Program

Education K-12 M.A.

Year Approved

2017

First Advisor

Silmser, Lisa

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental syndromes characterized by deficits in communication, social interaction, imagination and sensory processing. The prevalence of ASD has increased significantly throughout recent decades. Given their concern about the diagnosis and their frustration that effective medical approaches are lacking, many parents and families of children with ASD have turned to alternative treatments and therapies for regulation of the behaviors and deficits observed in children with ASD. This literature review focuses on naming a variety of alternative treatments and therapies as well as examining their effectiveness for regulating behaviors in those diagnosed with ASD. Because it is a spectrum disorder, the severity and prevalence of symptoms will differ from each individual. Due to the varying degrees of this disorder and symptoms, the findings of this literature review conclude that it is best to try multiple methods of regulation and treatment. While many studies have shown to benefit children with ASD, it’s best to keep in mind the combination of therapies and treatments, the age of the child and the purpose of the treatments and therapies being examined.

Degree Name

Education K-12 M.A.

Document Type

Masterʼs thesis

Terms of Use and License Information

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Share

COinS