How we treat Autism
If you've reached us, you have probably already read about autism and tried to make sense of the options. This page is not another explainer. It is what we would actually do for your child, in the order we would do it.
Many families come to us after being sent from one therapist to the next, each with separate goals. Here, one team assesses your child, agrees one plan with you, and every therapist works toward the same goals. We offer options in order of evidence, tell you how strong that evidence is, and add the next step only when it fits your child. You are trained alongside the therapists, so the work carries on at home.
Helping your child become as independent as possible in everyday routines: communicating needs, eating, dressing, toileting, and taking part at home and at school. Every therapy in the plan is chosen because it moves toward that.
| Step | What happens | Options |
|---|---|---|
First, developmental assessment | Parent history, direct observation and standardized tools, coordinated across our specialists rather than one clinician's impression. Further tests are used only where something specific points to them. | Standard of care |
Then, shared goal plan | We agree on a small set of priority goals with you: communication, sensory regulation, daily living, play and social skills. | None at this step |
For every child, core developmental therapy | These have the strongest evidence and come first for every child, with you trained alongside so the work continues at home. | Best-established |
Only if needed, medicine | Some children have difficulties, such as severe sleep problems or irritability, that hold back everything else. Medicine can help with these, and some of these uses are off-label. None is started by default: the doctor explains why, what the evidence shows, the possible side effects and the alternatives, and nothing begins without your informed consent. | Case by case Discussed with you individually; specific medicines are not listed here. |
Where indicated, brain-based therapies | Non-invasive brain stimulation and neurofeedback have early, developing evidence in autism, and their use here is off-label. They are considered only once the core therapies are in place, and only after we have discussed them with you. | Early evidence, off-label |
Where it fits, integrative support | Supportive options added last and only where they suit your child. They are never a substitute for core developmental therapy. | Supportive only |
Throughout, review & adjust | Progress is tracked against the goals and the plan is reviewed with you at regular intervals, adding or stepping back options as your child changes. | None at this step |