Behavioral Treatment for Autism

Among the most effective forms of treatment for autism are those that have a behavioral therapy component. Behavioral programs are designed to reward appropriate behavior while ignoring or delivering a negative consequence for inappropriate behavior. These programs seem to have a high rate of success, particularly when they are started when a child is still young - many programs suggest beginning before the age of three.

Like the parents of children with other disorders that present with behavioral symptoms (notably AD/HD), parents of autistic children may find that their parenting skills are challenged by the extremes of behavior that an autistic child can present. Temper tantrums, self injurious behaviors, aggression and agitation can 'train' a parent into giving the autistic child what he wants (which is often to be left alone) rather than teaching the child a more appropriate way of getting what he wants.

Instituting a consistent program of behavioral modification can work wonders in dealing with many of the behaviors associated with autism - and will certainly help the child in developing in a more socially appropriate direction. The components of a behavioral program may include:

A structured daily routine
Autistic children respond best when they have a regular routine and know what to expect. They don't deal well with inconsistency or change. Establish a daily routine and stick to it as much as possible.

Behavior control
In controlling tantrums and other behavioral issues, there are three prioriries:
Dangerous behaviors should be dealt with first. Any behavior that could be dangerous for the child or others around them must be stopped immediately and firmly, without anger.
Sitting skills are something that most children acquire naturally, but that children with autistic disorders often need to be taught. The best way to teach sitting skills is to reward appropriate sitting and attending while ignoring or instituting a negative consequence for inappropriate behaviors.
Bizarre, stereotypical or repetitive behaviors like finger flapping and rocking are among the most obvious and distracting symptoms of autism. They respond well to a firm 'stop' command and redirection to another activity that isn't conducive to continuing the behavior you want to eliminate.

Communication with a child who has autism should be simple and direct. Use short, clear sentences to speak to the child, and avoid going into explanations or using too many words. "Come here now" is easy to process and understand. "Come here so that I can fix your pants and tuck in your shirt because you need to look nice" may get completely lost in confusion to the child.

Applied Behavioral Analysis is one of the most popular forms of behavioral modification used with autistic children. It involves breaking down tasks into individual components and rewarding a child for successfully completing each step of the task. ABA is widely touted as being a 'scientifically proven' effective treatment that may allow an autistic child to reach 'normal' functioning. The reported success rate is close to 47%.

There is considerable controversy surrounding the effectiveness of ABA. There's no doubt that in some cases it works extremely well, however it is not the only behavioral approach to treating autism, and it is not a cure for autism. Like any other behavioral tool, it can be an effective means of training a person with autism to recognize and respond to social and behavioral cues more appropriately.