What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a prospective cross-sectional study in Jordan to investigate parental use of conventional and complementary therapies for children with autism.
What They Found
Among 274 interviewed parents, 54.7% used medication for hyperactivity, 21.9% used anticonvulsants, and 2.1% used sleep aids for their children with autism. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) was used by 47.0% of parents, with fish oil (35.0%) and casein-free diets (8.7%) being the most common CAM interventions.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
While this study was conducted in Jordan, it highlights the common use of both conventional medications and complementary therapies by parents of children with autism. Canadian patients and their families may also explore a range of treatment options, underscoring the importance of discussing all therapies with healthcare providers.
Canadian Relevance
This study was conducted in Jordan and has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
As a cross-sectional study conducted in Jordan, its findings may not be generalizable to other populations and rely on parental self-reporting.