Therapy Options to Help Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

As soon as your child receives a diagnosis of autism or a spectrum disorder, it's important that you start scheduling therapy appointments and psychiatric counseling right away. The sooner you get intervention, the better your chances of helping your child to develop some of those lacking skills, including social, developmental, and behavioral abilities. Here are some common types of therapy that may prove beneficial for your child.

Developmental

Developmental therapies focus on teaching kids about necessary life skills and how to put them into practice. These skills are taught in stages, beginning with the core fundamentals and progressing into more complex skills. Developmental therapies are usually supported by interactions between you and your child that are designed to reinforce the messages. The goal is for you, your child's other caregivers, and the therapists to work with your child on his or her level to develop additional skills and master others.

As an example, a child who is having difficulties with interpersonal skills may receive some therapy that includes you, your spouse, and the therapist playing on the floor with them. The process usually starts with the adult playing along, but separately. As you gradually make eye contact, the play can slowly shift to mutual play in which your child starts to learn more interaction from practical application.

Behavioral

Behavioral therapies focus on teaching your child about acceptable behaviors. It also teaches about negative behaviors and the consequences that the child can expect from those actions. Your child's therapy provider will help to create a behavioral therapy plan that uses active training to teach your child right from wrong. As an example, your child may be instructed to complete specific tasks in exchange for rewards, like stickers or something that he or she is interested in.

This type of therapy works well, because it encourages your child to take an active role in his or her behaviors. Since many kids on the spectrum have trouble applying instructions and advice, this kind of reinforcement is important because it allows the child to actually implement those verbal instructions.

Psychiatric

Many of the children on the autism spectrum have comorbid conditions, including sensory sensitivities, attention deficit disorder, and even depression. In these instances, your child's therapist may recommend that you schedule an evaluation with a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist is legally able to prescribe medications which could help your child to better manage comorbid conditions. Sometimes these medications can help with impulse control management and other symptoms of spectrum disorders and those conditions that frequently appear along with them.

With a team of therapists and behavioral aides, you can help your child learn to cope with many of the difficulties of an autism spectrum disorder. When necessary, the support of a psychiatrist can simplify things as well through a psychological evaluation.

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