Alternative Treatments
In trying to do everything possible to help their children, many parents are eager to try new treatments, even those that have not yet been scientifically proven to be effective. The following are some of the approaches for which there is parental anecdotal evidence of efficacy.
Facilitated Communication
This technique assumes that by supporting a nonverbal child's arms and fingers so that he can type on a keyboard, the child will be able to type out his or her inner thoughts. Several scientific studies have shown that the typed messages actually reflect the thoughts of the person providing the support.
Holding Therapy
In this technique, the parent hugs the child for long periods of time, even if the child resists. Those who use the technique contend that it forges a bond between the parent and child. Some claim that it helps stimulate parts of the brain as the child senses the boundaries of his or her own body. There is no scientific evidence, however, to support these claims.
Auditory Integration Therapy
The child listens to a variety of sounds with the goal of improving language comprehension. Advocates of this method suggest that it helps people with autism receive more balanced sensory input from their environment. When tested using scientific procedures, the method was shown to be no more effective than listening to music. However, some parents report that children make significant behavioral and language gains following this treatment.
Doman/Delacato Method
People are made to crawl and move as they did at each stage of early development, in an attempt to learn missing skills. Again, no scientific studies support the effectiveness of this method.
Back to Treatments Page
In trying to do everything possible to help their children, many parents are eager to try new treatments, even those that have not yet been scientifically proven to be effective. The following are some of the approaches for which there is parental anecdotal evidence of efficacy.
Facilitated Communication
This technique assumes that by supporting a nonverbal child's arms and fingers so that he can type on a keyboard, the child will be able to type out his or her inner thoughts. Several scientific studies have shown that the typed messages actually reflect the thoughts of the person providing the support.
Holding Therapy
In this technique, the parent hugs the child for long periods of time, even if the child resists. Those who use the technique contend that it forges a bond between the parent and child. Some claim that it helps stimulate parts of the brain as the child senses the boundaries of his or her own body. There is no scientific evidence, however, to support these claims.
Auditory Integration Therapy
The child listens to a variety of sounds with the goal of improving language comprehension. Advocates of this method suggest that it helps people with autism receive more balanced sensory input from their environment. When tested using scientific procedures, the method was shown to be no more effective than listening to music. However, some parents report that children make significant behavioral and language gains following this treatment.
Doman/Delacato Method
People are made to crawl and move as they did at each stage of early development, in an attempt to learn missing skills. Again, no scientific studies support the effectiveness of this method.
Back to Treatments Page
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