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Therapies & support

What helps – and how to judge it

Overview & context

  • Knowledge article

    What support helps? Overview and context

    Therapy is not automatic in autism. What the S3 guideline says on goals, effective approaches and good planning – and what helps when choosing.

Early intervention (Frühförderung)

  • Knowledge article

    Early intervention for autism

    What early intervention is, which services SGB IX names for children up to school entry and what the 2021 guideline recommended about an early start.

Autism-specific support
Occupational therapy & speech therapy
Psychotherapy for co-occurring conditions
Augmentative communication & aids
Medication
Controversial & dubious offers

Frequently asked questions

What is early intervention (Frühförderung)?

Early intervention is a service for children with disabilities and for children at risk of a disability, from birth until starting school. Under § 46 SGB IX it includes medical and non-medical services, for example social-paediatric, psychological, curative-educational and psychosocial services as well as counselling of the persons with parental responsibility. Together with curative-educational services they are provided as a complex service.

In detail: Early intervention for autism

Can autism be cured?

According to an expert overview, autism lasts a lifetime. The German guideline of 2021 described no treatment that cures autism; it set out help for individual goals, such as social interaction or accompanying conditions, and stated that procedures proven ineffective should not be used. In the editorial team's view, promises of a cure are a warning sign of dubious offers.

In detail: Recognising controversial and dubious offers

Which therapies help in autism?

According to the 2021 guideline, an autism diagnosis does not automatically mean that therapy is needed. If support makes sense, it should follow clearly defined goals agreed with those affected, be reviewed regularly and be limited in time. Which procedures are better or worse supported for which goal depends on the goal and the age. The guideline expired on 23.03.2026.

In detail: What support helps? Overview and context

Are there medicines for autism?

The 2021 guideline stated: there is no medicinal therapy that improves social interaction and communication; medicines should not be used for this goal. Medicines can, however, be helpful for accompanying conditions, for example ADHD. Treatment belongs in medical hands. The guideline expired on 23.03.2026.

In detail: Medication in autism: possibilities and limits

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