Unit 12

Question 1

What is the randomizes clinical trials (RCTs)?

Answer 1

A clinical trial is an experiment used to determine the effectiveness and safety of a treatment of treatments

Question 2

What are the parent vulnerabilities?

Answer 2

ASDs are invisible 
Not well understood 
Desperation 
Guilt 
Must try everything 
Misleading “experts”
Misleading media 
Powerful placebo effects for parents 
Different types of ineffective Txs available 
The power of anecdotes

Question 3

What are the benefits of ineffective treatments?

Answer 3

Effective treatments are time intensive, labor intensive and costly

Many ineffective treatments seem cheaper, quicker or easier

Question 4

What are the criteria from Simpson?

Answer 4

Scientifically based- evidence following research

Promising practice- research suggestive of beneficial outcomes but need more investigation

Limited support- treatments that have limited research

Not recommended- treatments that have been proven ineffective

Question 5

What are the non evidence based treatments for ASD?

Answer 5

Facilitated communication (not recommended)
Holding therapy (not recommended)
Sensory integration therapy 
Gluten free/ casein free
Auditory integration training 
Chelation treatment 
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy 
Alternative biomedical treatments

Question 6

What is facilitated communication (FC)?

Answer 6

Describe individuals with autism as having extraordinary hidden communication capabilities that can be unlocked with a therapist merely supports the hand or wrist so that person with autism can type a message on a stationary letter board or keyboard

Question 7

What is the rapid prompting method? (RPM)?

Answer 7

A more recent intervention for people with autism that involves the facilitator holding and moving the letter boards while the individual with autism moved their own hand

Question 8

What are the psychological based techniques?

Answer 8

• Sensory integration Ayres- behavior of child with autism is to establish internal equilibrium
• Sensory integration therapy- designed to address sensory dysfunction
• Auditory integration training- to alleviate hearing distortions and sensitivity to sounds
• rhythmic entrainment intervention (REI)- drumming patterns
• Irlen Lenses- sensitive to certain light wavelengths
• vision therapy- used to correct eye movement problems

Question 9

What is the chelation treatment?

Answer 9

Administration of ethylene diamond tetraacetic acid (EDTA)

Removes heavy metals from the body

Question 10

What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

Answer 10

Exposure to high levels of pure oxygen (thinner that atmospheric pressure)

Inside a pressurized chamber

Question 11

What are the dietary treatments and alternative biomedical treatments?

Answer 11

Mega vitamin therapy 
Yeast 
High dose vitamin B6 and magnesium 
Increase fatty acids 
Gut treatments 
Anti-fungals and probiotics 
Thyroid supplements

Question 12

What are the 11 take-home points?

Answer 12

1) “cure” rates up to 50%- get better enough that you can function in school and get along with others
2) intervention needs to be intensive
3) families most be involved in educating their children
4) staff must be trained and specialized in ASD
5) ongoing objective assessment of child’s progress
6) curricula provide systematic planful teaching
7) learning environments are carefully structured to address individual differences and needs
8) focus on pivotal behaviors
9) proactive approach to problem behavior
10) plan for generalization and maintenance
11) transitions are planned and supported