ASD Autism Spectrum Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorder

ASD

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder which impairs social development and causes problem communicating. ASD is a biological problem that can be diagnosed by the time the child is three years old. There is a problem between the nerve cells and their synapses and how they organize the information, which affects the way the brain processes information ("Autism," 2011). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)"ASDs occur in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups and are four times more likely to occur in boys than in girl" ("Genomics and health," 2010). ASD affects 1-2, in every 1000 person worldwide and about 9 out of every 1000 person in the United Sates ("Genomics and health," 2010). This is a serious problem and further research is needed to find a cure.

There are many types of treatments available for this disease. Some treatments are applied at the home, while others can be applied in a professional setting like the classroom. Pivotal Reponse Treatment (PRT) is one of the leading treatments for ASD. This technique is utilized to " teach language, decrease disruptive/self-stimulatory behaviors, and increase social, communication, and academic skills by focusing on critical behaviors that affect a wide range of behaviors" ("Pivotal response treatment," 2011). PRT helps the child to build their communication skills, making them more comfortable in social situations. Therapist who administer PRT also trains the parents how to effectively communicate with their child and help them learn how to communicate.

Another effective treatment method for treating ASD is Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). ABA is an approach that is used to understand how the environmental factors impact the child's behavior. This is a very common technique utilized for treating ASD, and it is very effective. ABA will help the family to eliminate stressors for the child, helping them to feel safe in their home and therefore help their communication skills. There are many other documented scientific treatments that exist for this disease. Children who are diagnosed with ASD should be given the appropriate treatment plan for the child. Many therapists in this field find working with the patient in their home, with their families and their chain of support is most effective.

Although there are many respectable, effective treatment plans for ASD, there still exist unproven treatments and exaggerated claims about treating ASD. Parents continue to utilize unproven, undocumented treatment plans to help their child. These fads continue to exist because there is no current cure for ASD. There are treatment plans available that will help the child adapt better to society, however there are no ways to eliminate the symptoms. Parents are desperate for a cure, they are looking for ways to make their child feel normal. According to Walsh et. al. (2010) doctors in the past have often used unproved methods to treat patients with the hope of finding a cure or a better therapy for the disease. Many cures or treatments for other diseases were discovered in this manner.