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Autism does not have a cure. However, behavioral interventions for children with autism, is one of the most effect interventions used that can profoundly diminish the symptoms of autism and help a child with autism lead a productive and fulfilling life. A child with autism can experience both social and educational challenges. When behavior therapy is used as a treatment plan, can help alleviate the challenges that many children with autism face. After all, no one wants to see their child become frustrated in school or life and then feel helpless. The most important thing to remember is that no one plan is the end all be all for treating autism, each child has unique needs and it is important that parents find a treatment that works for their child.

Overall, the most generally accepted and successful treatment approach for children with autism is behavior therapy. This is an effective approach for children across the autism spectrum, not just for children with behavioral issues. Behavior therapy is widely implemented as a tool to help develop social skills for children with autism.

As a parent, it may be confusing deciding which treatment is best for your child with autism. Schools may tell you one thing and you may hear something else from a parent group. There is no one right answer. One thing that has been proven is that the earlier the intervention the better. The sooner your child begin behavioral therapy the easier it will be for your child to learn age-appropriate social skills and better transition into society.

One of the most effect and used behavior support for students with autism is applied behavior analysis (ABA).  This type of behavior intervention is safe, flexible, and when used, has proven effective. Parents continuously report that ABA has had tremendous positive results for their child with autism. Whether a child is three years old or seventeen years old, ABA is one of the most reliable ways for a child to develop social, communication, academic, life skills, and emotional skills that will make them successful in the classroom and in life.

So what is applied behavior analysis (ABA)?

ABA is a behavior intervention that focuses on developing social skills, language, and self-help abilities through positive reinforcement. A behavior interventionist will either, go to a child’s house or school, and work one-on-one with the child to develop these skills. Some things a behavior interventionist might do is intervening on problem behavior such as aggression or defiance and then teach them a positive replacement behavior. The child is essentially rewarded for the positive behavior. An ABA therapist might work with a child on turn-taking skills. Instead of always interrupting the other person in a conversation, a behavior interventionist might teach a child to learn to wait until the appropriate time in the conversation before interjecting.

During a session with a child, an ABA therapist will introduce new skills to the child. An overwhelming amount of research has proven that ABA is highly effective in reducing problematic behavior of a child with autism. The ABA therapist will teach the child through modeling and role-playing activities. The child will be able to watch the therapist use the appropriate behaviors and then try the behavior with the support of the therapist.

There are many skills that a child may not be interested in learning or may not see the value in learning. For example, a child might not be interested in having eye contact when they talk to someone. An ABA therapist would work with that child on learning to have eye contact anyways because of the value of that skill in the long run. Whether it is for a casual conversation or a job interview, making eye contact with a person while they are talking to you is a skill that is important in the work place and in social situations.

ABA therapists are trained to assess the child and create sessions that individually benefit the child. What one child needs to work on could be completely different from what another child needs to work on in life. Some children need as many as 30-40 hours per week in ABA therapy and other children may only need 4 hours a week. When children begin to practice these positive behaviors and their social skills start to improve, ABA will continue to help the child in maintaining and cementing those life-long skills.

The number of children diagnosed with autism continues to increase each year. Autism can impact a child in many different areas of life such as communication and social interaction and can have a considerable effect on a child’s participation and performance in the classroom. Children with autism often experience difficulty processing sensory information, and this can lead to feeling overstimulated (too much energy) or lethargic (difficulty maintaining attention), ultimately impacting academic participation and socialization with peers. When problems related to sensory processing occur in the classroom, children are more likely to experience acting out behaviors, lower self esteem, or withdrawn behavior. Aside from behavioral and speech/ language support, children with an autism spectrum disorder may also benefit from occupational therapy.

What is occupational therapy?

Occupational Therapy (OT) is a treatment modality designed to treat injured, ill, or individuals with developmental disabilities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2018). Examples include: helping children with fine motor difficulties to learn to tie their shoes, grasp a pencil correctly, button their shirt, etc. Occupational therapy is usually sensory based, with interventions designed to help children develop awareness around their sensory systems and mange sensory input appropriately. Occupational therapy for children is often play-based, and hands on, and might involve deep touch, massage, use of a swings, stability balls, etc. based on the child’s sensory needs. Occupational therapy is particularly effective in not only helping children with autism to refine gross and fine motor skills, but to also filter information and manage environmental stimuli. Most individuals on the autism spectrum experience difficulty with sensory processing. Such children often report concentration difficulties in the classroom. This is due to the extra challenge they face of filtering out background noises, managing their own sensory needs, and ignoring classroom distractions in order to focus on the instructor. Participation in occupational therapy allows children with autism to manage sensory information more effectively with the use of specific strategies, ultimately increasing focus and regulation.

What are Occupational Therapists?

Occupational therapists (OTs) help individuals become proficient, independent, and  successful at accomplishing everyday tasks, specifically when the individual has a disability (such as autism). Occupational therapists create activities designed to strengthen different muscle groups, improve coordination, and manage sensory input through the practice of everyday activities such as brushing teeth, tying one’s shoe, or writing.  Occupational therapists are trained to understand the specific ways a disability may affect a child’s physical and emotional functioning or disrupt regular routines, and are able to tailor treatment goals to the individual needs of the child. Occupational therapists may work in many settings such as a clinic, hospital, or school. Occupational therapists work directly with the child and also build relationships with the parents, teachers, and any other treatment provider in the child’s life. Most Occupational therapists understand the importance of collaboration between treatment providers and will often develop goals related to behavior and social interactions that may be worked on at home and at school. Occupational therapists determine each child’s service time based on the child’s needs and the impact of their disability.

Children with Autism and Occupational Therapy

It is estimated that 80% of children with autism have sensory processing problems (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2018). Occupational therapy offers many benefits for children with autism ranging from improved attention, enhanced social problem solving and cooperation, improved emotional regulation, and/or  increased independence in daily task completion.

When initially evaluating a child’s eligibility for occupational therapy, the Occupational therapist will observe the child participating in challenging motor tasks or in the setting where difficulties commonly arise. Data gathered from observation is then used to develop treatment goals, and will help the Occupational therapist to determine if goals should focus on attention and sensory regulation, social interactions, or developmental tasks. For children struggling to maintain attention in the classroom due to sensory dys-regulation, OT’s are able to suggest modifications to the child’s learning environment and strategies to use throughout the school day obtain sensory input appropriately. Examples include replacing a chair with a Bossa ball for children who have difficulty sitting still, playing a theraband between chair legs so children have a place to expend their energy without disrupting their peers, or providing children with visual reminders of strategies they can practice throughout the school day (ex:asking for a break, drinking water, taking deep breaths, hands to self, etc). Occupational therapists regularly consult with teachers and school staff to determine if suggested strategies are effective, or if new strategies could be implemented. Occupational therapists are also able to utilize play based interventions to assist children with improving social interactions. Examples include acting out common social challenges through role play or pretend play, determining behaviors that would be viewed appropriate and inappropriate by peers, and practicing socially acceptable regulation strategies (ex: hands to self versus touching peers). If a child’s difficulties arise during developmental tasks such as brushing hair or eating neatly, treatment activities will focus on practicing such activities until the child is able to perform task independently.

Accessing Occupational Therapy

Children with autism are entitled to free occupational therapy though their public school, via their IEP (Individualized Education Plan). Another option for occupational therapy includes private therapy through a clinic. Many insurance plans cover private occupational therapy if a child has a documented diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder. If you are interested in learning more about options for accessing Occupational Therapy for your child with autism we would encourage you to contact the OAS center for more information at 619-431-5049