How to help a child with autism

Early intervention is the key to improving the outlook for a child with autism, a neurological disorder that impairs communication and social skills.

Step 1
Take your child for a complete medical exam. Some behavioral problems associated with autism, like temper tantrums, can sometimes be reduced if physical problems common in children with autism, such as gastrointestinal issues and allergies, are alleviated.

Step 2
Put your child on a gluten-free, casein-free diet, which means no barley, rye, oats, wheat, or dairy. Many families of children with autism have had good results.

Step 3
Get your child started on speech therapy as soon as possible.

Step 4
Get your child sensory-integration therapy, which has been proven effective in helping children with autism become less sensitive to light, sound, and touch.

Step 5
Hire an occupational therapist to help them with skills they’ll need for an independent life.

Step 6
Use applied behavioral analysis, or ABA, the only intervention approved by the Surgeon General’s Office.

Step 7
Most children with autism benefit from a combination of treatments.

Step 8
Consider verbal behavior intervention, which is designed to develop language skills through motivation and reinforcement.

Step 9
Test the TEACCH approach, which customizes an education program to the child’s strengths and weaknesses.

Step 10
Consider becoming trained in Relationship Development Intervention, or RDI, which suggests everyday things parents can do at home to help their child adapt to changes and be more open to interacting with others.

Step 11
Enroll your child in school when they turn three. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires that states provide special education services to children with disabilities, beginning at this age.

Step 12
Stay up-to-date on autism research; new therapies are being tested and developed all the time.