Effective Treatments for Autism
Implementing an effective treatment program for autism would include, provide positive reinforcement of behavior, implementation of highly structured activities which engage the child's attention, tasks are taught in a simple series of steps, and provide the child with a schedule that is predictable. In successful treatments, parents have to be involved. Therapists, teachers and parents work together in identifying skills, and behaviors that need to be modified. In recognition of a child's earliest teacher, which is their parent, many programs are now implementing at-home therapy lessons.
As soon as the disability is identified in a child, implementation of therapy should begin. Most programs will need to teach communication and social interaction in the early stages to be effective. Either at home or a childcare center, appropriate interventions will need to take place in children under the age of three. Often time’s interventions may target deficits in specific learning, imagination, motivation, compliance, language, attention and will need to encourage interaction with others. The various methods will include physical therapy, occupational therapy communication and the use of play interventions to boost social interaction. To help in developing coordination, as well as body awareness, physical activity will often start the child's day. This may include painting, doing puzzles, possibly stringing beads or other similar types of motor skills. During other periods of the day such a snack time teachers will engage the children to socially interact and will also help as an example the child to use their language skills by asking for more cookies. Children with autism learn by repetitiveness. Behavioral therapists, students and parents who have had extensive training will teach the child through positive reinforcement.
Special home-based individualized education is often used in children over the age of three. It is often a case that a child will either be in an integrated class with normal children for part or all of the day or may be segregated with other autistic children. Regardless of the methods used, all locations need to provide two key elements, functional communication and social skills development. To provide these essential elements, teachers and parents need to work together with instructing the parents on the skills and/or behaviors learned during the school day, allowing parents to continue the learning process at home.
Ideally by the time a child reaches elementary school, their structural program or skills learning program, should be encouraging in their individual area of strength. All children with autism have individual characteristics, therefore, they need to have individualized curriculum adopted for each individual child. As an awareness of autism in children has grown, many of today's schools have programs in which a child is in normal class for part of the day and receive special instructions during other parts of the day. Learning to organize tasks or avoid distractions is often difficult, even in high functioning children who are able to easily complete academic work.
As children move into middle and their high school years. Instruction begins to mold to the more practical matters, community living and work. These experiences should include some form of work experience, skills that are imperative to living in a community, and using public transportation to reach destinations.
As a parent, you will no doubt want to participate in your child's school years and to be involved in their educational programs. However, to effectively evaluate your child's progress, collaboration between educators and parents is a must. |
