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print this pageTreatments for Autism
What is on the Horizon
ABA, special diets, supplements and a variety of other treatments are used today to help in the treatment of autism; but there are some other interesting treatments being studied that may be available to you in the future. Here is a brief overview to get you acquainted.
Low Frequency Magnetic Fields
Researchers at the University of Louisville have been studying transcranial magnetic stimulation which has the potential to become an effective treatment for some of the major symptoms of autism such as: hyperactivity, sensory overload and repetitive behaviors.
Members of the U of L research team placed a coil on the scalps of 10 people with autism to create a low frequency magnetic field, which they then pulsed by reversing the field’s polarity. Participants received 20 minute treatments two times a week for five weeks. Symptoms were assessed before and after the treatment by measuring brain activity and scores on neurological and psychological tests.
Cholesterol
A study published in the International Review of Psychiatry discussed the role of cholesterol supplementation in the treatment of autism. The researchers note that a deficit of cholesterol may agitate biological mechanisms and thereby contribute to autism spectrum disorders. Symptoms helped by dietary cholesterol supplementation included: fewer infections, symptoms of irritability and hyperactivity, improvements in physical growth, sleep, social interactions, aggressive behaviors, self injury and temper outbursts.
The researchers believe that cholesterol should be considered as a helpful treatment approach while awaiting an improved understanding of cholesterol metabolism and ASD.
Vitamin D
Alternative Medical Review has published results from a meta-analysis (from 18 controlled studies) that shows vitamin D may be useful in the treatment of autism and a host of other disorders. Furthermore, Medical Hypothesis has also published a paper that discusses the idea that autism could be caused by a lack of vitamin D . The author of the paper author believes that the link between vitamin D and autism should be tested in a large randomized controlled trial.
Virtual Playmates
Psychologist and linguist Justine Cassell of Northwestern University and several colleagues developed the virtual playmate program which is a gender neutral child that appears on a TV or projection screen.
The researchers note that interaction with virtual playmates may unlock social abilities in children with autism. When children with autism play with typical children, they sometimes do not fill in pauses in conversation or ask questions in a natural flow. However, with a virtual playmate, children with autism were able to perform these social skills in as little as 20 minutes.
The researchers suspect that children with autism are more at ease with virtual children because they are more predictable and perhaps less threatening. Researchers are hoping that children with autism will be able to carry over the skills they have learned from their virtual peers into real world situations .
1National Center for Biotechnology Information
2National Center for Biotechnology Information
