Question 4-Describe the implications of CAMS for families and the role of therapists working with families with respect to CAMS

The etiology of autism is unknown and because of this it is very difficult to find a cure. As of now, there is no cure of autism. There are some mainstream methods and common CAM treatments but there is no one treatment that has been shown to cure all peoples diagnosed with autism. There are some drug therapies that only alleviate some of the symptoms, and sometimes cause undesirable side effects. Behavioral therapies are promising, but even the most established methods do not work well for some patients. At the same time, autism specialists and literature emphasize intensive, early intervention to achieve the best outcomes. Parents of young or newly diagnosed children with autism often feel there is no time to wait for the science to prove the effectiveness of a particular treatment. They are racing the clock to take advantage of early childhood neuroplasticity, and are willing to try CAM treatments, especially those that are non-invasive and without harmful side effects.
Whether a family chooses to use pharmaceuticals, herbs, minerals, vitamins, homeopathy, diet change, etc. the caregivers that are working with the child need to be aware of the treatments and the side effects. The therapist and teachers are an integral part of the child’s life and can assist with assessing if a treatment is helpful or harmful or if there is no change at all.  There needs to be an open communication between the families and the therapists. Therapists need to be aware of the side affects of medications and treatments. For example if a child underwent a shiatsu treatment the day before you are working with them and the child complains of neck soreness, then you would understand that this is a natural side effect and not be alarmed. If you were not aware that the child underwent a shiatsu treatment the day before, you might be sending the child to the nurse; you might be suspecting a virus such as meningitis or you might be wondering if the child felt and injured his/her head.