Yesterday, Parents Ask expert Dr. Robert Sears discussed early warning signs of Autism. Today, he's explaining the importance of early intervention and how it works:

Q: My son's doctor suspects that he has autism. Nothing is confirmed but I'm nervous and wonder if there's something we should do. Any therapy? Diets? Intervention? Is there even a way he can recover? Please help.

The single most important thing for every parent to know is that developmental therapy should begin as soon as a significant developmental problem is suspected. Parents should absolutely not wait until a diagnosis of autism is confirmed. Here is why. Most children who end up being diagnosed with autism don’t meet all the criteria until at least age two, and often not until three or older. But the autistic symptoms may be noticed as early as one year of age or even younger. Some parents will waste a year or more seeking various developmental evaluations, seeing numerous medical specialists, and getting second opinions, without actually initiating any meaningful therapy. If a parent waits until their child is ultimately diagnosed with autism before actually doing anything about it, they’ve likely wasted a year or more of potential therapeutic time. We know that the younger the therapy is started, the better it works.



My advice to every parent who suspects there might be a problem is this: While getting a full developmental and neurological evaluation, begin developmental therapies at the same time. It may be challenging to obtain developmental therapeutic services before a child is formally diagnosed with autism, but if a toddler isn’t speaking, begin language therapy. If his eye contact and social interaction are delayed, begin developmental stimulation therapy. If he is showing some sensory aversions, begin sensory integration OT (see below). If he’s showing some early classic signs of autism, start some ABA therapy (see below). All of these can be started before a diagnosis is made.



I have (tragically) seen some families wait a year or more before beginning these treatments because they weren’t sure if their child definitely had autism. In my opinion, any child with early subtle signs is at risk of eventually developing full autism. Start therapy early.



Choose the Right Therapies



There are four basic branches of therapy that every child with suspected or confirmed autism should begin:



•    Applied Behavioral Analysis – ABA therapy is the backbone of autism treatment. A child will typically spend two to six hours each day, five days per week, with a licensed ABA therapist. The approach utilizes behavioral techniques to teach a child with autism how to behave, interact, and socialize.

•    Speech and language therapy – A speech pathologist will spend between one and four hours per week with a child working specifically on language skills.

•    Occupational therapy – This therapist will spend a few hours each week working on a child’s movement, coordination, and strength skills. Sensory Integration Therapy (a branch of OT) should also be done to help teach a child how to understand and handle sensations.

•    Social skills therapy – There are various one-on-one or group approaches to teaching children how to socialize and interact with other kids. Preschoolers and older should be in such a class at least once a week.



A therapy program needs to be tailored to a child’s individual needs. One child may need more hours of language therapy, whereas another may need more sensory OT. And there are many variations of the above therapies. Parents should seek the advice of an experienced developmental case manager to help guide their child’s program.



There are two ways to seek therapy. The first is through a state-funded program, which you should be able to find through your pediatrician. A case manager will meet with you and your child for some initial screening tests. Then your child will have a full developmental evaluation to determine what therapies he will qualify for. These will then be started. These therapists probably won’t determine whether or not your child actually has autism. They will simply get started on therapies to address the delays he has. The state program will refer you to a developmental pediatrician, psychologist, or neurologist to further assess the possibility of autism. But meanwhile, your child will start the much-needed therapies. If your child eventually does receive the diagnosis of autism, he will likely qualify for expanded therapies which will likely comprise six to eight hours each day, five days per week.



Parents also have the option of seeking private developmental therapies, either through their insurance or paying out of pocket. There are numerous autism therapy centers in almost every major city. You may have to fight with your insurance company to get things covered, but most states have now passed laws that require insurance to cover autism treatments.



Explore Biomedical Interventions



Besides addressing the developmental challenges of autism, it is equally important to treat any associated medical problems that may be contributing to your child’s autism. There are various medical, nutritional, allergic, and infectious problems that can possibly make autistic symptoms and behaviors worse. These vary greatly between children. It’s useful to seek out a pediatrician or other health care practitioner who has taken a special interest in autism treatment. Here are several of the main medical issues that should be addressed:



•    Chronic intestinal problems – Although many children with autism don’t seem to have any symptoms of diarrhea or constipation, those that do can benefit greatly from having their gut healed and returned to normal function. A doctor can test your child for food allergies or intestinal infections that may be contributing to this. There is a direct connection between the intestinal system and overall neurological function. Healing the gut can help heal the brain.

•    Allergies – Eczema, nasal allergies, asthma, or food allergies can all interfere with the immune system. It’s important to test for these and eliminate or treat any offending allergens. A healthy immune system helps improve neurological function.

•    Thyroid problems – A poorly functioning thyroid gland is somewhat common in autism. This can be easily diagnosed with a blood test.

•    Metabolic disorders – There are a host of rare metabolic problems that a child with autism may have. Some are treatable, some are not. A doctor can test for these.

•    Genetic disorders – Rarely, a child’s autism will be caused by a major genetic defect, such as Fragile X syndrome. Genetic testing can be done to look for such problems, although there is no specific treatment (yet) if a genetic disorder is found.



These are just a few of the possibilities. There are many more medical issues that an autism specialist can look for.



Besides looking for and treating the various medical problems, there are numerous nutritional treatments that I have found to be very effective in some children. Such therapies do not help everyone, but they are harmless and are based upon solid scientific and nutritional principles. Here are some of the basics that I try with my own patients:



•    Multivitamin/mineral supplements – Children with autism and digestive problems can have some nutritional deficiencies, so I like to make sure they are covered. I like to use products that are high in B-complex vitamins, especially B-6, as this has been shown to improve neurological function.

•    Fish oil – Omega-3 oils are critical to normal neurological function, and supplementing has been shown to help a whole host of medical conditions.

•    Probiotics – These healthy bacteria are essential for normal intestinal function. They are especially important for any child with chronic diarrhea or constipation.

•    Other nutrients. There is a whole variety of other nutritional treatments that doctors who treat autism like to try. Your doctor will be able to offer you more guidance.



Join a Parent Support Group



You are not alone. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of other families in every major city who have already gone through the same thing you are. Seek their help. They’ve learned who the best local therapists are, how the local school district works, how an insurance company covers therapy, what local doctors are in your area who can really help, and much more. Trying to figure out what to do on your own is like stumbling around in the dark. Let other veteran parents help you find your way. 



Numerous groups have been established across the country to offer help to families with autism. Some focus on education and diagnosis, some provide lists of autism medical providers and behavioral/developmental therapists, some offer financial assistance to needy families to help cover therapy, and some focus on political action. Some only provide mainstream information and others incorporate biomedical interventions. I have interacted with a number of these groups and have been thrilled with how much help they can provide families.



My favorite group is Talk About Curing Autism. TACA covers pretty much everything, and they have physical chapters in 17 states so far (and they continue to grow every year). They can also help families living in states that don’t yet have an outreach chapter.  TACA provides families with hands-on assistance (both in group meetings and one-on-one) to help parents understand everything they can do for their child. They provide biomedical diet and supplement education, resource lists of behavioral and developmental therapists, lists of doctors who specialize in autism, social functions for families affected by or involved with autism, marriage counseling for parents, financial support for families in need, and online support from educated and experienced parents to answer questions directly. They also have resources in Spanish. And best of all they have an autism mentor program that will match any newly diagnosed family with another family who has been working through autism for several years and knows how to help you get the most out of the resources in your area. Visit www.TACAnow.org today. You can’t do this alone. The help and support of other parents is crucial to you, your child, and your family.



Use Trusted Sources of Information



Be sure to research and become educated about any unproven alternative therapies before trying them. While many are natural and harmless, some do pose risk. Parents should make sure they feel comfortable and confident with what they are trying before they do it.

There are many alternative therapies that doctors all over the world are trying, with varying degrees of success. I have been exploring such treatments over the past ten years, and my experience and advice has culminated in The Autism Book: What Every Parent Needs to Know About Early Detection, Treatment, Recovery, and Prevention. There is so much to learn about this escalating disorder. There are many exciting new treatments.

In The Autism Book, I guide you through all your options, including the diagnosis, exploring all possible causes, putting together the right developmental treatment program, and treating your child with safe and natural medical and nutritional supplements. And most important of all, I discuss preventive measures new parents can take with their first baby (and affected families can take with their next children) to reduce the risk of autism. There are many environmental, genetic, medical, and nutritional factors involved in autism. Understanding these is critical to prevention.