Merit Health Wesley's strategy for autism treatment

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - It is Autism Awareness Month, and 1/68 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Merit Health Wesley is doing everything it can to make sure kids around the Pine Belt are getting the best treatment they can.

Dr. Robin Friend, pediatric occupational therapist said, "We have a play-based assessment and then we start with treatment for children who have autism. We have speech therapy. We have physical therapy if needed. We have sensory integration based occupational therapy here at Merit Health Wesley. We do play-based treatment in a really fun setting so we can encourage kids to engage in play, and also to improve their social interaction and their language skills. We have better treatments for children with autism. The education has really improved over the last ten years as well. So the outcome is a lot better than it has been in the past."

Friend said if you think your child may be autistic, you should take your kid to a pediatric physician to get them tested for ASD.