For children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), effective therapies and supportive medications exist.

Continued research is needed, but in the meantime, avoiding unproven and harmful therapies is the best medicine.

For children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), effective therapies for social/communication symptoms and medications to help co-occurring conditions (depression, anxiety, irritability) exist. Continued research is needed, but in the meantime, avoiding unproven and harmful therapies is the best medicine.

1 in 31 children are affected by ASD. Last month, a government webpage warning against unproven treatments was quietly removed. Keep reading to see what works, what looks promising, what probably doesn’t work, and what is just plain harmful.

Therapies that are Safe 🟢 and Effective ✅

Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)

ABA is a therapy used since the 1960s to improve social skills in young infants and children with ASD. ABA therapies have been shown to improve language, play and social communication. ABA is not meant to change or erase an autistic child’s identity, but focuses on behaviors that make it difficult for children with autism to achieve their full potential, whatever that looks like for the individual.

Parent coaching (PACT or VIPP-SD)

Parent coaching has been shown to reduce the severity of repetitive behaviors and improve communication. Effects have been shown to last up to 6 years after therapy has been completed.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Anxiety

CBT aims to reframe negative or untrue thoughts as soon as they appear. CBT led to less social emotional problems and anxiety in studies, but the effect was greater when the CBT approach was specifically adjusted to treat the behaviors associated with autism.

Therapies that are Low Risk 🟢 and do not have solid evidence❓

Classroom or special education focused programs

These programs focus on communication and executive functioning (focusing attention, controlling impulses, planning, and organizing) and social skills training. Data is mixed because some studies were small and every program and its funding are different. Federal funding for this stopped in 2025, but some research is ongoing.

Social Skills Groups

These typically include a structured lesson on a target skill (e.g. emotional recognition and regulation, social competence, social problem solving, or social communication) followed by modeling and role playing. Children and parents both reported improved functioning after groups, but no control studies exist.

Leucovorin therapy

Leucovorin is a form of folic acid (a B vitamin) commonly used as a medication in certain types of cancer. Some children with ASD have a hiccup in their genes that makes it difficult for this type of folic acid to cross over to the brain (the cerebral folate deficiency hypothesis). In children with this genetic hiccup, results have been promising, including improvements in speech and communication, but study sizes are small and do not include long-term follow up. A recent paper looking at leucovorin made headlines when it was pulled due to multiple errors in data analysis.

Therapies that involve some risk ⚠️ and do not have solid evidence❓

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

This therapy involves exposure to 100% oxygen at pressures higher than air, which can be helpful in healing wounds that do not respond to standard treatments. A 2021 combined look at multiple reviews failed to find this therapy effective. If overdosed or lasts too long, hyperbaric oxygen can cause lung collapse, vision changes, sinus damage, or eardrum rupture.

Essential Oils

Essential oils have no defined dose, frequency, or age range, and there are very few safety studies. When you buy a bottle, there’s no way of knowing the exact ingredients. While not high-quality evidence, case reports have described breast growth before age 8 in both males and females after skin exposure to lavender and tea tree oils, with similar activity seen in lab cells. Essential oils used as aromatherapy (inhaled) have not been shown to have any benefit but are also not harmful.

WARNING: Therapies that are 🛑 NOT Safe and are NOT effective ❌

Raw camel milk

Drinking raw milk can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, or more serious illnesses that can require hospitalization. While people in areas with lots of camels do drink their milk, there is no evidence of any specific health benefits, and raw milk leads to illnesses in these folks as well.

Bleach therapy

There is no scientific research supporting claims that ingesting bleach has any benefits for people with autism or any other health condition. Taking bleach by mouth can cause vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, liver failure, and low blood pressure requiring medical treatment.

Chelation

This involves giving a substance to “grab” a heavy metal so it can leave the body in stool or urine (“chele” means claw 🦀 in Greek). Chelation helps preserve cognitive function in children with lead levels 45 or greater (very rare), but does little when levels are lower.

The rise of “chelation” treatments for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) comes from the theory that the condition is caused by heavy metal exposure. While there is evidence to suggest possible environmental causes prenatally, about 80% of people with ASD have a genetic cause, with multiple genes likely playing a part.

Without evidence of high toxin levels observed by a clinician following blood screening, chelation can be harmful. In both animals and humans without evidence of heavy metal poisoning, studies have shown worsening brain function. In 2005, a 5-year old boy died after chelation therapy, and there have been many more deaths from these “treatments”. It is important to note that chelation products marketed to consumers have not been tested for safety by the FDA.

Bottom line:

Despite how common autism is, and the strong desire to identify useful treatment options, effective treatments for core symptoms remain limited. Proven behavioral therapies may offer meaningful benefits, but families are often bombarded by unproven or dangerous alternatives. Clear guidance grounded in evidence is essential to protect children while research continues. In the meantime, it’s best to check with your trusted pediatric clinician before starting any new treatments.

Stay well, stay safe.

Love,

Those Nerdy Girls

Resources:

ABA Therapy

Parent Coaching

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety in ASD

Types of ABA Therapy

Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)

Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT)

Joint Attention Symbolic Play, Engagement, and Regulation (JASPER)

Parent Coaching