Children
with autism display the most irrational
and emotionally challenging symptoms. Doctors
and parents can use a variety of treatment methods
to manage these uncontrollable behaviors. These
treatment methods will also help autism children
cope with their social inabilities and physical
challenges.
Autism is
very common among children in the United States.
Experts call it a developmental disability since
it occurs out of nowhere during the crucial years
of the child. The most unfortunate reality about
this disorder is that it is a lifetime condition.
Autism starts interfering with the child's normal
behavior at the age of three. At this early age,
the condition already affects the patient's ability
to mingle with others, process information, and
learn ordinary tasks. Autism varies in degree
of severity. Physicians may classify an autistic
condition, as either high functioning or intensely
affected.
High functioning
autistic conditions are the most common. A specialist
can further classify it as either a Pervasive
Developmental Disorder (PDD) or Aspergers Syndrome.
Both types of high functioning autistic conditions
share the same symptoms. Patients will experience
stuttering, shyness, jerking, hand flapping, and
routine insistence. Bring your child directly
to a specialist for appropriate diagnosis if he
displays all or a combination of these symptoms.
Qualified professionals, like child psychologists
or pediatric neurologists, know how to treat your
child appropriately.
All autistic children
have high chances of improving their condition.
Although it is a lifetime disability, the appropriate
treatment methods for high functioning autism
may even promote the child to attend mainstream
schooling.
Seeking immediate
treatment is very important once the specialist
finds out about your child's autistic condition.
However, even treatment can interfere with the
studies of the child. Nevertheless, you should
not worry. Most schools in the United States offer
special programs and classes for autistic children.
Therefore, the first step in treating your child
is to prepare a therapy plan and to customize
his schooling arrangement.
As parents, you
should not treat your child as if he has a disease.
Do not seclude him from the world. Instead, let
him live normally. Map out a series of therapies
that will develop his communication, motor, behavioral,
and social skills. Parents, teachers, and physicians
should work together to come up with an IEP or
Individualized Educational Plan. This is a plan
that integrates both academic training and therapy.
The ABA
or Applied
Behavior Analysis is one of the most common
therapies that specialists use in treating high
frequency autism. Therapists use a set of reinforcement
activities to train the child on how to conduct
proper demeanor. This approach uses the reward
system. When the child positively reacts, the
therapist will give him a favor.
The ABA approach
uses modules to target goals. The therapist teaches
the child to achieve a set of attainable tasks.
The child then learns from each of the tasks.
Teaching a child to avoid showing tantrums, the
therapist will usually give a task to the child,
such as sitting properly on a chair. When the
child is able to follow the direction, the therapist
will then give the child his favorite toy or candy.
The therapist will repeat the process if the child
does not learn how to do this yet.
The program, indeed,
teaches the child proper behavior. If it is successful,
the child can move on to a more mainstream schooling.
He may attend either a regular class or a special
education program where the child joins and learns
with other young autism patients.
The concept that
high functioning autism causes stupidity is wrong.
Despite the obvious low results in IQ tests, children
with high functioning autism can accomplish and
learn tasks just like ordinary children. Low IQ
results of autistic children are only a scratch
on the surface. In fact, there are factors that
may distract the child during an IQ test, thus,
resulting in low scores.
The real challenge
actually lies in the way autistic children identify
questions. They need a visual representation of
the each item and require more time to answer
these questions. Interestingly, young autistic
patients are more adept to think and decide using
more visual terms than ordinary people. Visually
aided questionnaires are also a perfect groundwork
for autistics in facing real life tests.
Abrupt changes
in the surroundings are often the triggers of
autistic
tantrums. However, with appropriate scheduling
and orientation, a child with autism can learn
to accept changes and process disruptions in his
routines. As a parent, you should map out a plan
before you set an activity for your child so he
will know what to do first and next. It will help
if you guide your child using pictures instead
of verbal instructions. Try to approach your child
in a mild manner using phrases like "after 3 minutes,
we will put your toy to the box, and eat food."
This will give your child a clear idea of what
he should do and expect.
As supplementary
therapy for special education training, your child
will also need additional training for language
and speaking skills. Although autistic children
can become extremely verbal, parents and therapists
should work together to improve the clarity and
accuracy of every word that comes out of their
mouth. Therapists will use language skills tests
to teach the child how to reply to certain questions
or commands. Parents should not tolerate or promote
baby language. Try to talk to them straight like
an adult, with clear words, but in milder manner.
Another important
phase in treating autism is motor skills therapy.
Special children may develop sensitivity in sound,
smell, noise, and texture. And to correct and
improve these sensitivities, occupational therapists
can help by introducing the child into a set of
tests. Parents and teachers can integrate the
motor skills therapy into other therapies.
These treatment
methods are actually just a few among those what
a specialist can recommend. Parents, teachers,
and therapists can simultaneously conduct only
a few of these methods. The language and speech
treatment methods, for instance, are of the individual
type of therapy. Therefore, he cannot join other
children during this session.
The severity of
the child's high frequency autism may affect his
therapies. He may not be able learn that much,
thus, making medication the best course of action
to take. These new approaches in treating autism
prove to be workable for most patients. However,
it is only through early detection and intervention
that these therapies will work.
