This document summarizes autism spectrum disorders and various therapies used to treat them. It discusses the onset and course of autism as well as importance of early intervention. It then outlines several therapies including applied behavior analysis using principles of reinforcement, punishment and extinction. It also discusses functional behavior analysis, discrete trial training, pivotal response training, and other educational and communication interventions. Social skills training approaches like DIR/Floortime model and TEACCH are also summarized. The document concludes with newer technology tools being applied to autism treatment.

1. Autism Spectrum Disorders
Niharika Thakkar
Child Guidance Centre and
Department of Behavioural
Sciences and Mental Health,
Sahyadri Hospitals ltd, Pune

2. Autism
 Onset
 Course
 Early Intervention
 Prevalence
 Therapies: Cognitive, social skills training,
speech and occupational therapy.
 Pediatricians, nutritionists

3. Applied Behaviour Analysis
 Reinforcement
 Punishment
 Extinction
 Frequency
 Intensity
 Duration

4. Positive
Reinforcement Punishment
Negative

5. Functional Behaviour Analysis
 Task analysis
 Chaining
 Prompting: Verbal, Visual, Gestural,
Positional, Modeling, Physical
 Fading
 Thinning a reinforcement schedule
 Generalization
 Shaping

6.  Discrete trial training
 Incidental Teaching
 Fluency Building
 Pivotal Response Training- Initiation and self
management for inclusive settings
 Aversion Therapy

7. Educational Training
 Individualized Educational Plan (IEP)
 One to one
 25 hours per week, 12 months per year
 Low student/teacher ratio
 Teacher Sensitization
 Special training for Parents
 Providing high degree of structure

8. Communication Interventions
 Verbal Behaviour
 Echoing
 Language and Communication

9. Social Interventions
 Developmental, Individual Difference,
Relationship-based (DIR)/Floortime
Model:
- build healthy and meaningful
relationships,
- Natural emotions
- Early-start Denver model
•TEACCH (Treatment and Education
of Autistic and related
Communication handicapped
Children)

10. Interpersonal Synchrony
 Imitation skills
 Turn taking
 Maintain engagement with others
 Home settings

11. Children's Friendship Training
 Response to teasing
 Social skills
 Being a sport

12. Technology Developments
 I pad
 I phones
 Eye trackers
 Brick burst