Autism is a lifelong disability and the concept of a cure is offensive for many autistic people and their families. An intervention should never aim to ‘treat autism’. There are, however, a range of interventions that can support autistic people in their daily lives.  

There are some simple changes we can all make to improve the way we support autistic people. This can include changes to the environment or how we communicate. Sometimes, autistic people will want or need more formal help, such as therapy or medical support. We use the word ‘intervention’ here to describe this kind of support. 

There are a huge range of interventions for autistic people, including some that are communication-based, behavioural, educational or medical. It can be difficult to decide which is best to use, and the choices and information can be overwhelming. 

We do not know much about how effective these interventions are – very few have been independently or scientifically evaluated. It can also be hard to find information about the long-term or negative effects of using them.

Some interventions make bold claims about how effective they are, without strong evidence to back them up. This is irresponsible and inappropriate, and we try to keep people aware of current concerns in our news section. 

We fundamentally believe that all support should:

• be person-centred and promote autistic people’s dignity
• keep people safe, healthy and happy
• enable autistic people to do the things they love
• never try and make someone "less autistic"
• never use punishment.

Guidelines

If you are looking for an intervention then it is important to discuss this with a professional. You can also visit trusted websites, such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) or NHS. These can help you make informed choices. 

NICE have produced the most thorough reviews of interventions for autistic people. Their guidelines are reviewed every three years to consider any new evidence. There is one for adults and another for children and young people.

Adults - Autism spectrum disorder in adults: diagnosis and management (2012) Recommended interventions include employment support programmes, structured leisure activities and social skills training. 
 
Children and young people - Autism spectrum disorder in under 19s: support and management (2013) Recommended interventions include play-based strategies with parents, carers and teachers.

NICE rule out a number of biomedical interventions for management of the core characteristics of autism, including: 

• chelation 
• exclusive or restrictive diets including gluten-free, casein-free or ketogenic diets 
• hormone therapies or testosterone regulation 
• hyperbaric oxygen 
• vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements 
• drugs which are usually given for problems with memory and thinking 
• anticonvulsants, antidepressants or antipsychotics (unless other conditions are present, for example epilepsy and depression)
• secretin. 

Some of these interventions may be used by autistic people to manage co-existing conditions. However, the NICE guideline for children is clear that secretin, hyperbaric oxygen and chelation should never be used in any context. The National Autistic Society position is that these should never be used by autistic people, of any age.

Other things to consider

What helps one autistic person may not help others, therefore any intervention must be carefully considered and adapted to the individual’s specific needs. 

It is also important to note the following: 

• The individual should be central to all decisions;
• Potential negative effects should be considered;
• Professionals discussing or delivering the approach should ideally have a good understanding of autism;
• Treatment should be based on the best available evidence;
• Positive and negative effects should be carefully monitored and regularly reviewed.

We believe that more scientific evidence is needed to understand the effectiveness and impact of interventions so that autistic people and their families can make informed decisions about what might work for them.

• Autism spectrum disorder in adults: diagnosis and management (2012) NICE 
• Autism spectrum disorder in under 19s: support and management (2013) NICE 
• Good practice guide for mental health professionals (2021) NAS and MIND
• Information about Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA).