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Autism Aspergers Therapies
Disclaimer: Each child is different and may not benefit from the therapies below. The information provided here is for educational purposes only. Before undergoing any treatments, please seek professional advice. NeurologicalNeurological therapies use non-chemical means to change the neural functioning of the autistic. Sensory Integration: We can use strategies to compensate for the child’s sensory dysfunctions, such as changing his environment, routines and how people interact with him. For example, we can avoid visual clutter, messy art activities and perfume. Irlen lenses: Used to treat some forms of dyslexia, these colored lenses also correct visual-perception problems in some autistics. Each individual uses a different color. This treatment was discovered using uniformly colored transparences. Auditory Integration Training: This helps to normalize hearing and sharpen listening skills Tomatis Method: Simulates the main phases of the child's listening and communication development. Sounds, music or voices are modified by the Electronic Listening Device to ensure the brain will process it. Samonas Sound Therapy: Stimulating the auditory system with very high fidelity natural sounds and beautiful music may improve neurological functioning. Rhythmic Entrainment Intervention: Uses complex rhythms to induce a state of wakefulness and reduce autistic syndromes Squeeze Machine: This has a comfortable surface which applies constant pressure controlled by the user. Temple Grandin uses it to calm herself down. [http://www.therafin.com] Le Packing: Wrapping the autistic child tightly with damp, refrigerated sheets may calm them down. Tongue Acupuncture: The ancient Chinese art of balancing the 'Qi' of the human body seems to have an effect on autistic children. Craniosacral Therapy: Improving the flow of cerebrospinal fluid to the brain through massage may relieve autistic symptoms. Neurofeedback - This can help train the brain to improve focus and decrease anxiety in autistics. Occupational Therapy: Helps autistics improve motor skills Doman-Delacato Treatment (Patterning): A series of exercises simulating prenatal and postnatal movements of nonimpaired children designed to improve autistics' neurological impairments. Dolphin Assisted Therapy: Clients swim with dolphins, which provide therapeutic effects. Note: Some animal activists object to using dolphins for human interaction as it may cause severe stress to the animals
MedicalMedical therapies alter the biological systems inside the autistic's body directly. Mind-altering Drugs: These are often prescribed to treat autistic symptoms. I personally do not favor using them except as a temporarily last resort due to side effects. GFCF Diet: Many autistic children improved greatly with a casein and gluten free diet. Casein is found in milk and gluten in wheat, oat, rye, and barley. Avoid foods and drinks containing these items. Anti-yeast Treatment: Some experts believe that yeast infections (which may result from antibiotic treatment) make autism more severe. Syndromes include thrush (white patches in mouth). Consult a doctor for treatment. Avoid malt, vinegar, pickles, chocolate, peanuts, corn and chicken. Probiotics may help too. [http://healing-arts.org/children/antifungal.htm] Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD): The SCD diet excludes all starches and complex sugars, helping to kill yeast and bacterial overgrowth. SCD yogurts and probiotics then repopulates the gut with "good bugs" that keep yeast and bad bacteria in check. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT): Some people believe that increasing oxygen flow to the brain may help it repair damage to brain cells and reduce autistic syndromes. Nutritional Therapies (Supplements): Some experts believe that vitamin and mineral deficiencies contribute to autism. Please consult a licensed medical professional before using these. Start with a small dose and increase it slowly to avoid possible side-effects. (* per kilogram of body weight)
Note: Avoid vitamins containing Aspartame (NutraSweet). It may be harmful. Vitamin B12 Injections: Autistics who are deficient in this vitamin may benefit. Chelation: Autism may have been caused or triggered by heavy metals such as mercury. Chelation removes these metals. Stem Cell Treatment: Injecting stem cells into the autistic may help repair some neurological functions and reverse autism's syndromes.
BehavioralBehavioral therapies train the autistic to change his behavior. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA): This very popular scientific approach trains autistic children to learn new skills one small step at a time using reward and punishment. Pivotal Response Therapy (PRT): Derived from ABA principles, PRT targets pivotal areas of a child's development rather than individual behaviors one at a time. Social Stories: Such stories provide simple illustrations and text examples of how to behave and what the world is about. Topics include: “What is a Library?”, “I am Going to the Library”, “What is a Responsibility?” and “What are My Responsibilities?” Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS): Autistic children learn in stages to express themselves using picture cards or sentence strips.
DORE programme: Using physical coordination exercises to treat Cerebella Developmental Delay (CDD) may benefit clumsy and learning disabled autistics. Sign Language: It takes a lot of effort to coordinate our lungs, throat, tongue and lips to speak. Some propose that sign language can overcome many of these difficulties preventing children with autism or aspergers from talking.
EducationalEducational therapies or methods provide a different approach to school autistics, which can improve coping skills and adaptative abilities. TEACCH: An evidence-based service, training and research program for individuals of all ages and skill levels with autism spectrum disorders including aspergers. Daily Life Therapy: This structured system educates the autistic child via the three fundamental “pillars” of vigorous physical exercise, emotional stability and intellectual stimulation.
InstinctiveInstinctive therapies assist the autistic in connecting with his instincts, which then alter his behavior. Relationship Development Intervention (RDI): This program supplies useful tools for parents to teach important missing skills and impart motivation onto their child to interact. Son-Rise: This program also advocates joining the child. Parents play key roles as teachers, therapists and directors of their own programs, which occur at home. Floortime: Instead of changing the child’s behavior, why not join him on the floor? In this way, we can help him learn to connect his emotions and intentions with his behavior, words and ideas. Intensive Interaction: Designed for people who have difficulty interacting, the therapist works on improving the quality of the interaction, encouraging the client to develop shared attention, turn-taking and understanding non-verbal language. Music Therapy: The use of music and rhythm can help the autistic child get in touch with his communication skills.
IntrospectiveIntrospective therapies assist the autistic in developing his conscious will and inner understanding, which will then alter his behavior. Facilitated Communication: Autistic children learn to communicate by typing on a keyboard or pointing at letters, images or other symbols to represent messages. The facilitator may help with prompts or physical support to their hands. Note: There is considerable controversy as to whether the facilitator is subconsciously influencing or creating the communication (a.k.a. the ouija board effect).
Last modified: Thu, 28 August 2008 Note: This may be only a minor modification (e.g. changing a spelling mistake) |
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