5 Types of Evidence Based Interventions For Autism

From a young age, Sam was intensely focused on certain activities and struggled with social interactions. When he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, his parents felt a mix of relief and worry. They were relieved that they could finally put a name to the differences, but were worried about how to support his needs.

After months of researching and speaking with different physicians his parents had various evidence based interventions for autism to try.

Once they found the right ones that worked for Sam he began to flourish!

If you have a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there are a lot of things you can do to help your child develop and work through the difficulties of living with autism. With the right resources, every child, like Sam, has the potential to thrive and lead a fulfilling life.

Let’s discuss different interventions for people with autism spectrum disorder.

Interventions For Autism Spectrum Disorder

We will go through 5 different types of interventions that may help your child grow and develop.

#1 Behavioral Interventions

When teaching behavioral interventions with a child that has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the main focus should be teaching subculture behaviors and skills by using structured techniques. The most researched and best-supported type of behavior intervention is ABA or Applied Behavior Analysis. This type of intervention is a very hands-on approach with your child.

Other types of behavior interventions include:

All these different behaviors based interventions may help a child with autism spectrum disorder.

10 Things Parents Need To Know About Self-Contained Classrooms

Please enter your details to download the free report.

Learn how to navigate the public school system and obtain the best possible education for your child with a learning disability.

Download Free Report

#2 Developmental Interventions

The developmental interventions for a child with autism spectrum disorder are targeted to help children develop positive relationships with peers and adults. Even though these developmental interventions are not well researched, they have been known to help develop a positive relationships.

The developmental interventions include:

#3 Family-Based Intervention

Family-based intervention is focused on putting family first and supporting the family with strategies to help their child.

When it comes to research on family-based intervention, there is little to none. But we do know that having family involvement with a child with a disability is very important for the child’s development and growth.

An excellent program for family intervention for a child on the autism spectrum is the More Than Words Program.

#4 Therapy Based Interventions

The therapy based intervention for autism spectrum disorder targets specific behaviors or academic needs that the individual child requires.

Some of these interventions could be speech therapy and occupational therapy. Many of these therapy interventions are on top of other interventions given to the child.

Therapy-based interventions consist of:

Functional Communication Training
Sign Language
Picture Exchange Communication System

#5 Medical Interventions

You may hear of medicine that cures children with autism. As of now, there is no cure for autism. There is medication that can help a child with autism, but not all of their symptoms will go away.

Some of the behaviors that may be improved with medication include;

• Behavior associated with ADHD
• Symptoms of anxiety
• Obsessive-compulsive behaviors
• Sleep disorder

Some of the medications that may help with these types of behaviors include:

3 Additional Considerations When Choosing the Right Approach for Your Child

– Tailoring Interventions to Unique Needs

Every child with Autism Spectrum Disorder is unique, and what might work wonders for one might not necessarily yield the same results for another. It’s essential to recognize and respect these individual needs and differences.

Some interventions might resonate more with your child, while others might not be as effective.

– The Power of Early Action

One universally accepted truth in the world of Autism is the power of early diagnosis and intervention. Detecting ASD signs and starting evidence based interventions as early as possible often leads to significantly better outcomes.

The sooner you can introduce helpful strategies and therapies to your child, the more pronounced their developmental growth can be.

– Combining Strengths with Integrated Interventions

A singular approach might not always be the answer. Sometimes, it’s the combination of different interventions that brings about the most positive change.

For instance, while behavioral interventions can address specific behaviors, adding therapy-based interventions can help in other areas. This would provide a well-rounded, holistic support system to the child.

Experimenting with an integrated approach can open up new pathways for growth and understanding.

Wrapping it Up

There are many interventions that can be done to help support your child with Autism. These interventions can help your child grow academically and behaviorally. Without these interventions, children with ASD may have a more difficult time in some aspects of their life.

Do you utilize any of these interventions? Please let us know your feedback in the comments below!