Autism Q & A with Dr. Kari

Dr. Kari recently answered questions about autism for a HEALTHathon sponsored by Baby Blog Addict.

1. What are 3 myths you hear people say about Autism?

Myth: Autism can be cured by using (fill in the blank).

Dictionary.com:

Cure — “to relieve or rid of something detrimental, as an illness.”

The term “cure” suggests that complete removal of all causing influences can be achieved, and I believe that the autism spectrum behaviors may have complicated mechanisms that produce and sustain them.  At this point, I think it is most fruitful to view the behaviors and symptoms associated with the autism spectrum as capable of being improved to some degree.

There are many useful and effective approaches that help to improve the quality of life for individuals on the spectrum.  But no one approach will produce improvement for all individuals with autism.   Parents must be wary of any approach that claims to “cure” autism, because a cure just hasn’t been discovered.

It’s important to work with a multi-disciplinary team (for example, doctors, occupational therapists, educators, psychologists) to determine the most likely approaches and methods for each person, implement them, and carefully note the changes.  Many people on the spectrum benefit from more than one method, and pursuing a balanced, holistic approach to management of symptoms and behaviors, is most likely to produce the best results for your child. Read more