1. Behavioral Therapy for Autism
Children with autism often have difficulty learning to interact socially with others. In early life, this can manifest as resistance to affection, poor eye contact or "zoning out" around others. In older children, the inability to form friendships, start or hold conversations and share or cooperate with others may be symptoms of autism. These symptoms require some form of counseling to overcome.
Behavioral therapy is used to teach children how to act and interact with others appropriately. This therapy focuses on the child's behavior rather than his mental state, and seeks to modify disruptive or destructive behaviors with a clear system of rewards and punishments. It is the mainstay of most autism treatment programs, including school-based programs. When you first notice abnormalities in your child's behavior, you should seek behavioral therapy. Early intervention is the most important component in successful treatment.
2. Speech and Language Therapy for Autism
Language delays are often the first discernible symptom of autism in children. When a child fails to meet developmental milestones for speech or regresses in speech development, get a professional evaluation. Not all language delays are caused by autism, but you should seek a developmental screening if your child is behind other children in language development. Counseling can help an autistic child learn to speak and communicate more effectively.
In the beginning, speech therapy may focus on non-verbal communication, using gestures, picture exchange cards (PECS) and other non-verbal tools. Eventual progression to verbal communication usually occurs. In addition, speech and language therapy also helps autistic children understand concepts, participate in a conversations and use speech appropriately. This counseling is widely available and often included in school-based programs.
3. Occupational Therapy for Autism
Many autistic children have impaired motor skills, trouble processing information from their senses and difficulty accepting changes and transitions. These issues are usually addressed through occupational therapy. Occupational therapists teach children with autism practical skills they can use to get through everyday life. This might include how to tie their shoes, brush their teeth and throw a ball. Additionally, occupational therapists help children with autism manage and control oversensitivity to light, sound, touch and other sense information through sensory integration therapy. Occupational therapy is an important part of treatment for most children with autism, but it is rarely used independently. You should use occupational therapy in conjunction with behavioral therapy and/or speech and language therapy.
