Tiada penawar bagi autisme pada masa sekarang. Rawatan “Intensive Behavioural” menggunakan Analisis Perilaku Terapan (ABA) adalah pendekatan standard tertinggi bagi rawatan autisme.
RAWATAN STANDARD EMAS UNTUK AUTISME
ABA adalah pendekatan pembelajaran tunggal untuk autisme. Ianya disokong oleh lebih 1000 artikel jurnal berdasarkan kajian terkawal, susulan data selepas rawatan dan juga ulasan kajian yang disemak semula dari golongan yang bertauliah.
Lebih dari 40 negeri didalam Amerika Syarikat memberi atau membiaya insurans bagi rawatan ABA.
Hampir 50% kanak kanak yang autisme yang menerima rawatan ABA yang berkualiti di umur yang muda selalunya dapat bersaing dengan rakan sebaya mereka yang normal. 50% yang lain nya dapat menunjukkan peningkatan didalam semua aspek seperti pengurangan sikap yang mencabar, peningkatan kemahiran berfungsi, komunikasi, berdikari dan sebagainya tetapi di kadar yang beransur ansur.
RAWATAN ALTERNATIF DAN EKLETIK BAGI AUTISME
Berdasarkan Panduan Amalan Klinikal AMS-MOH bagi Gangguan Spektrum Autisme yang diterbitkan oleh Kementerian Kesihatan Singapura (2010), terdapat rawatan alternatif yang:
Tidak disarankan kerana kekurangan bukti, tidak dapat disimpulkan atau bukti yang bercanggah.
Tidak disarankan kerana mempunyai potensi untuk menjadi merbahaya dan memberi kesan buruk kepada kanak kanak
RAWATAN ALTERNATIF YANG TIDAK DIGALAKKAN KERANA KEKURANGAN BUKTI, TIDAK DAPAT DISIMPULKAN ATAU BUKTI YANG BERCANGGAH.
| Sound therapies (SAMONAS Sound Therapy and the Listening Programme) | Improve abnormal sound sensitivity | Insufficient evidence |
| Music Therapy | Musical elements to increase communication, attention, turn taking & social imitation | Insufficient evidence |
| Massage and other sensory-based interventions | Improve a range of motor and sensory functions | Insufficient evidence |
| Ingestible: Omega-3 Fatty Acids | Correct deficiencies | Insufficient evidence |
| Ingestible: Amino Acids | Correct deficiencies | Insufficient evidence |
| Gluten-free/ Cassein-free diet | Leaky Gut syndrome; Insufficient intestinal enzyme activity | Dietary restrictions may increase rigidity in feeding; Nutritial deficiencies; Irritability, aggression & inattentiveness |
| Expressive Psychotherapy | Art elements to develop cognition, language, motor skills, self-expression and self-esteem, social and life skills | Insufficient evidence |
| Behavioural Optometry | Correcting eye movement disorders – Filling gaps in unusual visual behaviour | Insufficient evidence |
| Animal-assisted therapy | Different activities have different aims: Improve language & social skills; Teach responsibility & commitment; Increase attachment | Harm to child (Accidents, bites, scratches) & Harm to animal (Accidental agression) |
RAWATAN ALTERNATIF YANG TIDAK DISARANKAN KERANA BERPOTENSI MENJADI BAHAYA DAN MEMBERI KESAN BURUK TERHADAP KANAK KANAK
| Weighted Vests | Reduce inattentiveness & stereotypic behaviour due to physical and sensory needs | Affect growth; Musculoskeletal development |
| Secretin Therapy | Leaky gut syndrome; Secretine reduces behavioural characteristics of autism | Diarrhoea; Vomiting; Constipation; Irritability |
| Patterning with Masking | Enhances oxygen uptake into blood stream; wearing mask to rebreath CO2 that was exhaled in last breath, opening up arteries and improving blood supply | Risk of brain damage; Physical harm |
| Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy | Correcting autoimmune problems causing autism symptoms; via intravenous injections | Suppressing immune system; Mild eczema; Nausea and vomiting; Chills and fever; Hypo/ Hypertension; Rashes; Headache; Pain; Fear |
| Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy | Reduce inflammation of brain; Improve blood supply | Ear barotrauma; Pneumothorax; Oxygen-induced convulsions; Fire & explosions |
| Holding Therapy | Autism is a result of parent’s failure to bond with child. Holding child tightly in a way that ensures eye contact; deliberately provoking distress until child needs and accepts comfort | Provoking distress; Rage; Force potentially evokes fear, confusion, anger, betrayal; Violation of child’s individuality; Traumatised; Harm to psychological health |
| Facilitated Communication | Communicating through his/ her hand to the hand of the facilitator which then is guided to a letter, word, or picture on a keyboard | Possibly promoting independent communicators into passive communicators; Forced communication; Potential physical force |
| Craniosacral Therapy | Gentle manipulation of skull, spine & soft tissue effect behavioural change | Nausea & vomitting; Confusion; Neurological concerns |
| Chelation Therapy | Decrease toxic heavy metal (Childhood exposure to neurotoxins (Hg, Pb) believed to cause Autism) | Potential harm including death (hypocalcaemia); Hepatotoxity & Nephrotoxity; Stevens-Johnson syndrome |
| Ingestible: Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Digestive enzymes, Folate Vitamin B6/Magnesium Vitamin B12 Zinc Antibiotics/ Anti-Yeast Medication | Correct deficiencies | Adverse effects especially in high doses; overdose; Diarrhoea (Nystatin); Hepatotoxity |
| Auditory Integration Therapy | Provide stimulation to hearing mechanism, thereby, providing ‘normal’ hearing and correcting anomalies that affect speech and language development, sensitivity, and learning delays | Output harmful to hearing and potentially dangerous |
| Acupuncture | Unblocking flow of energy “qi” | Infection; Haemorrhage; Pain; Fear; Symptom aggravation |
Rujukan
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014). Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Data & statistics. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html
Ministry of Health Singapore (2010). Complementary and Alternative Medical Therapies (ASD). Retrieved from: http://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/healthprofessionalsportal/doctors/guidelines/cpg_medical/2010/cpgmed_autism_spectrum_disorders_preschool_children.html
Kemper, K. J. (2008). The use of complementary and alternative medicine in pediatrics. American Academy of Pediatrics, 122 (6), 1374-1386.
Lovaas, O. I. (1987). Behavioral treatment and normal educational and intellectual functioning in young autistic children. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 55(1), 3.
Schreck, K. A. & Miller, V. A. (2010). How to behave ethically in a world of fads. Behavioural Interventions, 25 (4), 307-324.
McEachin, J. J., Smith, T. & Lovaas, O. I. (1993). Long-term outcome for children with autism who received early intensive behavioural treatment. American Journal of Mental Retardation, 97(4), 359-372.