Types of complementary therapies in autism

By complementary therapies include art therapy, music therapy, therapy with animals and sensory integration therapy. In essence, these methods do not apply to educational or behavioral aspects, but they also give the child the opportunity to develop communication skills and social adaptation. Although sufficient evidence that these therapies help to develop different skills, many parents and doctors talk about a significant improvement in behavior and communication abilities of children, and that it teaches children a sense of joy.

Complementary therapy usually complements the standard method of treatment for autism.

• Art therapy gives a child the opportunity to express their feelings through nonverbal.
• Music therapy, and including singing helps to develop speech and language skills.
• Therapy with animals, such as horseback riding or swimming with dolphins, improves motor skills of the child, as well as increases in its self-confidence.
• Sensory integration therapy - a method of correction of behavior that is aimed at educating patients with autism to cope with sensory stimulation. During treatment, the patient is contacted with materials having different textures, or listens to different sounds.

Follow-up

After the start of treatment is recommended to be screened regularly to identify whether a patient has improved. Conducting such surveys should be part of the therapeutic program.

For best results, parents should work together with a team of doctors. Parents or guardians should be aware of all that concerns the essence of the disease and its treatment. We need to clearly realize what goals puts the therapeutic course, and what are the means to achieve these objectives, as well as provide all necessary patient information to doctors. All the doubts and questions that arise in the course of treatment should be discussed with your doctor.

Prevention of illness

At present, methods of preventing the development of autism does not exist. It is possible that in the future scientists will be able to study the genetics of autism and suggest preventative measures to eliminate genetic errors to the moment when the symptoms begin to manifest themselves.

Behavioral therapy for autism

Behavioral therapy - is the basis of many treatment programs for children with autism. Studies conducted more than 30 years, confirmed that the applied methods of behavioral therapy can achieve improvements in communication skills, learning ability, adaptive behavior and appropriate social behavior caused. This reduces the appearance of behavioral problems in children with autism. There is irrefutable evidence that the earlier the therapeutic course begins, as a rule, pre-school age, the more significant the results. For the treatment of children with autism, scientists have developed a number of methods of treatment of behavioral abnormalities. These methods are based primarily on the principle of applied behavioral analysis.

Applied behavior analysis is designed to correct the behavior and teach the skills needed to cope with certain situations. It is based on the principle of conditionality, which says that behavior change with a positive reaction to the desired behaviors and negative reaction to the unwanted. Naturally people tend to repeat those actions for which he encouraged. The majority of treatment programs include various methods of applied behavioral analysis.

This kind of complex therapy may be different in some aspects, but it is always a well-structured intensive program in which the child busy for a lot of time (15-40 hours or more per week). Typically, behavioral modification is carried out during the individual sessions with a therapist. Typically, behavioral therapists work together with parents, school staff and professionals of various associations to help implement the program of complex treatment, aligned with the individual patient

Positive behavioral interventions and support are needed to replace the negative behavior pattern of positive and improve the quality of life of the patient. As is the case with other methods, this method requires an estimate based on the strengths and weaknesses of a particular person, as well as develop strategies to improve the quality of life of the patient as a whole.

Correction of behavior often involves the implementation of well-structured activities aimed at developing specific skills to meet the needs and interests of the patient.

Play therapy: social interaction, people with autism are often limited due to violations of emotional development. Play therapy - a form of behavior modification, which helps speed up the emotional development. As a result, improved communication skills and ability to learn. This type of treatment involves the interaction between child and adult, which is regulated by a child.

Social history - a method that is used for the development of weak communication skills. The stories told by patients, designed to teach them to understand the feelings, thoughts and point of view of other people, as well as to change the reaction to a certain situation. Also, this method helps patients cope with their feelings. Behavioral therapists teach parents and caregivers how to create social stories.

The educational aspect

The basic principle of training is that every autistic person has their own strengths, abilities and functional level, and that the training should be based on their individual needs. With the assistance of the child's parents must be made in writing a detailed training program. The success of the child must be documented.

Children with autism have a variety of educational opportunities. The basic principle is the assertion that children with disabilities should be educated together with healthy children, which serve as an example of the formation of language, communication and behavioral skills. Therefore, some autistic children enrolled in basic school, while others - in special educational groups in regular public schools. There are some children who are enrolled in special schools with a special program

It is important that the skills taught at school, extended beyond the classroom. That is, learning should involve the patient's family and to the implementation of the program continued at home and in the child's environment.