Autism Therapies

Speech Therapy

Speech therapy is a must if you have a child on the autism spectrum (or even if you suspect that you have one). Sure, your kid can already talk, in fact, they're probably talking your ear off. Speech therapy can still help.

Kids on the spectrum often communicate in a dull monotone and good speech therapy can teach them to emote more effectively with tone and facial expression. It can help them to communicate more directly and to engage their listeners.

Speech therapy can also help kids to conquer social problems by helping them to learn new ways to approach people and how to tell when someone is busy, doesn't want to talk or is bored.

Speech therapy can help your kids with their listening skills too so that they can learn about the way other people may try to manipulate them, tease or lie.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is another must-have for kids on the autism spectrum. OT is very much a mixed bag of therapies, it aims to assess people's needs and abilities and work towards helping people to participate in a wider range of "everyday activities".

When it comes to kids on the spectrum, OT can help them fine-tune their balance or overcome irrational fears (low heights), it can help them to develop more effective motor control, better pencil grips, better walking (as many kids on the spectrum are "pigeon toed"). OT can help improve strength and flexibility too.

OT works with the mind as well and, for example, impatient kids may find that they learn to be calmer and to wait their turn.

All of these things can help children to more effectively participate in activities with their peers. This leads to better social skills and happier children.

Addressing Specific Senses and Muscles

I'll provide more information on this later, these are topics I want to cover.

• Eyes, and Eye Exercises, Kirlian lenses (to deal with flicker)

• Noise Cancelling Earphones

• Dietary choices to avoid food texture issues, changes to avoid IBS.

• Chewelery and other stimming props.

• Careful clothing choices to avoid irritation

• Building up Balance and Co-ordination

• Breathing Exercises

• Climbing for dexterity

• Hand exercises to build up muscles and prevent hyper-flexibility issues.

Specific Training / Teaching

Role Play is a very effective means of teaching social skills to kids on the spectrum. This section is also unfinished but here's a list of what I want to cover.

• Role playing making and keeping friends

• Teaching Manners and Etiquette

• Role-Playing social situations, boyfriends or girlfriends.

• Relationship counselling.

• Role-playing the detection of meltdowns and calming techniques.

• Breaking habits, allowing for change and reducing OCD issues.

Chelation

I've included chelation here as a therapy not because I agree with it (I don't) but because I need to ensure that it's understood and taken off the table as early as possible. This is a therapy with no scientific background in autism and no proof. It's based on the fraudulent work of discredited ex-doctor Andrew Wakefield who claimed in 1998 that mercury (and Vaccines) caused autism. It's aimed at essentially "chemically washing away the autism".

Don't do it. Don't read about it. don't go there. It's wrong and it's dangerous. It's not even a last resort.

• Autism - The politics of Hate and Cure - 2010 (things you shouldn't do)

• Autism Acceptance: Traditional and Non-Traditional Autism Treatment Options - 2010 (finding better ways to accept your children as they are).