In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) produced a public statement warning parents and educators about a growing trend–companies and therapies claiming to cure autism or autism-related symptoms. Preying on parents who desperately seek answers and relief from some of the more challenging symptoms of the diagnosis, in some cases, these “Autism Quick Fixes” pose a significant health risk.
How do you know if a particular treatment for ASD has merit or is based on scientific research? Unfortunately, in a world where misinformation and mistrust dominate the media, social networks, and in some cases, our own discourse with family and friends, it can be hard to evaluate.
That’s why today we’re spending some time talking about ASD quick fixes and debunking some of the junk science that’s potentially harming kids.
Why is this important to talk about?
Above all else, it’s about safety.
We’re dedicating time to sharing this article because MANY families are potentially harming their children, teens, and young adults by trusting fake testimonies and junk science to treat ASD.
These ASD quick fixes prey on a parents’ motivation to try anything that might help their child. Especially in cases when a struggles with challenging behaviors like aggression, elopement, or self-injury, many parents find themselves abandoning evidence-based treatments for misinformation.
Check out this story from NBC News about describing how these ASD quick fixes gain traction online:
How do you know if it’s a false claim?
Unsure about how to evaluate if what you’re reading online is an “Autism Quick Fix” or if it’s grounded in science? The Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT) lists warning signs parents and professionals use to be savvy consumers of ASD treatments.
A few “red flags” for junk science ASD treatments include:
- High “success” rates and rapid effects are claimed.
- The therapy is said to be effective for many symptoms or disorders.
- The “theory” behind the treatment contradicts objective knowledge (and sometimes, common sense).
- The treatment is said to be easy to administer, requiring little training or expertise.
- Other, proven therapies are said to be unnecessary, inferior, or harmful.
- Promoters of the therapy are working outside their area of expertise or benefit financially from you adopting the therapy.
- Testimonials, anecdotes, or personal accounts support claims about the therapy’s effectiveness, but little or no objective evidence is provided.
- Negative findings from scientific studies are ignored or dismissed.
- Critics and scientific investigators are often met with hostility and are accused of persecuting the promoters, being “close-minded,” or having ulterior motives for “debunking” the therapy.
In general, we recommend parents and ASD caregivers continue to seek out evidence-based treatments supported by a wide range of academic (universities, medical institutions, etc.) and professional organizations (Autism Society of America, etc.)
The bottom line: Be a healthy skeptic and a savvy consumer. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. It’s not ethical for your doctor or medical professional to hold out on providing a child a “miracle fix” or magic bullet solution. If it were out there, you’d know.
Instead, being a healthy consumer is how you can avoid ASD Quick Fixes like these:
ASD Quick Fix #1: Chelation
Chelation is a medical procedure involving chemicals to remove heavy metals from the bloodstream. During chelation, individuals ingest potent chemical compounds that bind to metals and then remove them from the body via urine.
The FDA has approved chelation for non-ASD-related uses, including removing lead from children with severe lead poisoning, iron overload, or individuals who have been accidentally exposed to industrial chemicals. These chemicals are administered in a clinical setting and under professional supervision.
The “ASD Quick Fix” here rests in the logic that ASD is caused by heavy metal exposure in the bloodstream, particularly to mercury. However, there are no known randomized clinical controlled trials for chelation in children with ASD and no scientifically validated studies that support heavy metals cause ASD symptoms. In addition, several deaths have been reported for individuals on the spectrum from the depletion of beneficial metals and side effects of chelation.
ASD Quick Fix #2: Vitamin Supplements
A simple Google search (which we don’t recommend) for the terms “Best Supplements for Autism” will serve up upwards of 14 million hits and a myriad of products to buy from around the world. So, tracking right along with the billions of dollars Americans already spend on nutritional supplements, it makes sense that we’d also recommend them to address symptoms of ASD.
While vitamins can be medically necessary to address other biomedical issues (when taken under the direction of a physician), the idea that a nutritional product alone can “facilitate normal speech development” or “ameliorate ASD symptoms altogether” is questionable.
As mentioned in the intro, we’d know if there indeed were a ‘magic pill’ solution for language development and the reduction of challenging behaviors like aggression and elopement. Providing kids with unregulated, unresearched products bought from an industry that’s not held to FDA standards can be dangerous.
ASD Quick Fix #3: Bleach Therapy
To be honest, we debated even including the topic of bleach therapy in this article. While it’s prevalent online right now, we didn’t want to risk exposing any more children to the potential for severe injury by drawing more attention to something so dangerous.
Bottom line: There are no controlled research studies on this treatment. Chlorine is toxic, poses a significant risk of harm, and is potentially lethal. It’s not a quick fix, and it relies 100% on uncontrolled testimonials running amok online.
ASD Quick Fix #4: Raw Camel Milk
While not likely to cause the same physical harm as bleach therapy, raw camel milk is another ASD quick fix that’s floated around online since around 2015. Proponents of the treatment believe that the rich antioxidant nature of raw camel milk (often imported from the Middle East) can reduce free radicals in the body and subsequently remediate symptoms of ASD.
Like the rest of the diet myths on this list, there’s no scientific evidence yet published to support that drinking raw camel milk has any influence on ASD outcomes.
And there are some real risks. First, imported camel milk may not be subject to the same food safety standards and pose a risk for food safety. And it’s expensive and time-intensive to research and find it from a reputable source–all resources that could be dedicated to evidence-based treatment.
ASD Quick Fix #5: Holding Therapy
Holding Therapy has been around for just about as long as ASD has been diagnosed. In fact, it was one of the first ASD quick fixes ever to be debunked as junk science. The premise of the intervention is that attachment issues cause ASD, and the caregiver must hold the child closely and tightly. The caregiver can’t let go of the child until the child “surrenders” or looks into the caregiver’s eyes.
Not only is there no empirical support suggesting it works, but there’s also a lot of harm done in suggesting that poor parenting is a cause of ASD. Plus, ask any teen or young adult on the spectrum if they really want to be “held until surrender.” Not so much.
ASD Quick Fix #7: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been dotted around as an ASD quick fix since the late early 2000s. Still, it has never been clinically demonstrated to improve ASD symptoms in large-scale clinical trials. Proponents suggest using repeated time spent in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber can reduce neuroinflammation in the brain of individuals with ASD.
Not only are there potential risks and side effects, but HBOT is also very expensive and difficult to find in smaller communities. More research is needed at a large scale to know if it works – and nothing suggests that it’s a quick fix for ASD.
ASD Quick Fix #8: Essential Oils
Billions of dollars are spent in the United States each year on proprietary blends of oils extracted from plants with promises to cure all sorts of ailments. In the early 2000s, several news stories were shared about individuals with ASD who preferred a particular scent and showed progress in reducing challenging behaviors due to using essential oils. Unfortunately, none of those findings have ever been replicated in studies.
Certainly, everyone may find a set of essential oils to be a positive sensory experience. But that doesn’t suggest it’s a quick fix for ASD.
Other ASD Quick Fixes
Unfortunately, these aren’t the only pseudoscience ASD cures floating around on the internet right now. These were just a few we selected to review because they’re repeatedly brought up to us by parents and families. Each time we review them, we discuss resources to evaluate evidence-based treatments and what the science really says about ASD quick fixes.
What the Science Really Says…
- There’s no substitute for doing the work. As much as we wish there was a quick fix for challenging behaviors and some of the struggles that come along with ASD, real progress comes down to putting in the hard work for your child. That might mean months or years of dedicated commitment to identifying the ways to help your child effectively learn.
- Even though it’s hard work–it doesn’t mean there’s not progress. Secondly, just because it takes work, it doesn’t mean we can’t help our learners progress on goals. Reframing the idea that ASD needs to be fixed in the first place is a great place to get started. Instead, consider how you might help your learner set goals and achieve more academically, socially, or for independent living.
- Early diagnosis and intervention are critical. ASD research overwhelmingly supports that the earlier an individual can receive a diagnosis of autism and customized interventions, the better the lifelong outcomes. For example, we know that individuals with ASD learn and socialize differently; identifying those unique differences can reduce frustration, support developing new skills, and help build relationships with others.
- Individualized treatments show the most significant success. The most effective treatments available today are applied behavioral analysis (ABA), occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, and pharmacological therapy. One of the core features of these interventions is that they are individualized to the learner. Look for treatments that can be customized for your family and your child’s needs.
- Addressing ASD challenges takes time and dedication. If there were an ASD quick fix, no practitioner would ever withhold it from a family. Treatment takes time and dedication. The nature of ASD as a spectrum disorder means there’s no one-size-fits-all treatment. What works for one kid may not work for another. A strategy that supports an individual for a while may not be a lifelong treatment option. What’s important is to keep moving forward in seeking the very best for your family.
- There are resources available to help parents and teachers know what does work. Sorting through all the credible and unsubstantiated claims online is hard, even for parents and educators who have dealt with ASD issues for a long time. But there are several resources available that can support your family in making informed choices.
Here are a few credible resources we often use in our work:
- Autism Science Foundation
- The Association for Science in Autism Treatment
- National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice (NCAEP)
- What Works Clearinghouse