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Therapy
Therapy
ABA
ABA
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the application of behavioral principles to everyday situations to increase or decrease targeted behaviors.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the application of behavioral principles to everyday situations to increase or decrease targeted behaviors.
ABA has been used to help individuals with language, self-help, and play skills, as well as to decrease aggression, self-injury, and self-stimulatory behaviors. ABA programs are tailored to the patient, so methods may change based upon how the patient responds to interventions. With ABA, it is systematically applying interventions based upon the principles of learning theory to improve socially significant behaviors to a meaningful degree, and to demonstrate that the interventions employed are responsible for the improvement in behavior. ABA is a discipline that employs objective data to drive decision-making about an individual's program. That is, data is collected on responses made by the individual to determine if progress is being made or not; if there is no progress under a particular intervention, we need to re-evaluate the program and change it so that the child begins to make progress.
Aqua Therapy, Swimming, & Surfing
Aqua Therapy, Swimming, & Surfing
Aqua Therapy
Surfers Healing
Ways aquatic therapy can help ease symptoms of ASD are:
- Better Balance. Aquatic therapy helps strengthen muscles, which increases balance and develops better range of motion.
- Better Communication Skills. Being in the water doesn’t mean a lot of social interaction, but it can be a safe place to practice small interactions without the pressure to chat.
- Help With Sensory Issues. Often, children with ASD struggle with sensory integration disorders. Water tends to have a calming effect, and some therapies include activities designed to help sensory issues.
- Better Oral Motor Skills. Some kids with ASD struggle with certain motor skills, like sipping through a straw or blowing out candles on a cake. Because aquatic therapy includes activities like blowing bubbles in water or blowing a ball across the water, kids develop stronger oral motor skills.
- Better Swimmers. Being in the water makes kids more comfortable when it’s time to learn to swim. Water is especially hazardous for children with ASD because many have difficulty communicating when they are in danger. Aquatic therapy gives autistic kids time to build a crucial skill.
An alternate therapy for autistic children is surfing. Many children with autism struggle with sensory overload, and simple sensations can overwhelm them. The weightlessness and rhythms of the ocean offer a therapeutic experience, and Surfers Healing offers free camps that give autistic children an opportunity to experience this.
Surfers Healing Founder Israel Paskowitz on the moment which inspired the program: The scene: the beach, opening ceremonies of the World Longboard Championship in Haleiwa, Hawaii. The problem: Isaiah was having a meltdown. My wife tried to calm him, but she had her hands full. Not knowing what else to do, I picked Isaiah up and heaved him into the ocean. When his head popped up, a transformation had taken place; here was a happy, smiling, peaceful child. What else could I do but jump in with him? A friend grabbed a longboard, and Isaiah and I rode the waves for the first time. He loved it. He loved the ocean; he loved being out on the board together. And me? I was beside myself, because I was finally connecting with my son. We could surf together, and that was enough.
Hippotherapy
Hippotherapy
Hippotherapy is a physical, occupational or speech and language therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement. Specially trained physical and occupational therapists direct the movement of the horse and analyze the patient’s response so they can adjust treatment.
Children with autism often struggle with social skills and sensory issues, and hippotherapy can benefit these children in many ways.
The horse provides strong sensory stimulation to muscles and joints, impacts the balance and movement sense detected by sensory receptors, and provides different feeling experiences as the rider hugs or pats the horse. Watching the horse and other riders is also visually stimulating, while hearing the hoofs and smelling the barn impact other senses.
Autistic children can also develop a special relationship with their horse. The bond between the horse and the patient encourages the child to form an attachment and interaction with another living being, which is especially difficult for children with autism to achieve.
Medication
Medication
Please use independent judgment and request references when considering any resource associated with diagnosis or treatment of autism or its associated medical conditions. The following information is solely for educational purposes, not medical advice. It is not a substitute for care by trained medical providers. For specific advice about care and treatment, please consult your physician.
“Non-medical interventions are the best choice for treating autism. But sometimes, medication can be used to help stray symptoms get under control.”-Mark Bertin, M.D.
“Non-medical interventions are the best choice for treating autism. But sometimes, medication can be used to help stray symptoms get under control.”-Mark Bertin, M.D.
Although therapies have proven to be very effective in treating autism, every patient is different and may not respond to these methods. Even if intensive therapy is helpful in reducing the severity of the symptoms, certain behaviors sometimes remain in autistic children. This is where medication can be used to lessen the effects of symptoms and make it easier for both autistic children and their families to live with the condition. Ideally, the prescribed medications will complement other treatments to effectively combat symptoms.
Medication may not work for everyone, and each person may respond differently to medicines and their side effects. It is important to work with a doctor and monitor the effects of the medication.
Two common drugs that have been used for autism treatment are Risperidone (Risperdal, Risperdal Consta, Risperdal M-TAB) and Aripiprazole (Abilify, Abilify Maintena, Aristada). Both of these have been approved by the FDA as treatment for autism-related irritability.
How do these medications work?
How do these medications work?
Both Risperidone and Aripiprazole are classified as second generation antipsychotic (SGA) and atypical antipsychotics. They both rebalance dopamine and serotonin to improve thinking, mood, and behavior.
"Off-label" medication prescription
"Off-label" medication prescription
Many of the medications prescribed to treat autism have obtained FDA approval for treating other conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sleep disturbances, or depression.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), Fluoxetine (Prozac) and Sertraline (Zoloft) are FDA-approved to treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Olanzapine (Zyprexa) is used to treat symptoms of aggression and other behavioral disturbances in children, and is commonly prescribed to children with autism to help relieve certain symptoms.
Off-label use is common in virtually all areas of medicine, and is usually done to help patients in the absence of sufficiently large and targeted studies. Even though many of these medications are not specific to treating autism, they can help relieve many symptoms in children affected by the condition.
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