Sadia Atif, Clinical Psychologist and Registered Behaviour Technician, talks about Group therapies and One-to-one therapies. She discusses in detail how both type of therapies serve a different purpose.
No matter at whatever age your child is diagnosed with autism, the treatment should start immediately. Delaying the process will only harm your child. Treatment for autism consists of multiple therapies which are designed to cater to your child’s specific needs.
Please note that there is no medication that can treat autism. Medication should only be given if there are other physical or mental complications due to autism. Other than that, only therapies and a lifestyle change can help a child with autism.
The type of therapies that your child will receive depends on his/her needs. This will be determined by your doctor. Usually there are certain models that therapists and physicians use to help with autism. These models consist of different individual therapies which target the areas that your child needs help in. Here are few of these models:
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)
Perhaps the primary and most well studied method of helping in autism, this model focuses on how a child learns. It focuses on certain principles. One of those principles is Positive reinforcement. When a child is rewarded for some behavior, he/she is more likely to repeat that behavior. There are multiple fields and exercises within ABA. For details on ABA please refer to our important links section.
Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)
This model uses board games to help the child express feelings, speak and form relations. The aim of the therapy is to form important social-emotional skills and help in language building and information processing.
Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT)
This model is also based on games. Unlike ESDM, however, it focuses on targeted areas that the child needs development in. These areas can be like motivation and self-management. The treatment is planned in a way that it teaches the child how to respond to verbal cues by the parents or the therapist.
What to look for in these therapies?
The aim of these therapies and exercises is to form a well-structured environment for the child. This also includes the environment of the home. All these therapies make use of two main things:
The aim of these therapies and exercises is to form a well-structured environment for the child. This also includes the environment of the home. All these therapies make use of two main things:
Family
The following type of therapy involves:
- Family members working alongside professionals to help the child
- Flexible timings and exercises so that the child can work in a comfortable setting
- Helping the family members through the journey
- No gestures such as pointing, showing, reaching or waving by 12 months
- No expressive vocabulary by 16 months
- No meaningful two-word phrases (not including imitating or repeating) by 24 months
- Any loss of speech, babbling or social skills at any age
- Does not respond to name by 12 months
Structure
The aim of these interventions is to keep a well-structured routine for the child and the family so that the progress can be monitored. This can be achieved by the following steps:
- Developing an individualized plan for your child to cater to his/her specific needs
- Monitoring the child’s progress through regular tests
- Providing a supportive and encouraging environment for the child
- Having well trained staff (doctors, caretakers, etc) who can regularly provide these interventions to the child
- No expressive vocabulary by 16 months
- No meaningful two-word phrases (not including imitating or repeating) by 24 months
- Any loss of speech, babbling or social skills at any age
- Does not respond to name by 12 months
Some other types of therapies:
- Educational and school-based therapies
- Joint attention therapy
- Medication treatment
- Nutritional therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Parent-mediated therapy
- Physical therapy
- Social skills training
- Speech-language therapy
- Does not share sounds, smiles or other facial expressions by 9 months
- Does not babble by 12 months
- No gestures such as pointing, showing, reaching or waving by 12 months
- No expressive vocabulary by 16 months
- No meaningful two-word phrases (not including imitating or repeating) by 24 months
- Any loss of speech, babbling or social skills at any age
- Does not respond to name by 12 months
Bear in mind that your therapists knows best. These are just some possible paths that your child’s therapist might determine for your child. Other exercises and therapies also exist that can be used to help a child with autism.
Children who receive proper intervention early-on in their lives grow up to become more equipped with essential social skills. These social skills help them navigate better through the society and at home too.
Autism treatment can make greatly impact you and your child’s life. As a parent, knowing your child’s condition will give you a chance to adjust to the changes without compromising on the well-being of your child.
Every child is different and progresses differently. Do not expect these practices to bring drastic changes within a few days. These are lifestyle changes that you will need to adapt in every step of your child’s life.
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