Has Your Child Recetly Been Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder? Treatments To Understand
If you have a child that has struggled in their early years with socialization, academics, tactile issues, focus, and more, you may have taken them in for an assessment with a physician or educational therapist (or both). And even though you know and understand that there is something different about your child, you may still find it difficult to understand what it means for you and your child when they get a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. While finding out your child has autism spectrum disorder is a shock, you need to begin focusing on the treatments that your child needs to build a successful and happy life going forward. Get to know some of these options so that you can help your child find that success and happiness.
Physical and Occupational Therapy
Physical and occupational therapy are major cornerstones of the process of treating autism spectrum disorder. No matter what type of autism your child has, they can benefit from these treatment options.
Occupational therapy is a form of treatment that helps a person with autism learn how to deal with the tasks of daily living. For most children, this involves steps like brushing their teeth, grooming, getting dressed and tying their shoes, and the various tasks and challenges that go along with life at school as well as at home. Occupational therapists will not only help teach your child ways that they can accomplish these daily living tasks, but also help them to develop and implement strategies for dealing with specific issues that your child struggles with.
Physical therapy is similar to occupational therapy but it deals with larger physical skills and concepts such as walking and developing range of motion in the various parts of the body. Many children with autism have difficulties with physical movement and development and thus can benefit from such treatment.
Behavioral and Family Therapy
Children with autism often struggle with numerous behavioral issues. For example, they may become anxious or antsy in large crowds and struggle to function when surrounded by numerous people. Some children with autism may have an aversion to certain colors, objects, or the like and react with extreme anger, fear, or stress when placed in situations where they have to deal with those items directly.
Behavioral therapy can help to address those issues in behavior and extreme reactions. A therapist can work with your child to either overcome their fears and aversions or learn to cope with them in healthy and productive ways. This is a highly individualized process for children with autism as the reasons behind the behaviors and the ways in which a child with autism is capable of coping with them will vary a great deal. For example, your child may need to simply repeat a mantra in their head when faced with an object or situation that they have an aversion to or may need to practice breathing exercises.
Family therapy is another treatment option that can help both you and your child to cope with their autism diagnosis. You will better learn to interact with one another and you can develop a close and supportive relationship and home environment for your child. Family therapy is as much about teaching you as it is about teaching your child how to handle their autism and work together as a family to ensure your child is successful in school, at home, and in life now and in the future.
With these treatments in mind, you can begin the process of supporting your child throughout their childhood and life so that their autism diagnosis is not necessarily a negative development but one that can be managed and embraced as a part of who your child is rather than a disease or disorder that they suffer from.
For more information concerning therapy services, contact businesses such as Hands-On Physical Therapy.
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