The moment you learn that your child has autism, it’s common to be flooded with emotions and fear for the future. Many parents want to learn how this happened and others ask, “Can my child’s autism be cured?”
As of 2018, researchers have yet to uncover what causes autism, therefore, there is not a known cure. There is hope, however. Applied behavior analysis, or ABA therapy, is recognized by The US Surgeon General, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and The National Institute for Mental Health for significantly improving the symptoms associated with autism. This therapy aims to reduce maladaptive behaviors that may be occurring and teach developmentally appropriate skills. This is accomplished by applying different teaching strategies that have been proven through science to effectively support learning. ABA therapy can be delivered in a family’s home, clinic, school setting, day care, playground, etc. Wherever learning can occur, therapy can be delivered!
Without a known cure for autism, there also isn’t a medication identified to cure it. Some medications may, however, help alleviate symptoms associated with autism. Notably, over the years, studies have shown that medications are most successful when used with effective behavioral therapy.
It’s important to note that autism spectrum disorder is, in fact, a spectrum disorder and individuals with this diagnosis can present symptoms differently. Given that, the therapy received should always be tailored to meet your child’s individual needs.
While there may not be a cure for autism today, there is hope knowing there is an effective therapy, ABA therapy, known to deliver promising results.