Therapy

Science favors Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA for short) as the leading intervention for autism.  ABA takes time to understand and needs to be implemented by individuals with training.  In our first year of intervention, we were unable to find a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in our area.  I did as much reading as possible and bought  Behavioral Interventions for Children with Autism.  This is an excellent book for parents that don't know where to start.  There are excellent data sheets and very specific goals and objectives for young children with autism.  Though I had received some instruction in discrete trial training, I was unable to read the data sheets in a meaningful way and this did little for ongoing behavioral problems.  However, we were able to narrow the delay gap significantly.   To find a BCBA:  http://www.bacb.com/index.php?page=100155  This kind of therapy can be expensive, but learn as much as you can.  The more you learn, the fewer hours you would need the BCBA ($ savings).  I always credit diet intervention with my son's decreased hyperactivity, a clear mind and reduction in stimming; but ABA is what forced him into our world.  This is how he learned ALL new skills.  All speech therapy and occupational therapy was useless until we implemented the training techniques found in the ABA book.