Healthcare
The United States has a fragmented healthcare system made of many private health care facilities that are largely owned by the private sector. Primary care doctors are usually the first point of entry when there are any health concerns before referrals to any other appropriate health establishment if necessary. There are thousands of insurance companies that cover private health insurance and up until fairly recently, it has been very hard to get health insurance to cover autism because it is risky and treatment is very expensive. This has recently changed due to new legislation but availability can depend on whether a particular State has enacted autism insurance legislation or coverage for government-funded health programs such as Medicaid.
The causes of autism are not readily known or available. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that autism and related disorders are more common than previously thought. There is an increase in those being diagnosed and 3-4 times as many boys than girls are affected. On average one in 110 children born in the U.S. have autism. One in 70 boys and one in 315 girls are affected. It is thought by professionals that the increase is due to a wider definition of the spectrum.
It is essential to get an expert diagnosis in order to access the different services and treatments that may be available as it is beneficial to begin an early intervention program. An evaluation and assessment of the child may be done by a multidisciplinary team of professionals. Doctors who specialize in autism will observe the child, ask parents questions about the child’s development and behavior and do a variety of tests such as intelligence tests to evaluate the child’s strengths and weaknesses.
The following are some examples of the types of people and places listed by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) of whom to go to that will make a referral to, or provide diagnostic and treatment services (NIMH):
Family doctors
Mental health specialists such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors
Community mental health centers
Health maintenance organizations
Hospital psychiatry departments and outpatients clinics
State hospital outpatient clinics
Local medical and/or psychiatric societies
Once diagnosed, the quest to find affordable health insurance coverage to cover autism can begin. Around half of the states currently have enacted autism insurance legislation which makes healthcare insurance coverage more available, though it can be expensive. Recent laws have increased coverage for government-funded health programs such as Medicaid for those on low incomes and disability is covered if it comes within the disability guidelines, so more families now qualify for assistance.
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There are all kinds of treatments and interventions available and a treatment plan can be devised and tailored towards the individual child. Different teams of specialists can evaluate such things as speech, communication, and motor skills. The main ways of treating the child can be through:
Behaviour Therapies and other types of therapies
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) can be used to shape and modify behavior. Occupational Therapy is available to work on fine and gross motor skills, for example, and there are other therapies such as Speech Therapy.
Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for school-age children
Parents are encouraged to be involved with teachers in setting targets or goals to be reached within the particular school year and describe any special support required in meeting them.
Medication
Currently, there are no medications available to treat autism, but there are supplements that can treat and manage some of the symptoms. Ritalin, for example, can be used to treat impulsivity and overactivity and there are other drugs that can be used to treat behaviors such as aggressive behaviors or repetitive behaviors.
Though healthcare is fragmented in the United States, there is a wide range of therapies and interventions available for children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Accessing these can depend on the child having an expert diagnosis of autism and on what health insurance coverage the child has.
References:
CDC. Cdc.gov: How Many Children Have Autism? Retrieved 29 March 2011, from
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/kids/autism.html
NIMH. Nimh,nih.gov: How To Find Help
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help
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