Fad treatments on the rise

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Oct, 2007

Ineffective or even dangerous fad treatments for autism, always a problem, seem to be growing more pervasive, according to researchers from Ohio State University, Columbus. "Developmental disabilities like autism are a magnet for all kinds of unsupported or disproved therapies, and it has gotten worse as more children have been diagnosed with autism," points out James Mulick, professor of pediatrics and psychology.

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"There's no cure for autism, and many parents are willing to believe anything if they come to think it could help their child."

"You get hundreds of different types of therapies that come up, and many have quotes from parents that claim a particular therapy cured their child," adds Tracy Kettering, doctoral student in special education. "It's no wonder that parents want to believe, but very few of these treatments have any evidence to support them."

Mulick notes that, when he began treating autism in the 1970s, about three children in 10,000 were said to have the condition. Now, reports are one in 166. The number of cases has mushroomed because of better diagnoses and a changing definition of autism that includes a broader range of disorders.

Some of the newer, more popular fad treatments involve special diets or nutritional supplements. Megadoses of vitamin C and B6 are popular, as well as supplements with fatty acids like omega-3s. A casein- or gluten-free diet, which involves eliminating dairy or wheat products, also has gained favor with some parents. While many of these treatments never have been adequately studied, that does not mean they are not promoted. "One of the characteristics of fad treatments is that they are discussed in the media and on the Internet, where many parents can be exposed to them," emphasizes Ann Snow, a psychology graduate student.

While some fads simply are ineffective, others can be dangerous. Chelation therapy, which involves taking medicines to remove the heavy metal mercury from the body, reportedly has led to the death of at least one autistic boy receiving the treatment. Chelation therapy also was touted years ago as a new treatment against some forms of cancer, but eventually was shown to have no helpful effect. Many parents try multiple approaches, hoping at least one will help. One survey suggests that the average parent of a child with autism has tried seven different therapies.

Autism, like many conditions, has cycles in which symptoms get worse and then better. Parents tend to search for treatments when symptoms are getting worse, and when their children improve--as they do in the normal course of the disease--parents credit the new therapy. "It's natural to have this bias that the therapy you're trying has had some positive effect," says Mulick. "People want to believe."

While other treatments still are being investigated, right now the only therapy that has been shown to have a long-term positive effect is called Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention. EIBI is a highly structured approach to learning, in which children with autism are taught first to imitate their teachers, but this treatment is very time consuming and labor intensive. It involves one-on-one behavioral treatment with the child for up to 40 hours a week for several years.

"It's expensive and difficult for many parents to use," Mulick explains. "That's got to be one reason other treatments look attractive to theme."