Autism was once an obscure disorder, but now one in every 110 children is diagnosed with the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People with autism often struggle with poor balance, clumsiness and lack of movement control, and there are certain aspects of the condition that make these symptoms prevalent among autistic people.
Autism and Sensory Processing Disorder
Sensory Processing Disorder, previously known as Sensory Integration Dysfunction, is often a co-condition of Autism and Asperger's syndrome. The condition inhibits a person's ability to make sense of the world. People with the disorder may be able to hear just fine, but have trouble listening, or processing what they hear. They may be hyposensitive or hypersensitive to a visually stimulating environment and have trouble perceiving visual cues. Other senses, like smell, taste and touch, are not processed normally either. Physical responses and behavior are affected by this inability to understand what the senses are taking in.
The 6th and 7th Senses
Along with the five senses you are familiar with, there are two lesser known senses called proprioception and the vestibular system. Proprioception tells your body's joints and muscles how to react and tells your body where it is spatially. The vestibular system is your sense of balance. It works with mechanisms in the inner ear to maintain equilibrium when the head moves. Because people with autism have difficulty processing info as it enters the brain through the senses, they also have difficulty reacting appropriately with their muscles and joints.
Effects
Because of proprioception and vestibular problems, a child with autism may have problems with balance. The child may often fall over or be slow to learn to walk. He may feel dizzy often, fall out of chairs, or use too much force pushing, lifting or holding things. This is because he has trouble knowing where his body ends and an object begins.
Integrated Movement Therapy
Recently, there has been much buzz surrounding the notion that yoga may help treat the symptoms of autism, particularly by improving balance. According to the "International Journal of Yoga Therapy," Integrated Movement Therapy is an approach that combines speech-language pathology, behavioral and mental health counseling, and yoga. Integrated Movement Therapy has six core principles: structure and continuity; social interaction; language stimulation; self-calming; direct self-esteem building; and physical stimulation. The physical stimulation aspect uses specific asanas and pranayamas, or poses and breathing techniques, to encourage sensory integration, body awareness, and appropriate risk-taking behavior. The selected asanas are chosen to increase balance and coordination as well as the internal focus needed to complete physical tasks. The therapy also aims to build a child's confidence by increasing strength, coordination and courage.
References
- Autism-Help: Sensory Integration Disorder
- International Journal of Yoga Therapy: Integrated Movement Therapy: Yoga Based Therapy as a Viable and Effective Intervention for Autism Spectrum and Related Disorders; Molly Kenny; 2002
- Connecticut Autism Spectrum Resource Center: Sensory Processing Issues in Autism; 2004
- National Center on Physical Activity and Disability: Autism; 2009
- CDC: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs); 2010
