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Autism Treatment Options

FOR PARENTS TO CONSIDER

A treatment method or an educational method that will work for one child may not work for another child. The one common denominator for all fo the young children is that early intervention does work, and it seems to improve the prognosis.
TEMPLE GRANDIN

Remember that our child is unique, and work with your child navigate through social challenges, capitalise on his or her strengths and be successful.

Parent Education and Training


Parent training can be especially beneficial to the improvement of children with ASD. When parents, caregivers, grandparents, siblings, babysitters etc. are fully aware of and understand the strengths and deficits of a child they will be able to incorporate aspects of successful treatment options like social skills training into home life. Social skills and behaviour training for your child all involved with your child will help to improve your child's behaviour. Learn how to effectively implement treatment mechanisms into your child's everyday life for routine stability and consistency.

Social Skills Training and Speech-Language Therapy

Children with ASD can expand and improve their social skills through training and therapy. It is important to learn how to express thoughts and feeling appropriately, your child can improve their language sills with explicit teaching. Therapists often teach social skills to children using visual techniques such as social stories. You can make social stories for all situations your child experiences difficulty or anxiety with. Speech and language therapy may help as it can correct awkward methosds of speaking such as monotone, humour, eye contact and hand gestures.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

Is used to help individuals with ASD regulate their emotions, develop impulse control and improve their behaviour. People with ASD often struggle with fears and anxiety or become depressed, CBT has been helpful for reducing anxious and depressed feelings and behaviour by making changes in thoughts and perceptions of situations through a change in cognition. Therapists seek to reduce challenging behaviours, such as interruptions, obsessions, meltdowns or angry outbursts, while teaching individuals how to become familiar with and manage certain feelings that may arise. Stabilising emotions and improving behaviour allows those with ASD to prepare for and respond more appropriately in specific situations.

Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA)

Teaches communication, play, social academic, self-care, work and community living skills, and to reduce problem behaviours. The strategies are based on the work of B.F. Skinner. It is difficult to understand until you see it in action

The child receives positive reinforcement such as verbal praise or something the child finds to be motivating.
Includes support for the child in a school setting. Facilitated play with peers is often part of the intervention.

Occupational Therapy/Sensory Integration


Helps with motor skills or issues with their senses. Therapists work with children to stabilise their senses and their reactions to external stimuli. Helps children gain better control over their bodies and can reduce clumsiness, instability and hand-eye coordination Can reduce anxiety by improving their responses to particular sounds or touches. When children have better control of their senses, they are better able to control their movements, sounds and emotions.

Medication

No medications specifically treat ASD Some children with ASD can by controlled by medication: depression, anxiety, attention deficits, or hyperactivity. It is important to assess and treat associated conditions such as depression, anxiety and attention problem as as these symptoms can often be more debilitating than ASD itself.

Source: Autism Speaks Inc

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