Receiving a diagnosis for your autistic child can be overwhelming. While there is still no cure for autism, here are 6 things autism parents should know for addressing its symptoms. On the other hand, doctor or a medical specialist can help you determine the best treatment option for your family, regardless of your child’s symptoms or behaviors. To help your child develop life skills, your doctor might include any one of the following therapies in a treatment plan.
Speech Therapy
A consultation with a speech therapist will help your child improve communication skills, such as sentence structure, word articulation and even listening. Your child’s needs will determine whether the therapist will work with your child alone or in small groups with other children working on the same skills. Sessions may focus on understanding verbal instructions, responding to social cues, or asking and answering questions. In this controlled environment, your child can receive the exact instruction, feedback, practice, and the support they need to improve their communication skills.
Behavioral Therapy
Behavioral therapy is an effective treatment for autism disorders. Decades of research support it, especially when used early in a child’s development. Applied behavioral analysis looks at your child’s behavioral communication and helps them communicate more effectively. Your child may need a break after school. A behavior therapist can help you find the cause of your child’s problem behavior and show you how to communicate with him or her. The therapist should have training in applied behavior analysis to make sure he or she is using research-based strategies.
Social Skills Therapy
You may decide to enroll your child in therapy sessions focused on practicing and developing social skills. These therapy sessions are usually led by autism specialists or speech therapists. It is a safe place for your child to learn and practice social skills. While children with autism can understand the basic rules of social interaction, those on the spectrum often need more guidance and feedback. Sessions provide children with explicit models and feedback, using stories and programs that are often fun. This gives them memorable cues and reminds them to ask for help when they need it.
Sensory Integration Therapy
This occupational therapy focuses on the difficulties children with autism have processing sounds, noises and textures. These anxiety triggers can be taught to the child through sessions that gradually increase the child’s tolerance to them through play activities. According to new research, the brain learns to deal with these triggers in a calmer, more positive way. One study found that sensory integration therapy is more effective than other ongoing therapies for children. Sensory integration therapy can be a positive and effective option for children who have difficulty with sensory stimuli, such as the texture of food or the sounds of a noisy room.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy helps your child become more independent in activities of daily living. Sessions may focus on practical daily living skills, such as eating and dressing, or motor skills, such as grasping a pencil or body coordination. The interactive activities that occupational therapists use help children develop and strengthen their skills to become more independent. They can also help you determine if your child needs assistive devices, such as a special writing grip or noise-canceling headphones in certain environments.