First of all, every new treatment for autism should be approached with hopeful skepticism. The treatment should be able to help the autistic child become a fully functioning member of the society. Second of all, be cautious of the following:

1. Any program or technique that is publicized as effective or desirable for every person with autism.
2. Any program that thwarts individualization and potentially results in harmful program decisions.
3. That any treatment represents one of several options for a person with autism.
4. That treatment should always depend on individual assessment information that points to it as an appropriate choice for a particular child.
5. That no new treatment should be implemented until its proponents can specify assessment procedures necessary to determine whether it will be appropriate for an individual with autism
6. That debate over use of various techniques are often reduced to superficial arguments over who is right, moral and ethical and who is a true advocate for the children. This can lead to results that are directly opposite to those intended including impediments to maximizing programs.
7. That often new treatments have not been validated scientifically.

Here are some questions you should ask regarding specific treatment for autism:

Will the treatment result in harm to the child? How will failure of the treatment affect my child and family? Has the treatment been validated scientifically? Are there assessment procedures specified? How will the treatment be integrated into the child’s current program?

Currently there is no medicine or brain operation that can cure an autistic person. But there is one treatment that has passed the test of time and is effective for all children, autistic or normal, and this is the structural educational programs geared to a person’s developmental level of functioning. There are also other treatments that might be helpful at different points in an autistic person’s life. And some other treatments for autistic people have yet to be scientifically proven.

If you are a parent of a child with autism, it is a must that you constantly educate yourself about new treatments. You should always keep an open mind and educate yourself regarding new treatments as they become available. Before making any treatment decisions, however, you must consider that not all treatments could be applicable to your child. Remember that what is right for one child may not necessarily be right for another.

There must be an assessment first before any decisions are made regarding treatment for autism. You must choose what is the right approach for your child and your family. An autistic child must be treated with the right type of program. You, as the parent, can have a big role in the treatment of autism because you know your child well better than anyone else.

This leads to stereotypes, which can result in hatred, embarrassment, or other unhappy situations. By becoming educated about autism, you can help others in your community cope with this disorder.

It is most important to note that not all autistic people are the same. Other diseases and disorders have their own sets of rules, but autism is such a complex medical condition, that everyone reacts differently to it. Autistic people are usually rated on a functional scale, with high-functioning people being able to hold jobs and low-functioning people needing 24-hour-a-day care.

Symptoms include behavioral challenges, uncontrollable movements, speech and communication difficulties, and emotional inadequacies. Some show all symptoms, while other show few, and still others may have most under control to the point where you cannot tell they have autism at all.

Because every person is different, no one thing can be said about autism and be true overall. However, most autistic people have trouble communicating emotions. This does not mean that an autistic person does not feel. He or she simply cannot express this feeling.

It also does not mean strong relationship bonds are not possible. On the contrary, many autistic people are happily married and in love. Forming relationships is more difficult for most, but can be accomplished over time.

Many people believe that being autistic coincides with being a genius in some aspect. While it is true that some autistic individuals have extraordinary math, music, and art skills, this number is nowhere near the majority-in fact, relatively few autistic people function outside of the normal range in any skill.

This stereotype is perpetuated in the movies and on television, because the story of a talented person fighting disadvantages (such as autism) makes a good plot. However, this is not the norm, so nothing more than the best they can personally do should be expected from an autistic person.

However, it is important to note that autism is not a form of mental retardation. Some autistic people are mentally retarded as well, but most are not and should not be treated as such.

In the end, the most important lesson to take away from your studies on autism is one of tolerance. You will probably need to be patient when dealing with autistic people, but by understanding a little more about the disorder, perhaps this will be easier. Learn what you can and spread the knowledge to those you know to help create a more tolerant setting for autistic individuals in your community.