Most of these drugs affect levels of serotonin or other signaling chemicals in the brain. Many other interventions are available, but few, if any, scientific studies support their use. These therapies remain controversial and may or may not reduce a specific person's symptoms. Parents should use caution before subscribing to any particular treatment. Counseling for the families of people with autism also may assist them in coping with the disorder.
Some scientists hope to identify genes that increase the risk of autism.
Others are studying specific aspects of behavior, information processing, and other characteristics to learn precisely how children with autism differ from other people and how these characteristics change over time. The findings may lead to improved strategies for early diagnosis and intervention. Related studies are examining how the cerebellum develops and processes information, how different brain regions function in relation to each other, and how alterations in this relationship during development may result in the signs and symptoms of autism. Researchers hope this research will provide new clues about how autism develops and how brain abnormalities affect behavior. Symptoms usually appear during the first 3 years of childhood and continue throughout life.