Last December, we spoke with Dr. Joshua Feder about repetition in autism therapy. He returns today to speak with us from his practice in Solana Beach, California about autism and medication. Is medication the missing piece for some of his patients? How does he know whether to medicate and what are the complications of using medications? Also, how does he make a diagnosis?
Dr. Feder is the is a father of a grown autistic son, a child and family psychiatrist using the Developmental, Individual differences, Relationship-based (DIR) model and an Expert DIR Training Leader. He is also a faculty member with both the Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning (ICDL), the home of DIR/Floortime, and Profectum, and an adjunct faculty with Fielding Graduate University in the PhD program in Infant and Early Childhood Development.
Autism and Medication with Dr. Joshua Feder
Dr. Feder sees medications as a tool to support a good plan, not to try to make up for an inadequate a plan, which is DIR thinking. He notes that many people are always concerned about the safety of medications and side effects, but people should also be skeptical of many supplements out there which may not be safe. A lot is known about medication and side effects whereas not so much research is out there about some supplements and other substances.
Listen to the UNIQUELY HUMAN podcast Use of Medications for Autistic Individuals: A Discussion with Dr. Josh Feder
See the Carlat Child Psychiatry Report on Autism and Medication
Dr. Feder also wrote a piece on Medication and Autism for the Carlat Child Psychiatry Report.
Until next week… here’s to affecting autism through playful interactions!