Online Autism Spectrum Treatment: Find Autism Recovery Today

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a disorder that can cause social, communication, and/or behavioral challenges. People with autism spectrum disorder often don’t look physically different from non-autistic people, but may speak, behave, interact, and learn in unique ways.  For those with autism spectrum disorder, problem-solving, learning, and thinking can vary dramatically; From extremely gifted to very challenged. Some with ASD need someone to help them every day to live a normal life, others need little to no additional help.

Signs and Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder

If you suspect a loved one has autism spectrum disorder, here are some signs and symptoms you can look for:

• A person with ASD may repeat the same actions over and over again
• A person with ASD may avoid eye contact and seek more isolation 
• A person with ASD may not look at objects when others point at them
• A person with ASD may not notice or pay attention to objects, like an airplane or fireworks above
• A person with ASD may have trouble connecting with others or expression their feelings
• A person with ASD may appear to be unresponsive or unaware when someone speaks with them
• A person with ASD may repeat the same action over and over again
• A person with ASD may react in unexpected ways to the way they perceive things via taste, touch, smell, and hearing

If you suspect your child or loved one has autism spectrum disorder, reach out to us for an evaluation or autism spectrum disorder treatment. 

Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder

Diagnosing autism spectrum disorder can be a difficult task because there are no medical tests, like a blood test, to diagnose the disorder. To diagnose autism spectrum disorder, providers have to look at a child’s developmental history and behaviors.

By the age of two years old, a diagnosis by an experienced provider can be considered reliable. However, some individuals don’t receive confirmation that they have autism spectrum disorder until much older, such as during adolescence or adulthood. This means that children suffering from autism spectrum disorder may not be getting the help they need.

Types of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Until recently, healthcare experts discussed different types of autism separately, but now they refer to all types as “autism spectrum disorders.” The old terms are still often used, however:

Asperger’s Syndrome

Asperger’s syndrome is on the milder side of autism spectrum disorders. A person with Asperger’s may be extremely intelligent and be able to perform day to day tasks on their own. However, a person with Asperger’s can struggle socially.

Pervasive Developmental Disorder

Pervasive development disorder is an older term given to children whose autism spectrum disorder is more intense than Asperger’s, but still not as intense as autism.

Autistic Disorder

Autistic disorder has similar symptoms to Asperger’s and pervasive development disorder, but more intense.

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

The final type of spectrum disorder is childhood disintegrative disorder. It is the most severe and rarest form of autism. Children who develop this disorder quickly lose social, mental, speaking skills and often have seizures. 

Autism Spectrum Levels of Care

Outside of the primary care setting, there are a few levels of care available to individuals with eating disorders. Let’s review binge eating disorder treatment options:

Outpatient

• Often where the treatment process begins
• Patient lives at home and attends hourly sessions at their providers’ offices
• Appropriate for patients who are medically stable, motivated, self-sufficient, and have adequate support and structure at home

Intensive Outpatient

• Typically occurs in a specialized setting (e.g., a clinic or hospital)
• Patients live at home and attend sessions three to five times a week that last approximately three hours each
• Program may include numerous types of therapy, including, but not limited to, individual, group, and counseling
• Appropriate for patients who are medically stable, self-sufficient, and have adequate support and structure at home, but may need some degree of external structure beyond self-control

Partial Hospitalization (Full-Day Outpatient Care)

• Occurs in a specialized setting and can be connected to a hospital program or a free-standing facility
• Patient requires a high level of supervision and monitoring
• Patient must be able to demonstrate some ability to retain the gains made in treatment without 24-hour monitoring
• Patient must not be a suicide risk or medically compromised to the point of requiring hospitalization
• Patient must have sufficient resources and motivation to attend program
• Patient’s home or living environment must be one that can be supportive of the recovery process
• Wide variety in quality of programming and hours of available treatment across programs, making it critical that patient’s needs and circumstances are appropriate for this level of care
• Care is typically 5– 12 hours per day, 4– 7 days per week.

Residential Treatment Center

• Highly specialized programs that can be operated independent of hospital setting, but sometimes connected to a hospital setting
• Indicated when patient is not able to retain gains without 24-hour monitoring
• May be indicated when severity of symptoms necessitates constant monitoring in order to initiate and sustain symptom-free behavior and normalized eating
• May be indicated for patients whose activities of daily living are compromised by the disorder May be indicated for the development of a normalized, healthy lifestyle conducive to long-term health and well being
• May include specialized approaches that help the patient develop routines and activities of daily living that create patterns of behavior that are conducive to recovery
• Useful in situations with a high degree of psychiatric comorbidity that require intensified focus during treatment
• Sometimes indicated on the basis of a lack of supportive and safe environment where the patient can be expected be able to make meaningful, retainable progress
• May be appropriate when patient is overwhelmed with symptoms and unable to refrain from reverting to symptoms or other behaviors that compromise their well being when alone
• Appropriate for patients with either lower or higher levels of motivation, but generally patients must enter treatment voluntarily

Inpatient Hospitalization

• Generally used for a period of short-term stabilization proceeding initiation of treatment at lower levels of care
• Indicated in situation where patient is a suicide risk or gravely disabled by symptoms and unable to participate in residential or lower levels of care due to presenting symptoms, which may include depression, poor motivation, poor insight, and/ or other factors that limit ability to meaningfully participate in lower levels of care
• Appropriate in situations where hospital-based medical care is indicated (i.e., IV lines or other more invasive medical treatments are needed)

Treatment Options for Autism Spectrum Disorder

However, several types of treatment may be used that can significantly benefit the patients social and emotional wellbeing, and improve interpersonal relationships. 

Behavior and Communication Approaches

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and The National Research Council, behavior and communication approaches that help children with Autism Spectrum Disorder do so by providing structure, direction, and organization. Here are some of the behavior and communication approaches:

Applied Behavior Analysis

Applied behavioral analysis is a widely accepted autism spectrum disorder treatment option among healthcare providers. This treatment type works by encouraging positive behaviors and discouraging negative behaviors to improve a number of skills in a person with autism spectrum disorder. 

Assistive Technology

Assistive technology like devices such as electronic tablets, help people with autism spectrum disorder communicate more effectively and be able to interact with others. 

Floortime Approach

The floortime approach emphasizes relationships and emotional development. It also helps children properly deal with different sights, sounds, and smells.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is an approach to autism spectrum disorder treatment that helps a person live on their own as much as possible. A person in occupational therapy will learn common skills like eating, dressing, and bathing. 

Social Skills Training

Another approach to autism spectrum treatment is social skills training. In this approach, children learn skills needed to interact with others.

Speech Therapy

Speech therapy is a autism spectrum treatment approach that improves a person’s communication skills. 

Medication Treatments

While there are no medications that can cure autism spectrum disorder, some medications can help those with ASD function at a higher level. For example, medications can help alleviate anxiety, depression, self-injury, and inability to focus. 

Because medication affects people differently, it’s important that you work with an experienced medical professional to make sure that the negative side effects don’t outweigh the benefits.

Get Online Autism Spectrum Treatment

My name is Wendy Oliver-Pyatt, I am a consultant psychiatrist in Miami, Florida. I believe that compassion, when directed towards self and others, can lead to profound health and healing. If you need online autism spectrum disorder treatment, I can help! I have created a unique treatment model in which you will have the  opportunity to work with providers who I specifically refer to based on your current experience, diagnosis and needs.  I build this team around you and will coordinate your care with the goal to find meaning in your experience, and free you of your symptoms so that you can feel more at peace, and have greater capacity to adapt to life circumstances, to challenge yourself, to be creative, to develop intimacy and to have a fulfilling lifestyle With more than 20 years of clinical experience and a vast network of clinical partners, I’ve developed a unique treatment approach that delves into the underlying issues that place a person at risk for mental health conditions.  Together we will create a protocol and treatment plan that is well coordinated, and that can guide you on your healing process, toward health and inner peace. Contact me today!