What is the best treatment for an autistic 12 year old boy?

Answer 1

Be cautious when trying to pursue an aggressive treatment plan. Sometimes it can do more harm than good. For instance, pulling a child out of school too often for therapy can cause the child to fall behind with their classwork. My parents treated me with speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy until I was about 14 years old. They also treated me with concerta at first, and then the generic equivalent of Adderall. I do not recommend these medications! They have the ability to cause violent mood swings, trouble sleeping, and problems with appetite. They also made very little difference in my academic performance. In the course of my life some of the things that have benefited me most as an autistic person came from my parents, and not my therapists. My parents took the time out to teach me the social skills that I lacked. It was through daily encounters such as church, going to a restaurant, going shopping, or doing pretty much anything out in public. With their encouragement, I even trained myself to the point where I no longer needed the ADD medication. I have a dual diagnoses of asperger's syndrome (a milder form of autism) and ADD. Of course, the type of treatment depends on the severity of the case of autism. Mine is obviously not that severe. I also recommend that the autistic person should live as normal as a life as possible! Jobs, college, friends, and romantic relationships are not off-limits to autistic people, though some people who listen to the stereotypes about autistic people often think that is the case.