Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a group of symptoms that can affect a person’s ability to interact with the people and things in the world around them. Autism symptoms can range from mild, where the person may simply seem introverted and shy to profound, requiring lifelong care.
ASD is very common, currently being diagnosed in one out of every 44 children born in the United States. April is National Autism Awareness month and it seems as good a time as any to learn a bit more about this developmental disorder.
Symptoms of Autism
It is difficult to pin down the exact symptoms of autism because the presentation of the disorder can vary widely from one person to the next. Generally speaking, ASD includes symptoms like:
- Sensitivity to light, noises, tastes, and touch
- Sudden, seemingly unprovoked bouts of anger and frustration
- Repetitive movements, like rocking or hand flapping, particularly in stressful situations
- Resistance to interactions with other people
- Lack of empathy
- Extreme negative reactions to schedule changes
- Parroting or echoing back words or phrases said to them
These are just a few of the many potential symptoms. A diagnosis of ASD is only made if a child suffers from several of the symptoms associated with the disorder and all other causes for the behaviors have been ruled out.
Treatments for Autism
The exact treatments for autism depend entirely on the severity of the symptoms and how those symptoms affect the daily lives of those diagnosed with it. For most, treatment involved physical and emotional therapies and steps to maintain the overall health and wellness of the child.
Some parents and medical professionals have found success in improving the symptoms of ASD through the use of restrictive diets. These successes have been anecdotal in nature and, as of yet, not enough research has been done to back up these findings.
As there is not a medically-based consensus on the cause of autism, there has been very little progress in developing medications to treat the disorder. There are, however, prescription medications that may be given to treat some of the symptoms of ASD. These include:
- antidepressants like Abilify
- anti-anxiety medications like Sertraline
- muscle relaxants like baclofen
- anti-seizure medications like Tegretol
- sleep aids like melatonin
- treatments for gastrointestinal problems such as omeprazole or Reglan
- sedatives like Xanax.
Get Help Paying for Autism Prescriptions
In honor of Autism Month, RxLess would like to remind you that their discount card can help you with saving money on the prescriptions you need to help manage ASD or any other medical condition.
Using RxLess to find savings on your prescriptions is easy to do. Simply go to rxless.com and enter the name of the Rx you are in need of. The search tool will compile a list of local pharmacies, including national chains like CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens, that accept their cards and the prices you will pay at each after the pharmacists have applied the discount.
All you need to do then is make a digital copy or print out your RxLess discount card, show it to the pharmacy and pay the lower price for the medication. There is no registration process and you will never have to give RxLess any personal information, like your date of birth, phone number, or address.
