Many families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are faced with the option of using medicines to help treat their child’s challenging behaviors. This is a tough medical decision and there is no one right answer. Though many children with autism may benefit from medications that ease challenging behaviors, families often struggle with making the decision of whether medication use is right for their child. This is why the Autism Speaks’ Autism Treatment Network (ATN) created the Medication Decision Aid. It includes a family decision aid and answers to frequently asked questions—all designed to help you clarify your values and goals and then talk with your healthcare provider about the options, benefits, and possible downsides of medications. This tool kit can be used at any point in your decision-making process, including the re-evaluation of medications your child is now taking.
This tool kit is a result of on-going activities of the ATN and was developed with the support of a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration. For more information about this grant and the ATN, click here.
Download the Medication Decision Aid Tool Kit
Anyone can download the Medication Decision Aid for free here.
"These materials are the product of on-going activities of the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network, a funded program of Autism Speaks. It is supported by cooperative agreement UA3 MC 11054 through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Research Program to the Massachusetts General Hospital. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the MCHB, HRSA, HHS, or Autism Speaks."
