The existence of Autism in children has never been stronger than in recent times. With the condition seen more commonly in children, the efforts made by experts to find the best approaches and the best solutions are endless. Nevertheless, as parents, it is important that you are aware of the key basics where treatment and therapy is concerned.
Early Intervention
The importance of early intervention is strongly stressed upon by experts. In simple terms, the earlier treatment and therapy starts, the less challenging and delayed it becomes to achieve expected results. In fact, a delay in diagnosis and intervention can even make it completely impossible to treat the condition.
The Purpose of Therapy
The overall focus of therapy is to improve the individual’s quality of life. The right kind of therapy involves approaches that are evidence based, meaning they are officially proven to be safe and extremely effective. These approaches help individuals learn behaviours by integrating them naturally so their behaviour is socially appropriate, which helps them live and be involved in their communities, undisturbed and happy.
Play Based Therapy
The fact that Autism is largely a social-communication disorder makes play-based therapy a more effective approach in supporting the development of key areas (social and communication skills) in Autistic children. These children are almost unable to relate to others, family friends, and the people around. Play-based Autism therapy is highly focussed on increasing their ability to notice, relate to, and communicate with the different people and environments around them.
Apart from all, play-based therapy proves to be an approach that is obviously much more fun, as they always revolve around objects that the child is interested in or obsessed with. Here are 3 activities involving evidence-based practices that therapists find effective.
Floortime Therapy
Floortime therapy is one of the most widely used approaches that is proving to be quite successful where development of social skills and responding abilities are concerned. As mentioned above, floortime therapy involves activities surrounding objects of interest (toys in particular). The therapist gets the child engaged in activities that will draw his interest, primarily focusing on the ‘favourite’ object that was chosen for the session to stimulate certain expected responses.
Role Play
Role play is one key way how Social Skills Training (SST) is offered to autistic children. The therapist shall decide exactly when or at which point a child becomes ready for this sort of activity, and what level of interaction is expected of him/her.
These factors obviously depend on the progress levels of the child. Nevertheless, role play proves to be highly effective in helping individuals become less self-absorbed and learn to interact and socialize gradually.
Physical Activity
Therapists pick specific physical activities that children will not just enjoy, eventually at least, but are also helpful in decreasing inappropriate/ negative behaviour such as aggression. By involving specific, carefully chosen exercises, therapists intend to help the autistic child divert his mind and focus from, perhaps, injuring himself, and reinforce more appropriate behaviour. The energy released during physical activity offers the mind some relaxation and healthy diversion, making it more possible for the child to enjoy his activities.