Autism Spectrum Disorders: Understanding Therapeutic Possibilities
Joseph Williams
Liberty University

Abstract
Diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder are on the rise in the U.S., and though little is currently understood about the origins of the condition or its underlying pathophysiology, increasing numbers of treatment options are reported to be of benefit in the management of the condition. While no options currently exist that provide a cure, some interventions are more effective, empirically proven to have definite merit when the goal is to helping the sufferer of the condition to become more functional due to therapeutic intervention. Studies examining the effects of various forms of behavioral therapy yield mixed results. Particularly heavily utilized of late are complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies, which provide mixed results. Many of the therapeutic options that are currently commonplace are examined and analyzed against available empirical research to clarify which of these interventions can be utilized in an evidence-based fashion. Many therapies currently in use offer positive benefit and little risk for harm, even though little evidence supports the claims associated with them. It is also clear that parents seeking treatment alternatives should be wary of some of them, because of their high associated costs and little proven benefit, or their potential for harmful outcomes.

Autism Spectrum Disorders: Understanding Therapeutic Possibilities
Introduction
Autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder, affects all aspects of functioning in those suffering with the condition (Bowker, D’Angelo, Hicks & Wells, 2011). The number of affected individuals has increased dramatically over the last decade with 1 in 150 members of the general population currently diagnosed (Rossignol, 2009). One study suggested the overall prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is as high as 2.64 percent of the general population of school age children, and that greater than two-thirds of those children may go undiagnosed and untreated (Kim et al, 2011). Though the exact cause of ASD is unknown, recent work in the field of genetics indicates a number of possible factors that increase an individual’s susceptibility to the disorder (Freitag, Staal, Klauck, Duketis & Waltes, 2010). ASD is a persistent that will continue to affect 90 percent of sufferers throughout life (Bowker, D’Angelo, Hicks & Wells, 2011). ASD has a dramatic impact in the life the affected individual, often including difficulty in the three major categories of social interaction, communication and behavior (Bowker, D’Angelo, Hicks & Wells, 2011), in addition to having an impact on other areas of function such as motor coordination (Fournier, Hass, Naik, Lodha, & Cauraugh, 2010). Living with an autistic person can likewise create challenges for siblings and other members of an immediate family. In fact, some research indicates that ongoing assessment of siblings of the autistic child is needed, with a goal of identifying those at risk for adjustment problems and maladaptive behaviors that may stem from alterations in the home environment and/or shared genetic traits (Smith & Elder, 2010).
As the incidence of ASD increases, seemingly, so does the number of treatment options available to parents of children with the disorder. While some interventions, such as Intensive Behavioral Intervention (IBI), have emerged as valid evidence based options (Bowker, D’Angelo, Hicks & Wells, 2011), parents searching for ways to help their child encounter a smorgasbord of therapeutic interventions, many of which are controversial, and some of which are totally unsupported and unproven (Fox, 2008). Studies show that even families who choose evidence-based option s such as IBI also choose to incorporate other treatments they feel may help, and typically base decisions on whether to continue with