Speech And Communication Problems
At Therapeutic Pathways, we use the most recent and research-based findings in speech and language pathology in each childs treatment plan. Our speech, language and communication goals are integrated into our comprehensive Applied Behavior Analysis treatment plan to help children develop the skills they need to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and needs.
Is There A Cure For Autism
Some families feel relief after an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Other families are hesitant to accept the diagnosis. Almost all families feel overwhelmed and ask, What is the cure for autism? There is no cure for autism, but there are treatments that can reduce some symptoms. Early intervention is key to making sure your child can function to the best of his/her ability. Therapies, gadgets, and medications are all options to help your child thrive.
Tips For Managing Children At Home During Covid
This article is provided courtesy the University of Rochester, a site in the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network. Translations into Spanish and Vietnamese provided by Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders at University of California-Irvine.
The following are some tips that may help you manage your children with autism at home during COVID-19 closures and social distancing/isolation.
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Education Of Autistic And Related Communication
Deciding how to educate your child with autism might feel overwhelming. There are many options and choosing the right one for your child will likely take some trial and error. Some children attend public schools in a mainstream classroom. Another option is a public special education classroom. Special education teachers are knowledgeable about teaching children with autism. Children with autism in public schools need an individualized education plan .
Private school is another option that usually offers individualized education. Some private schools teach only children with autism. These schools have low student-to-teacher ratios and teachers have specialized training. scholarships are usually available for families who qualify. Education grants are also available.
Some families choose home education for their children with autism. A parent can teach his/her child or enlist the help of a teacher to work one-on-one with the child in the home. This is an attractive option for families whose child has many appointments.
No matter how you decide to educate your child, you are his/her greatest advocate. Knowing which services are available is the first step in ensuring he/she has his/her needs met. It is no small task, but your efforts will be fruitful as your child learns.
Welcome To Great Lakes Center For Autism Treatment And Research
Great Lakes Center for Autism Treatment and Research is a program of Residential Opportunities, Inc. , a nonprofit mental health organization that has been serving Kalamazoo and beyond since 1978. Since 2012, GLC has been providing evidence-based, state-of-the-art applied behavior analysis services for children and adolescents who have a diagnosis of autism and similar neurodevelopmental disabilities. We believe in helping the children and adolescents we serve reach their full potential in their community and beyond.
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Complementary And Alternative Medicine Treatments
To relieve the symptoms of ASD, some parents and healthcare professionals use treatments that are outside of what is typically recommended by pediatricians. These treatments are known as complementary and alternative medicine treatments. CAM treatments refer to products or services that are used in addition to or instead of traditional medicine. They might include special diets, dietary supplementsexternal icon, chelation , biologicals , or mind-body medicine .
Many of these treatments have not been studied for effectiveness moreover, a review of studies on chelation found some evidence of harm and no evidence to indicate it is effective in treating children with ASD . Current research shows that as many as one-third of parents of children with ASD may have tried CAM treatments, and up to 10% may be using a potentially dangerous treatment . Before starting such a treatment, talk to your childs doctor.
To learn more about CAM therapies for ASD, go to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicines Autismexternal icon webpage. The FDA has information about potentially dangerous treatments hereexternal icon.
Early Start Denver Model
ESDM is an approach that works best for 12- to 48-month-olds and follows the practices of ABA. The sessions revolve around natural play and joint activities with therapists and parents. Singing could be used to encourage a child with ASD to vocalize, or a mimicry game could be used to teach the child to identify body parts. ESDM focuses on creating positive social interactions, enhancing communication and cognitive skills in the process.
Its important for you to be involved in your childs ESDM sessions. Fortunately, the sessions are flexible enough to take place at a clinic or in your own home. A therapist can guide you through what you need to know. Studies, including brain scan research, suggest that ESDM improves language and communication skills as well as adaptive behavior.
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How To Make Autism Therapy At Home A Success
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Have you considered trying autism therapy at home? These days with the pandemic and other restrictions, autism therapy at home is becoming more and more popular. However, it can be challenging to make it work. Here are my tips based on my experiences as a child who had a mother who did a lot of autism therapy at home.
First, focus on getting trained as a parent. While many therapists offer virtual therapy, it can be challenging for the child to really benefit from this. However, many therapists can successfully train parents to do the therapy with their child at home. Personally there was no internet when I was a child and undergoing therapy, however, I remember doing a lot of at home therapy with my mom. She spent a lot of time reading books, attending workshops and learning how to help me at home. This is still a great idea even with the internet.
Second, get really clear on what kinds of therapy your child needs and whether or not you can realistically do this therapy at home. For example floor time and brain gym can be done easily at home, however, ABA may be more difficult.
Fourth, make sure to supplement with help from a professional therapist. Doing all your childs therapy at home is not a good idea. You want to at least take your child for in person therapy at least some of the time, while using at home therapy to supplement the in person experience.
Dont Wait For A Diagnosis
As the parent of a child with ASD or related developmental delays, the best thing you can do is to start treatment right away. Seek help as soon as you suspect somethings wrong. Dont wait to see if your child will catch up later or outgrow the problem. Dont even wait for an official diagnosis. The earlier children with autism spectrum disorder get help, the greater their chance of treatment success. Early intervention is the most effective way to speed up your childs development and reduce the symptoms of autism over the lifespan.
When your child has autism
Learn about autism. The more you know about autism spectrum disorder, the better equipped youll be to make informed decisions for your child. Educate yourself about the treatment options, ask questions, and participate in all treatment decisions.
Become an expert on your child. Figure out what triggers your kids challenging or disruptive behaviors and what elicits a positive response. What does your child find stressful or frightening? Calming? Uncomfortable? Enjoyable? If you understand what affects your child, youll be better at troubleshooting problems and preventing or modifying situations that cause difficulties.
Dont give up. Its impossible to predict the course of autism spectrum disorder. Dont jump to conclusions about what life is going to be like for your child. Like everyone else, people with autism have an entire lifetime to grow and develop their abilities.
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Herbal Treatment & Natural Therapies: Can They Work For Children With Autism
Autism is a developmental disorder that manifests in differences in:
- Behavior toward others.
- Cognitive ability.
- Motor functions.
When someone is diagnosed with autism, based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition , they are referred to as having autism spectrum disorder. The current understanding of autism is that there is a range of symptoms and abilities, so the condition occurs on a spectrum rather than as a definitive set of symptoms.
Parents whose children are on the autism spectrum want to support their childrens healthy growth and development as much as possible. The leading method for managing autism symptoms is behavior therapy, typically with an applied behavior analysis therapist. However, nutritional therapy, physical therapy, art therapy, and other complementary treatments can also benefit children with autism.
Some parents may choose to use herbs and supplements to support their childs health. While there may be some benefits to some of these products, natural treatment should not be the primary or only method of helping your childs autism symptoms.
Autism Natural Treatment Including The Right Foods & Supplements
May 15, 2018
Autism is a developmental disorder that initially occurs in early childhood. It generally affects a childs language, behavior and social skills in development.
The exact cause of autism is unknown, but some reasons may include medications taken during pregnancy, exposure to toxins, infections, inflammation, leaky gut, nutrient deficiencies, food allergies and inborn errors of metabolism. Unfortunately, an autism cure is yet to exist, which is why learning about treatment for autism is so crucial.
Some children with autism have been known to improve with natural interventions such as a gluten-free and casein-free diet. These types of diet changes are just some of the many forms of autism natural treatment that are making parents of autistic children more hopeful these days while autism rates continue to ominously climb.
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Types Of Autism Treatment Available
When it comes to early autism treatment options, there are a dizzying variety of therapies and approaches. Some autism therapies focus on reducing problematic behaviors and building communication and social skills, while others deal with sensory integration problems, motor skills, emotional issues, and food sensitivities.
With so many choices, it is extremely important to do your research, talk to autism treatment experts, and ask questions. But keep in mind that you dont have to choose just one type of therapy. The goal of autism treatment should be to treat your childs unique array of symptoms and needs. This often requires a combined treatment approach that incorporates several different types of therapy.
Common autism treatments include behavior therapy, speech-language therapy, play-based therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and nutritional therapy. But keep in mind that the routine is important and the program should be designed in a way that can be sustained. You should think about what skills and behaviors are most essential and treat those first. It may not be possible to tackle everything at once.
How To Start An In
Children affected with autism have unique needs and often require an in-home therapy program to address them. The unique needs could include many issues such as: managing behaviors, enabling learning, and the ability to work on deficits. These programs are in place ultimately to help the child prepare for typical learning placements at their local school.
Some of the tried and true programs include: Applied Behavioral Analysis , Floortime, Son Rise, Relationship Developmental Intervention , and others. Whatever program selected should have a standard curriculum or something similar or should address the unique needs of the child.
Many parents have read the studies conducted by Dr. Ivar Lovaas and the ability to integrate children with autism into typical peer schooling without aides using Applied Behavioral Analysis therapy. All parents read with hope that this intensive one-on-one therapy will lead to an independent life for their child. This is our common goal.
As mentioned, there are many therapy options including: ABA, Floortime, SonRise, and many other methods. I recommend each parent visit at least 1-2 centers or in-home programs providing these therapies to children diagnosed with autism. Seeing these programs yourself will help you make the therapy decision that is best for your child.
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Speech Therapy For Kids With Autism
Speech therapy is used to correct various types of speech disorders, teach speech comprehension, plus develop the ability to initiate dialogue. At the start, the child learns to follow simple speech instructions, and then the therapy is aimed at developing the ability to use speech constructively, name objects/experiences, and express their feelings/needs. To improve oral motor skills, the following exercises can be facilitated at home:
- Inflating soap bubbles or balloons.
- Drinking juice through a straw or using it to make soap suds.
- Sucking ice pops.
- Licking fingers, after they have been dipped in jam .
- Simulating various sounds .
We Are Autism Health Specialists
At Caravel Autism Health, our mission is to change lives. Our team of dedicated professionals works with children with autism and related developmental disabilities and their families to develop skills, create connections and instill confidence.
We provide answers when you and your child need them most.
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Suggestions For Keeping Therapists Happy
You want to keep your therapists happy and working with you for as long as possible. They are hard to find and equally hard to replace! To do that, here are some suggestions:
- Therapists need reinforcement systems too! Raise systems to reward hard working staff or provide praise and encouragement as much as possible.
- They love to be heardfrequently ask them about their sessions with your child and seek their input.
- Let them be sick without guilt.
- Avoid calling therapists at home after hours unless information cant wait until the next time you seen them.
- Encourage them to seek additional training.
- Encourage a modest amount of overlap with other team members on a monthly basis outside clinic dates.
- Recommend additional training seminars .
Natural Supplements For Autism
1. Fish Oil
Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, specifically the EPA/DHA in fish oil, is critical for brain function and is highly anti-inflammatory. Supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids like fish oil is one of the most commonly used complementary and alternative practices in children with autism spectrum disorder. Study results have been mixed but some have demonstrated marked improvement in autism symptoms.
2. Digestive enzymes
Since children with autism tend to have digestive problems and may also have leaky gut, digestive enzymes can help with absorption of vitamins and minerals. According to Autism Canada, digestive enzymes can improve digestion and reduce inflammation, which is very helpful since impairments in digestion and absorption contribute to the childs impaired nutritional status, which can in turn contribute to and further impair immunity, detoxification and brain function.
3. Vitamin D3
Vitamin D deficiency is more common in children with autism compared to children without autism. This is a key vitamin required for healthy brain function. A vitamin D deficiency in a pregnant mother may also increase autism risk in her offspring.
One study even showed that autism rates are highest among babies conceived in winter months and, furthermore, that the season of conception accounts for 11.4 percent of cases of autism, intellectual disability and learning difficulties. This was a record-linkage study of 801,592 children in Scotland.
4. Probiotic
5. L-carnitine
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Benefits Heal Autism Naturally
With the correct and natural treatment, one can get significant improvement in a patient with autism. Benefits of biological therapy include but not limited to-
- Behavior improvement
- Violence
- self-cruelty
Dr. Gautier has developed the natural treatment method, and to help the parents understand the condition of the child with autism, he has created several educational videos on how to heal autism naturally. Apart from that, he has also produced four special modules through which one can get the best results and take the instructions for a systematic approach to the treatment of autism. Every module is designed to teach parents to go smoothly with the therapy and benchmark the regular improvement in the kids.
Theories Of Causes Lead To Interventions
Over the years there have been many theories about the causes of autism. In the 1950s and 60s, it was believed that autism was caused by cold parenting. This led to the promotion of Holding Therapy, an approach where the mother holds their child for a prolonged time and forces eye-contact in order to remediate a presumed attachment disorder. Whilst children on the receiving end have reported terrible suffering as a result, the professionals involved overlooked the fact that the parents also had children who did not have autism.
Although this theory and intervention have long been debunked, Research Autism currently lists 123 different interventions for autism and nearly all of them are the result of a theory about a possible cause.
Over the years many theories have come and gone. One notable exception is EIBI . This approach applies ABA techniques to help children with autism. This treatment has the highest evidence base and is one of the few that was not developed from a theory of a cause. Find out more about ABA and autism.
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