Autism therapy is a wide umbrella of techniques and treatments that are used to help improve the lives of those who suffer from autism. This help can come in many forms, from one on one therapies to educational activities for children to medications.
What Autism Therapy Does do?
Autism therapy can be used for anyone with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), typically involving individualized treatments based on each person’s needs. The goal of these treatments is not to cure ASD, but instead to address the issues associated with it and improve the individual’s quality of life.
What Autism Therapy Does Not Do?
Autism therapy does not improve the person who has autism. However, it is a viable option for many people who take part in it, as long as they are provided with appropriate services and trained professionals to guide them through the process.
How does Autism Therapy work?
Autism therapy is used to accomplish several goals. Its main goal is to improve the skills of individuals with ASD. This may be accomplished through goal-directed behaviour (eliciting the desired response) or through functional behaviour analysis (identifying the behaviours that bring about desired outcomes). Another way that autistic people can benefit from this treatment is by developing verbal communication skills (talking to people, requesting help, and giving instructions).
There are several different therapies and techniques that are used to treat autism. The most common of these is the ABA therapy. It is a type of behaviour therapy (also called applied behaviour analysis) that is based on recognizing and modifying poor or abnormal behaviours by administering consequences.
The goal of the therapies ranges from teaching social skills to individuals with autism to aiding in the development of spoken language, to ensuring that individuals with autism work toward certain goals that they have in life such as advanced education through college or obtaining a job.
Research has shown that the use of ABA therapy in the treatment of autism stimulates improved communication, decreased symptoms, and a better overall quality of life for those who are affected.
The application of these therapies is based on an individualized program that integrates theoretical concepts from behaviour analysis with the personal history, neurologic and psychiatric characteristics, and family/environmental factors that affect each individual’s functioning. Some people state that autism therapies only help some people with ASD (or other disabilities), but others feel differently. Both sides of the argument agree that the methods being used may not work for everyone who is autistic. There are many techniques other than ABA therapy being used to treat individuals with ASD. Some of these include:
Functional analytic therapy, applied behaviour analysis (ABA), Social communication disorder (SCD), Interventions for autism, and Emotional development play.
Treatments for those who have been identified with ASD vary depending on the individual and what he or she is trying to accomplish. For example, in some cases, people are able to work towards being employed by going through a vocational evaluation process that also helps them access resources such as financial aid and occupational therapy. Another example is that some children with ASD may require a home-based treatment plan which can be provided by parents or professionals from the community. This includes behaviours such as playing with toys, appropriate social interaction, verbal communication skills, etc. For more information on the subject, visit Solutions Social Care.
