Therapies

There are many different types of therapies when it comes to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). When it comes to therapy, they need to work together to create the best outcome for the child.

Speech Language Therapy

Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) work on understanding, talking, reading, and writing. They also work on social skills with the child.

An SLP may help the child work on: joint attention, playing & getting along with children, understanding & using gestures to communicate, & following directions. When it comes to spoken word, SLPs can help teach the child to ask and answer questions, ask for help, & take turns in conversation. SLPs may use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) with the child, which includes: sign language, gestures, pictures, objects, written words, computers, & tablets, etc.

Occupational Therapy & Physical Therapy

Occupational Therapists (OTs) will assess the child's developmental progress, determining if the child has developmentally appropriate skills. OTs will then provide interventions to help the child respond to information coming from their senses, include sensory processing & play activities. They will create play situations that help a child communicate & play with others. They will find ways to adapt work or daily activities that are meaningful to the child, in hopes to improve the child's quality of life.

Physical Therapists (PTs) will work on treating impairments in the systems that affect motor function, such as problems with respiratory control, improving posture, & addressing malalignments in the musculoskeletal system. PTs can develop exercise programs for older children with autism.

Psychological Therapy

Psychologists focus on how the brain works in the child with autism. Some psychologists use medications to treat the symptoms of autism, but there is no specific drug that treat autism as a whole. Medications can help manage seizures or hyperactivity. They also use behavioral interventions to help the child. Many treatment programs focus on operant conditioning, which uses rewards to encourage good behavior & punishments to discourage bad behavior. This approach can improve communication & social skills, while decreasing self-injury behaviors & aggression.