Autism: Signs and treatments

Identify the warning signs of autism spectrum disorder and find out how therapies can help in your child’s development.

Posted: 03 Aug 2015 Updated: 18 Feb 2021

The early signs

* Doesn’t imitate your expression.
* Delayed or no babbling.
* Doesn’t smile when he sees a familiar face.
• Doesn’t respond to his name.
* Doesn’t follow moving objects with his eyes.
* Doesn’t make noises to get your attention.
* Doesn’t reach out to be picked up.
* Doesn’t play with others or show interest in what people are doing.

Several therapies that are used to treat autism…

* Applied behavioural analysis
Also known as behaviour modification, this treatment method teaches the patient how to conduct himself in an appropriate manner by modifying his behavior through a system of rewards and consequence.

* Speech and language therapy
This method uses techniques such as physical strengthening, breathing training or the use of audio-visual aids to treat disorders that affect a person’s speech, language and cognition.

* Occupational therapy
Using everyday activities to help a person manage his day-to-day life.

* Sensory integration
This form of occupational therapy helps the patient use the information his senses absorb to give him a reliable picture of the world and his place in it.