Autism is considered a serious developmental disorder affecting children especially from the early months of life. Generally, autism occurs in different areas of children’s behavior such as Social interactions and relationships, language and communication, and activities and interests. Studies mention that there are several factors are responsible for ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders). Even though researchers have noticed different factors such as genetic abnormality, metabolic disorders, and viral agents which promote autism, the actual cause of autism remains unknown. Studies reveal that parents and doctors find it essential to provide their children nutritional supplements because of disorders in the gastrointestinal system. Many parents have the misconception that ASD is a primary brain disorder and a psychiatric condition.
Biomedical interventions and their advantages in ASD treatment
Several conventional and alternative therapy move towards ASD. Many people have followed this for recovering autism. Medical professionals and practitioners suggest a blending of behavioral therapies and biomedical treatments. Biomedical treatment in considers to autism spectrum disorders is a complete assessment of the whole child’s bodily, internal, and external surroundings. Biomedical treatment for ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) is a mixture of mainstream and substitute medicines working in harmonization to cure the child.
Research reports and news reports have marked that through the implementation of biomedical autism treatment many children with behavior disorder have recovered and many others have improved their ability in verbal communication, social interaction, and environmental awareness. The exponents of biomedical treatment argue that intestinal turmoil and persistent gastrointestinal inflammation affect the children who have the symptoms of autism and they have suggested that these disabilities lessen the body’s power to receive essential nutrients. Dietary and other alternative medicine in biomedical treatment tries to address the above mentioning issues. Studies show that dietary interventions in the biomedical approach helped the process of eliminating gluten and casein. This promotes regulation of bowel habits, better activity levels in family and school, improved sleep, and much repetitive behavior among the children with the symptoms of ASD. David Kirby remarks that; “Dr. David Tayloe, told me personally that some biomedical interventions in autism look promising enough to warrant more research.” (Kirby, 2008, p.2).
Chelation therapy is another important method in biomedical interventions or healing children with ASD. This is a process to remove mercury and other harmful metals for the body of a child with autism.
In Biomedical therapy, the doctors prepared to take blood tests and another diagnosis to find metal extermination, food intolerance, an overgrowth of yeast and they have recommended specific diets. “Seeing through new eyes: changing the lives of children with autism … by Melvin Kaplan “Mounting evidence indicates that approaches such as gluten- and casein-free diets and other nutritional therapies can dramatically improve the behavior, communication, and cognitive performances of a significant percentage of children or adults with autism.” (Kaplan, 2006, p. 178).
Alternative therapies for ASD patients
Our developing time needs a special mind to remove autism through the empirical support given by family members and others. Medical practitioners remarked that Biomedical treatment has its advantages but it has some minor disadvantages because studies concerned with A S D reveals that biomedical therapies are useful for millions. Chelation and other biomedical approaches have less scientific or clinical evidence of efficacy. There are psycho-physical and inherited factors behind autism so a psychological or emotional attitude is enough to eradicate this issue from the child. So parents of the patient must reveal the authenticity of the bio-medical treatment on autism and they require more social support. Musical therapy is one of the ways suggested by certain researchers that have no consequence. This type of natural treatment is suitable to escape from the hands of autism. The online article named State of the Evidence Regarding Complementary and Alternative Medical Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorders helps the reader to think about the role of music therapy in ASD Treatment. Garner. T. Umberger states; “Music therapy as an intervention for A S D. Music therapy involves using music and musical activities as a basis for therapeutic interventions.” (Umberger, n.d). Researchers and medical officers have mentioned that many children who suffered from autism are prescribed medications to develop their educational, social, and behavioral functioning.
The need for empirical support in ASD treatment
Medical researches and studies have noticed that autism is a disorder of neural development. This disorder of neural development is mainly characterized by damaged social dealings and communication, and by constrained behavior. Doctors and medical practitioners have prescribed an antidepressant medication to handle the signs of anxiety, behavior disorder, and depression. Children have autistic symptoms have suffered difficulties with social interaction, communication problems with verbal and nonverbal, and contracted compulsive interests. Here one can see that social and empirical support is essential for recovering autism. Autism mainly involves many parts of the brain. “Autism has a strong inherited starting point, in rare cases; autism is strongly associated with agents that cause birth defects. In other main and important causes of autism such as environmental cause’s the environmental causes are heavy metals, pesticides, or childhood vaccines. All parents usually symbol in the first two years of their child’s life.” (Autism, 2009). But they have not identified these symptoms, so autism is not identifying immediately. The symbol of autism usually develops gradually, but in case another some autistic children first develop more on average and then these children move back based on their social and family environment. Doctors have noticed that children who have the symptoms of autism cannot live independently after reaching his/her adulthood.
The book entitled Clinical assessment and intervention for autism spectrum disorders gives helpful comments about the relevance and need of empirical support in ASD treatment. Author Johnny L. Matson remarks;” Social support, and even the perception of social support, is critical for parents, in terms of reducing stress and selecting treatments.” (Matson, 2008, p.376). Studies show that empirical support experiences regulation of difficulties, including behavioral disorders at young ages. The vital impact of social communication confronts and suffers from generalization for children with autism spectrum disorders requires service delivery tips and personalized programs that lead to developed active participation and make independence in normal learning surroundings. Medical experts identify the significance of family involvement and union with a variety of speech professionals and communication partners, the facilitation of group learning, and the importance of corresponding service delivery to meaningful results.
To conclude, autism spectrum disorder is a common developmental disorder among children. Biomedical interventions are widely accepted approaches in the field of ASD treatment. Even though, biomedical therapy became common in ASD patients it forced many people to other alternative therapies and social support. As a problem related to communication and social interaction empirical support is essential for the treatment of ASD patients.
Reference List
Autism. (2009). Popsugar. Web.
Kaplan, M. (2006). Seeing through new eyes: Changing the lives of children with autism, Asperger syndrome and other developmental disabilities through vision therapy. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. p.178. Web.
Kirby, D. (2008). Biomedical treatment of autism: Sound medicine, or dangerous voodoo? Sudbury News. Web.
Matson, J L. (2008). Clinical assessment and intervention for autism spectrum disorders. Academic Press. P.376. Web.
Umberger, T. (n.d). State of the evidence regarding complementary and alternative medical treatments for autism spectrum disorders-garner. 111 Bowling Green State University. 2009. Web.