107 Questions to Ask the Provider about the Treatment and Intervention

How effective is this treatment or intervention?

There are many interventions that can address the various symptoms of ASD. However, there is no cure for the disorder itself. It is a lifelong disability, but with intervention, skills should be expected to increase and compensate for problem behaviors and symptoms

Is it individualized?

To be effective, the treatment should be individualized for every person with ASD. Try to avoid any treatments that offer a single approach or strategy. Generally, a comprehensive intervention approach combining a number of evidence-based practices systematically applied and based on data-driven decisions regarding progress will be most effective.

How will I know if the individual is making progress?

Each individual’s progress needs to be monitored to ensure that the intervention is working or requires any modification. Therefore, regular assessments and tracking of the specific symptoms and/or skills expected to be changed by the intervention should be completed. Further, multiple interventions should be layered on systematically and progressively to be able to effectively assess their individual impact and benefit.

Is it supported by research?

There are a lot of effective, not effective, or even dangerous treatments. When choosing an intervention, it is helpful to lean towards those with sufficient study and/or proven research results pertinent to the individual being prescribed the intervention. Some interventions may be promising but not yet with sufficient study—if chosen, they should be applied systematically per above such that the added benefit can be assessed effectively.

Would it require me changing my beliefs?

Effective treatments should be able to be consistently and effectively implemented without requiring you to simply believe in them. Avoid treatments that ask you to change your belief system or generally do not fit within the ideas, principles, and/or practices of you/your family.