital-biometric-for-autism-spectrum-disorder-asd-diagnosis/.
159. ↑ 159.0 159.1 "Complementary and alternative medicine treatments for children with autism spectrum disorders". Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America 17 (4): 803–820, ix. October 2008. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2008.06.004. PMID 18775371.
160. ↑ 160.0 160.1 160.2 160.3 160.4 160.5 160.6 160.7 "Children and autism--Part 2--management with complementary medicines and dietary interventions". Australian Family Physician 36 (10): 827–30. October 2007. PMID 17925903. http://www.racgp.org.au/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/AustralianFamilyPhys/2007issues/afp200710/200710angley.pdf.
161. ↑ "Scientifically unsupported therapies in the treatment of young children with autism spectrum disorders". Pediatric Annals 36 (8): 497–8, 500–2, 504–5. August 2007. doi:10.3928/0090-4481-20070801-12. PMID 17849608.
162. ↑ Lack of support for interventions:
* "The effectiveness of interventions for children with autism". Journal of Neural Transmission. Supplementum (Springer) (69): 101–119. 2005. doi:10.1007/3-211-31222-6_6. ISBN 3-211-26291-1. PMID 16355605.
* "Autism from developmental and neuropsychological perspectives". Annual Review of Clinical Psychology 2: 327–355. 2006. doi:10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.2.022305.095210. PMID 17716073.
* "Social skills development in children with autism spectrum disorders: a review of the intervention research". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 37 (10): 1858–68. November 2007. doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0320-x. PMID 17195104.
163. ↑ "Quality of Life for People with Autism: Raising the Standard for Evaluating Successful Outcomes". Child and Adolescent Mental Health 12 (2): 80–86. May 2007. doi:10.1111/j.1475-3588.2006.00432.x. PMID 32811109.
164. ↑ "Early Intervention Practices for Children With Autism: Descriptions From Community Providers". Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities 20 (2): 66–79. 2005. doi:10.1177/10883576050200020301. PMID 16467905.
165. ↑ 165.0 165.1 "Elimination diets in autism spectrum disorders: any wheat amidst the chaff?". Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics 27 (2 Suppl): S162-71. April 2006. doi:10.1097/00004703-200604002-00015. PMID 16685183.
166. ↑ 166.0 166.1 "I Wanted to "Cure My Autism," Too– One Autistic Woman's Story of Internalized Ableism" (in en-US). 2019-06-10. https://neuroclastic.com/i-wanted-to-cure-my-autism-too-one-autistic-womans-story-of-internalized-ableism/.
167. ↑ "Acupuncture for children with autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 42 (8): 1671–1683. August 2012. doi:10.1007/s10803-011-1409-4. PMID 22124580.
168. ↑ "Acupuncture for autism spectrum disorders (ASD)". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 9 (9). September 2011. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007849.pub2. PMID 21901712.
169. ↑ 169.0 169.1 "Chiropractors and vaccination: A historical perspective". Pediatrics 105 (4). April 2000. doi:10.1542/peds.105.4.e43. PMID 10742364.
170. ↑ 170.0 170.1 "Chiropractic antivaccination arguments". Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 28 (5): 367–73. June 2005. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2005.04.011. PMID 15965414.
171. ↑ "A population-based study of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination and autism". The New England Journal of Medicine 347 (19): 1477–82. November 2002. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa021134. PMID 12421889.
172. ↑ "Chiropractic: a critical evaluation". Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 35 (5): 544–62. May 2008. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2007.07.004. PMID 18280103.
173. ↑ "Chiropractic care for nonmusculoskeletal conditions: a systematic review with implications for whole systems research". Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 13 (5): 491–512. June 2007. doi:10.1089/acm.2007.7088. PMID 17604553.
174. ↑ 174.0 174.1 "A systematic review of craniosacral therapy: biological plausibility, assessment reliability and clinical effectiveness". Complementary Therapies in Medicine 7 (4): 201–207. December 1999. doi:10.1016/S0965-2299(99)80002-8. PMID 10709302.
An earlier version of the paper is available without a subscription:  ﻿A systematic review and critical appraisal of the scientific evidence on craniosacral therapy﻿ (Report). Joint Health Technology Assessment Series. British Columbia Office of Health Technology Assessment. May 1999. BCOHTA 99:1J. http://chspr.ubc.ca/files/publications/1999/bco99-01J_cranio.pdf. Retrieved 2007-10-08.
175. ↑ "Interexaminer reliability and cranial osteopathy". The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine 6 (1): 23–34. 2002. http://faculty.une.edu/com/shartman/sram.pdf. Retrieved 2007-10-08.
176. ↑ "Treatment of autism spectrum children with thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide: a pilot study". Neuro Endocrinology Letters 23 (4): 303–8. August 2002. PMID 12195231. http://nel.edu/pdf_w/23_4/NEL230402A02_Lonsdale_rw.pdf.
177. ↑ "A review of the biochemistry, metabolism and clinical benefits of thiamin(e) and its derivatives". Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 3 (1): 49–59. March 2006. doi:10.1093/ecam/nek009. PMID 16550223. PMC 1375232. http://ecam.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/3/1/49.
178. ↑ Hazards of chelation therapy:
* "Deaths resulting from hypocalcemia after administration of edetate disodium: 2003-2005". Pediatrics 118 (2): e534-6. August 2006. doi:10.1542/peds.2006-0858. PMID 16882789.
* "Pediatric fatality secondary to EDTA chelation". Clinical Toxicology 46 (10): 1083–4. December 2008. doi:10.1080/15563650701261488. PMID 18949650.
179. ↑ "Immunizations and autism: a review of the literature". The Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences 33 (4): 341–6. November 2006. doi:10.1017/s031716710000528x. PMID 17168158.
180. ↑ "Early thimerosal exposure and neuropsychological outcomes at 7 to 10 years". The New England Journal of Medicine 357 (13): 1281–92. September 2007. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa071434. PMID 17898097.
181. ↑ "Complementary and alternative medical therapies for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism". Pediatric Clinics of North America 54 (6): 983–1006; xii. December 2007. doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2007.09.006. PMID 18061787.
182. ↑ "Chelation treatment for autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review". Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders 7 (1): 49–55. 2013. doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2012.06.005. "The research reviewed here does not support the use of chelation as a treatment for ASD".
183. ↑ "Probable etiology and possible treatment of childhood autism". Brain Dysfunction 4: 308–319. 1991.
184. ↑ "Gluten- and casein-free diets for autistic spectrum disorder". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2). April 2008. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003498.pub3. PMID 18425890. (Retracted, see doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003498.pub4, PMID 30938835, Retraction Watch)
185. ↑ "A preliminary trial of ascorbic acid as supplemental therapy for autism". Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry 17 (5): 765–74. September 1993. doi:10.1016/0278-5846(93)90058-Z. PMID 8255984.
186. ↑ "Gastrointestinal factors in autistic disorder: a critical review". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 35 (6): 713–27. December 2005. doi:10.1007/s10803-005-0019-4. PMID 16267642.
187. ↑ "Atypical behaviors in children with autism and children with a history of language impairment". Research in Developmental Disabilities 28 (2): 145–62. 2007. doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2006.02.003. PMID 16581226.
188. ↑ "Patterns of complementary and alternative medical therapy use in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 36 (7): 901–9. October 2006. doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0131-0. PMID 16897395.
189. ↑ "Reduced bone cortical thickness in boys with autism or autism spectrum disorder". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 38 (5): 848–56. 2008. doi:10.1007/s10803-007-0453-6. PMID 17879151.
190. ↑ "Novel and emerging treatments for autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review". Annals of Clinical Psychiatry 21 (4): 213–36. 2009. doi:10.1177/104012370902100404. PMID 19917212. https://www.aacp.com/pdf/2104/2104ACP_Review2.pdf.
191. ↑ "Combined vitamin B6-magnesium treatment in autism spectrum disorder". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2005 (4). October 2005. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003497.pub2. PMID 16235322.
192. ↑ "A practice pathway for the identification, evaluation, and management of insomnia in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders". Pediatrics 130 (Supplement 2): S106-24. November 2012. doi:10.1542/peds.2012-0900I. PMID 23118242.
193. ↑ "Melatonin in autism spectrum disorders". Current Clinical Pharmacology 9 (4): 326–34. 2013. doi:10.2174/15748847113086660072. PMID 24050742.
194. ↑ "Omega-3 fatty acids for autistic spectrum disorder: a systematic review". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 39 (8): 1145–54. August 2009. doi:10.1007/s10803-009-0724-5. PMID 19333748.
195. ↑ "Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation for autism spectrum disorders (ASD)". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (11). November 2011. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007992.pub2. PMID 22071839.
196. ↑ "OSR#1: industrial chemical or autism treatment?". Chicago Tribune. 2010-01-17. http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/chi-autism-chemicaljan17,0,3036818,full.story.
197. ↑ "Autism: the role of cholesterol in treatment". International Review of Psychiatry 20 (2): 165–70. April 2008. doi:10.1080/09540260801889062. PMID 18386207.
198. ↑ "Gastrointestinal symptoms and autism spectrum disorder: links and risks - a possible new overlap syndrome". Pediatric Health, Medicine and Therapeutics 6: 153–166. 2015-09-28. doi:10.2147/PHMT.S85717. PMID 29388597.
199. ↑ "Gastrointestinal dysfunction in autism: parental report, clinical evaluation, and associated factors". Autism Research 5 (2): 101–108. April 2012. doi:10.1002/aur.237. PMID 22511450.
200. ↑ "Association of 5-HT2A receptor gene polymorphisms with gastrointestinal disorders in Egyptian children with autistic disorder". Research in Developmental Disabilities 36C: 485–490. January 2015. doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2014.10.023. PMID 25462508.
201. ↑ "Autism spectrum disorder and digestive symptoms" (in en). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/autism-spectrum-disorder/expert-answers/autism-and-digestive-symptoms/faq-20322778.
202. ↑ "Catatonia and autism: a historical review, with implications for electroconvulsive therapy". The Journal of ECT 25 (1): 19–22. March 2009. doi:10.1097/YCT.0b013e3181957363. PMID 19190507.
203. ↑ "The Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Symptoms in Children with Autism: An Open-label Pilot Study". BMC Pediatrics 7 (36): 1–13. 2007. doi:10.1186/1471-2431-7-36. PMID 18005455.
204. ↑ "Hyperbaric treatment for children with autism: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial". BMC Pediatrics 9. March 2009. doi:10.1186/1471-2431-9-21. PMID 19284641.
"Oxygen therapy benefit in autism". 2009-03-14. https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7940149.stm.
205. ↑ "Randomized trial of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for children with autism". Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders 4 (2): 268–275. 2010. doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2009.09.014.
206. ↑ 206.0 206.1 "Controlled evaluation of the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the behavior of 16 children with autism spectrum disorders". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 41 (5): 575–88. May 2011. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1075-y. PMID 20680427.
207. ↑ "Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder". Canadian Family Physician 63 (6): 446–448. June 2017. PMID 28615394.
208. ↑ "Stem cell therapy for autism". Journal of Translational Medicine 5 (30). June 2007. doi:10.1186/1479-5876-5-30. PMID 17597540.
209. ↑ 209.0 209.1 209.2 "Autism spectrum disorders: is mesenchymal stem cell personalized therapy the future?". Journal of Biomedicine & Biotechnology 2012. 1 January 2012. doi:10.1155/2012/480289. PMID 22496609.
210. ↑ "Therapy for autistic children causes outcry in France". Lancet 370 (9588): 645–6. August 2007. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61322-1. PMID 17726792.
211. ↑ "Lobbying by association: The case of autism and the controversy over packing therapy in France" (in en). Social Science & Medicine 230: 256–263. 2019-06-01. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.04.027. ISSN 0277-9536. PMID 31035204. https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02115503/file/S0277953619302278.pdf.
212. ↑ "The history of ideas on autism: legends, myths and reality". Autism 1 (1): 13–23. 1997. doi:10.1177/1362361397011004.
213. ↑ "Martin Luther and childhood disability in 16th century Germany: what did he write? what did he say?". Independent Living Institute. 2005. http://www.independentliving.org/docs7/miles2005b.html.
214. ↑ "Autistic boy dies during exorcism". CBS News. 2003-08-25. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/autistic-boy-dies-during-exorcism/.
215. ↑ "Exorcisms often claim the most innocent -- our children" (in en). 7 June 2013. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/all/exorcisms-often-claim-most-innocent-our-children-flna6C10245416.
216. ↑ "Grappling with affliction: autism in the Jewish ultraorthodox community in Israel". Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry 30 (1): 1–27. March 2006. doi:10.1007/s11013-006-9006-2. PMID 16783528.
217. ↑ "Religiosity, spirituality, and socioemotional functioning in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 39 (5): 706–19. May 2009. doi:10.1007/s10803-008-0673-4. PMID 19082877.
218. ↑ "How About Not 'Curing' Us, Some Autistics Are Pleading". The New York Times. 2004-12-20. https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/20/health/20autism.html.
219. ↑ "It is not a disease, it is a way of life". The Guardian. 2007-08-07. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2007/aug/07/health.medicineandhealth.
220. ↑ 220.0 220.1 "When Disability Is Defined by Behavior, Outcome Measures Should Not Promote "Passing"". AMA Journal of Ethics 23 (7): E569–E575. July 2021. doi:10.1001/amajethics.2021.569. PMID 34351268.
221. ↑ 221.0 221.1 "Autism and Neurodiversity: Addressing Concerns and Offering Implications for the School-Based Speech-Language Pathologist". Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups 6 (1): 184–190. 2021-02-23. doi:10.1044/2020_PERSP-20-00188.
222. ↑ "Camouflaging Intent, First Impressions, and Age of ASC Diagnosis in Autistic Men and Women". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 52 (8): 3413–3426. August 2021. doi:10.1007/s10803-021-05221-3. PMID 34342806.
223. ↑ "Self-reported camouflaging behaviours used by autistic adults during everyday social interactions". Autism 26 (2): 406–421. June 2021. doi:10.1177/13623613211026754. PMID 34180249. PMC 8814950. https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10130518/.
224. ↑ "Gender differences in self-reported camouflaging in autistic and non-autistic adults". Autism 24 (2): 352–363. February 2020. doi:10.1177/1362361319864804. PMID 31319684. https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10080352/.
225. ↑ "Development and Validation of the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q)". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 49 (3): 819–833. March 2019. doi:10.1007/s10803-018-3792-6. PMID 30361940.
226. ↑ 226.0 226.1 "Camouflage and autism". Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines 61 (7): 735–738. July 2020. doi:10.1111/jcpp.13296. PMID 32658354.
227. ↑ "Understanding the Relationships Between Autistic Identity, Disclosure, and Camouflaging". Autism in Adulthood 2 (4): 334–338. 2020-12-01. doi:10.1089/aut.2020.0016. ISSN 2573-9581. PMID 36600960.
228. ↑ 228.0 228.1 "Social camouflaging in autism: Is it time to lose the mask?". Autism 23 (8): 1879–1881. November 2019. doi:10.1177/1362361319878559. PMID 31552745.
229. ↑ "A Systematic Review of Passing as Non-autistic in Autism Spectrum Disorder". Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review 24 (4): 783–812. December 2021. doi:10.1007/s10567-021-00365-1. PMID 34505231. PMC 10613328. https://osf.io/x4hf9/.
230. ↑ "Aut-ors of our Experience: Interrogating Intersections of Autistic Identity" (in en). Canadian Journal of Disability Studies 5 (3): 77–113. 2016-10-31. doi:10.15353/cjds.v5i3.298. ISSN 1929-9192.
231. ↑ "Identification of Autism in Girls: Role of Trait Subtleties, Social Acceptance and Masking." (in en). REACH: Journal of Inclusive Education in Ireland 34 (1). 2021-09-19. ISSN 0790-8695. https://www.reachjournal.ie/index.php/reach/article/view/313.
232. ↑ (in en) Teacher Education and Autism: A Research-Based Practical Handbook. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. 2019-04-18. ISBN 978-1-78592-608-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=LqGDDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA29.
233. ↑ "A Conceptual Analysis of Autistic Masking: Understanding the Narrative of Stigma and the Illusion of Choice". Autism in Adulthood 3 (1): 52–60. 2021-03-01. doi:10.1089/aut.2020.0043. ISSN 2573-9581. PMID 36601266. PMC 8992880. https://osf.io/6rwa5/.
234. ↑ ""Masking Is Life": Experiences of Masking in Autistic and Nonautistic Adults". Autism in Adulthood 3 (4): 330–338. 2021-12-01. doi:10.1089/aut.2020.0083. ISSN 2573-9581. PMID 36601640. PMC 8992921. https://osf.io/t6vp2/.
235. ↑ (in en) Autism and Masking: How and Why People Do It, and the Impact It Can Have. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. 2021-12-21. ISBN 978-1-78775-580-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=5As4EAAAQBAJ&pg=PP1.
236. ↑ "Removal of Asperger's syndrome from the DSM V: community response to uncertainty". Health Communication 31 (4): 485–494. 2016-04-02. doi:10.1080/10410236.2014.968828. PMID 26400415.
237. ↑ ""Having All of Your Internal Resources Exhausted Beyond Measure and Being Left with No Clean-Up Crew": Defining Autistic Burnout". Autism in Adulthood 2 (2): 132–143. June 2020. doi:10.1089/aut.2019.0079. PMID 32851204.
238. ↑ "Independent living in adults with autism spectrum disorder: Stakeholders' perspectives and experiences". Research in Developmental Disabilities 119. December 2021. doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2021.104085. PMID 34600352.
239. ↑ "Defining autistic burnout through experts by lived experience: Grounded Delphi method investigating #AutisticBurnout". Autism 25 (8): 2356–2369. November 2021. doi:10.1177/13623613211019858. PMID 34088219.
240. ↑ "What Is Autistic Burnout? A Thematic Analysis of Posts on Two Online Platforms". Autism in Adulthood 4 (1): 52–65. 2021-09-20. doi:10.1089/aut.2021.0021. ISSN 2573-9581. PMID 36605565.
241. ↑ "What I Wish You Knew: Insights on Burnout, Inertia, Meltdown, and Shutdown From Autistic Youth". Frontiers in Psychology 12. 2021. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.741421. PMID 34803822.
242. ↑ "An evaluation of a tool, based on spoon theory, to promote self-regulation and avoidance of burnout in autistic children and young people". Good Autism Practice 22 (1): 59–72. 2021-05-31. https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/bild/gap/2021/00000022/00000001/art00006.
243. ↑ "A qualitative study of the service experiences of women with autism spectrum disorder". Autism 22 (8): 928–937. November 2018. doi:10.1177/1362361317702561. PMID 28914071.
244. ↑ "Experiences of Autism Acceptance and Mental Health in Autistic Adults". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 48 (2): 473–484. February 2018. doi:10.1007/s10803-017-3342-7. PMID 29071566.
245. ↑ "Recognising, supporting and understanding Autistic adults in general practice settings". Australian Journal of General Practice 50 (3): 126–130. March 2021. doi:10.31128/AJGP-11-20-5722. PMID 33634275.
246. ↑ "'Anything but the phone!': Communication mode preferences in the autism community". Autism 25 (8): 2265–2278. November 2021. doi:10.1177/13623613211014995. PMID 34169750.
247. ↑ "Considering the Autistic advantage in qualitative research: the strengths of Autistic researchers". Contemporary Social Science 16 (5): 589–603. 2021-12-08. doi:10.1080/21582041.2021.1998589. ISSN 2158-2041.
248. ↑ "The autistic advantage" (in en). New Scientist 239 (3186): 32–33. 2018-07-14. doi:10.1016/S0262-4079(18)31254-5. ISSN 0262-4079. Bibcode: 2018NewSc.239...32W.
249. ↑ "Mapping the Autistic Advantage from the Accounts of Adults Diagnosed with Autism: A Qualitative Study". Autism in Adulthood 1 (2): 124–133. June 2019. doi:10.1089/aut.2018.0035. PMID 31058260.

## Further reading

* "﻿Summary of Dietary, Nutritional, and Medical Treatments for Autism – based on over 150 published research studies.﻿". ASU Autism/Asperger's Research Program (ARI publication) 40: 1–53. 2013. http://autism.asu.edu/Docs/2013/Summary_of_Treatments_for_Autism-2013.pdf.
* Defeating Autism: A Damaging Delusion. London: Routledge. 2008. ISBN 978-0-415-44981-6. Reviewed in: "'Autistic children are now seen as a burden'". spiked. 2008-12-19. http://spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/reviewofbooks_article/6045/.
* Controversial therapies for autism and intellectual disabilities.. Routledge. 2016.
* Family therapy and the autism spectrum.. Routledge. 2016.
* Biological treatments for autism and PDD (3rd ed.). Great Plains Laboratory Incorporated. 2008. ISBN 978-0-9661238-1-4.
* Ministries of Health and Education (2008). New Zealand Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline. Wellington: Ministry of Health. ISBN 978-0-478-31257-7. http://nzgg.org.nz/guidelines/0062/ASD_Guideline.pdf. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
* "Autism spectrum disorders: early detection, intervention, education, and psychopharmacological management". Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 48 (8): 506–16. September 2003. doi:10.1177/070674370304800802. PMID 14574826.
* "Pharmacologic treatment of autism and related disorders". Pediatric Annals 36 (9): 575–85. September 2007. doi:10.3928/0090-4481-20070901-09. PMID 17910205.
* "Autism therapy 'reduces core symptoms in children". Learning Disability Practice 19 (10): 6. 2014. doi:10.7748/ldp.19.10.6.s2.
* "Antipurinergic therapy for autism-An in-depth review". Mitochondrion 43: 1–15. November 2018. doi:10.1016/j.mito.2017.12.007. PMID 29253638.
* "Treating autism spectrum disorders. Preface". Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America 17 (4): xv-xviii. October 2008. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2008.07.001. PMID 18775365. This describes a special issue of the journal Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, titled "Treating Autism Spectrum Disorders" (volume 17, issue 4, pages 713–932) and dated October 2008.

## External links

* "Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)" at Therapist Neurodiversity Collective.
* "Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)". Autism Speaks. https://www.autismspeaks.org/applied-behavior-analysis-aba-0.

* v
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Pervasive developmental disorders and autism spectrum (F84, 299)

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Related conditions|

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Applied behavior analysis (ABA)|

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* Occupational therapy
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* Sunfield Children's Home (UK)
* TreeHouse School (UK)
* Western Autistic School (Australia)
* List of schools

Organizations

| Americas|

| United States|

* Autism National Committee
* Autism Network International
* Autism Science Foundation
* Autistic Self Advocacy Network
* Autism Society of America
* Autism Speaks
* Centro Ponceño de Autismo
* Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation
* Generation Rescue
* Interactive Autism Network
* Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee
* LENA Foundation
* National Alliance for Autism Research
* National Council on Severe Autism
* Talk About Curing Autism

|

other|

* Centro Ann Sullivan (Peru)
* Domus Instituto de Autismo (Mexico)
* Filipino-Canadian Autism Parent Support Group (Canada)
* Geneva Centre for Autism (Canada)

Asia|

* Action for Autism (India)
* Autism Resource Centre (Singapore)

Caribbean|

* Autistic Society (Trinidad and Tobago)
* Maia Chung Autism and Disabilities Foundation (Jamaica)

Europe|

| UK|

* Autism Anglia
* The Autism Directory
* Autism Awareness Campaign UK
* Autism Cymru
* Autism Plus
* Autistica
* National Autistic Society
* Sacar

|

other|

* Specialisterne (Denmark)
* Aspies For Freedom
* Alliance Autiste

Oceania|

* Luke Priddis Foundation (Australia)

International|

* Autism rights movement
* Wrong Planet

Literature

| Non-fiction|

* The Accidental Teacher: Life Lessons from My Silent Son
* Animals in Translation
* Aspergirls: Empowering Females with Asperger's Syndrome
* Autism's False Prophets
* Extreme Love: Autism
* Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8
* Freaks, Geeks, and Asperger Syndrome: A User Guide to Adolescence
* In a Different Key
* Life Animated
* Like Colour to the Blind
* Look Me in the Eye
* Mother Warriors
* My Autobiography
* Neurotribes
* Nobody Nowhere
* Overcoming Autism
* The Reason I Jump
* Somebody Somewhere
* Son-Rise: The Miracle Continues
* Strange Son
* Switched On
* Unstrange Minds

|

Fiction|

* The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
* Dear John
* House Rules
* Mockingbird
* Saving Max
* Speed of Dark
* The Winter Journey
* With the Light

For younger people|

* Everybody Is Different: A Book for Young People Who Have Brothers or Sisters With Autism
* Ian's Walk: A Story about Autism
* Marcelo in the Real World
* Rage: A Love Story
* Rules

Journals|

* Autism
* Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
* Molecular Autism
* Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders

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