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Be Realistic: Treatment Goals for Autism

Be Realistic: Treatment Goals for Autism


Be Realistic: Treatment Goals for Autism

In the United States, 1 in every 45 children has autism. This figure ranks the country in the third position in autism diagnosis worldwide. The prevalence of autism becomes more complicated for lack of solid treatment goals.  

Many parents and caregivers are unaware of the intervention options available for autism.

Upon diagnosis, a child should start a treatment program immediately. Early intervention increases the chances for improved outcomes in most young patients with autism. The brain responds more intensively to treatment when it’s still young and is most able to adapt to change.

No one single intervention program covers the treatment goals for autism. However, any effective program should incorporate a combination of therapies. The interventions should strive to engage the child’s special interests.

Each intervention strategy should comprise a series of simple steps. The child should be being given regular positive reinforcement. Where there’s parental involvement in the treatment interventions, a lot of improvement has been recorded.

Keep on reading to learn more!

Common Autism Treatment Options

It’s important to find the right organizations that offer treatment interventions for autism. This company holds that treatment goals for autism are best achieved where there’s compassionate care. A child in its natural environment responds more positively to treatment.

Treatment is also more effective if therapists are passionate about exceptional results. Some of the most common treatment interventions for autism are as follows.

1. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

The approach is best used to provide support and treatment to Autism Spectrum Disorder patients. It also applies to patients with developmental and behavioral disabilities. Therapists provide treatment to clients either in a health center, at home or within the community.

The treatment goals for autism in using ABA therapy are to engage the child’s intrinsic motivation for learning. A child’s innate interest in a subject is aroused to encourage a child to learn more about that area of interest. A behavioral therapist utilizes a child’s interest to make learning more rewarding.

One advantage of Applied Behavior Analysis is that it encourages appropriate behaviors. It also increases communication. In this approach, therapists reward good behavior to reinforce it.

They also punish unwanted behaviors in an attempt to eradicate them. ABA therapy applies in schools and clinical settings. It’s useful in helping patients integrate various capacities.  

Their emotional, social, and intellectual skills become enhanced to work in coordination. It’s more than just focusing on isolated behaviors and abilities. It also encourages the child to be more aware of their environment.

2. Speech Therapy

A child with Autism Spectrum Disorder has several developmental challenges. They include difficulties with their speech, social communication, and language development. A patient with autism may:

  • Not talk at all
  • Hum
  • Babble with sounds with unclear words
  • Lack an expressive tone of voice when they speak
  • Echo what other people say
  • Have a robotic-like speech

Approximately 33% of people with autism have trouble communicating effectively. Their language is usually hard to understand.

The treatment goals for autism in speech therapy are more than helping a child pronounce words the correct way. A speech therapist aims at developing a wide range of skills. Among them are non-verbal communication, speech pragmatics, and conversation skills.

Non-verbal communication entails gestural communication. This can be achieved through picture exchange cards. A therapist can also use electronic talking devices and other non-verbal communication tools.

Speech pragmatics refers to training in the context of speech.

A therapist will apply a back-and-forth exchange in teaching conversational skills. The approach is also known as “joint attention.” The aim is to make the child develop skills like eye contact during conversation.

The child must also learn how to hold a conversation. For more meaningful interactions, they must tune into both verbal and non-verbal cues. A child learns more than how to speak, but also how to use language to hold a conversation.

3. Occupational Therapy

People with autism lack the necessary personal and social skills for independent living. The goals for autism occupation therapy include:

  • Providing interventions that help a child respond to sensory information through proper mental focus
  • Developing adaptive techniques to cope with apparent disabilities
  • Devising strategies that assist in moving from one setting to another
  • Facilitating play activities for communication and interaction

Occupational therapy is essential for autistic children. This is because they exhibit various patterns of sensory processing. They are slower in integrating inputs coming from their senses.

As a result, their responses are much slower. Their mind lacks suitable filters to eliminate irrelevant information.

For example, a child may still be processing some noise they heard outside the classroom when they are presented with new input. This can result in sensory overload. Such overload shows through withdrawal, challenging behavior, or complete shutdown.

Through occupational therapy, it’s possible to develop simple strategies for use at home or in school. The aim is to enhance the sensory filters. Adding the appropriate filters helps the nervous become more organized. An organized nervous system brings attention and performance to the forefront.

An occupational therapist combines many holistic planning programs. They integrate the cognitive, social, physical, sensory, and emotional abilities and needs. A therapist will also focus on developing handwriting, daily living, and fine motor skills.

4. Dietary Interventions

Autism is a genetically predisposed condition with an environmental trigger. Some triggers include sensitivity to some types of food the patient consumes regularly. Some common food triggers are gluten, corn, and nightshade vegetables.

Others are soy and some food preservatives.

To establish if your child is sensitive to some types of food, have a food sensitivity test done. Treatment entails withdrawing the foods that cause a reaction from the patient’s diet. Some children become less moody, behave better, and are less sensitive to sensory triggers.

Goals for Autism – Final Thoughts

If you’re a parent or caregiver with a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder, learn about the various treatment options available. To achieve the goal for autism treatment and intervention, ensure to work with all-rounded therapists. Integrated treatment options provide for the holistic development of an autistic child.

For the best results for your child, become involved in the treatment plan to ensure reasonable goals for autism. A child who identifies with their primary caregiver responds to treatment faster.

For more posts, keep on reading our informative articles.

Health

“Is My Addiction Serious?” 5 Signs You May Need Rehab Treatment


“Is My Addiction Serious?” 5 Signs You May Need Rehab Treatment

In 2014, over 20 million adults struggled with addiction in the United States.

Surely, at some point, many of them have asked, “Is my addiction serious enough to get help?”

If you’re wondering the same question, let’s explore 5 questions to ask to see if your addiction warrants professional treatment.

Addiction happens when the brain is hijacked and becomes addicted to certain substances like alcohol or other drugs. As people continue to use, it becomes more difficult to stop.

The addiction can be difficult to overcome the longer the person continues to use the substance.

Here are 5 questions to ask yourself if you think your addiction may be out of control. Never be afraid to ask for help.

1. Family and Friends Show Concern

Your friends and family are the closest people in your life who see you and know the true you. If they’ve expressed concern over your using drugs or noticed changes in your behaviors, it’s best to consult them and listen to their thoughts. It’s important to remember that addiction affects not only you but all those closest to you as well.

Friends and family are usually the ones who stage an intervention. If they’ve shown true concern about you, it may be time to start looking for help.

2. You Have Withdrawal Symptoms

After using the substance, you may feel withdrawal symptoms. They can include:

  • nausea
  • headaches
  • irritability
  • shaking
  • sweating
  • confusion
  • cramping

This is not an exhaustive list as withdrawal symptoms can vary from person to person and the drug involved.

3. You’ve Found It Challenging to Stop Using the Drug

A large indicator that you may have a severe addiction is desiring to stop and even trying to quit, but being unable to. This shows that your body is already addicted to the drug, making it extremely difficult to stop on your own.

4. You’re Hiding the Use from Others

Would you be comfortable being upfront about what you’ve been doing or who you’ve been with? If not, then you’re hiding the fact that you may have a problem. People who have nothing to hide would not lie to others about their whereabouts or activities.

If you are hiding our use from others, there are many places you need to check out. This site provides fantastic information regarding this.

5. Physical and Behavioral Changes

Addiction has a way of changing your behavior and even physical signs.

Physical symptoms can include:

  • weight loss or weight gain
  • bloodshot eyes
  • bloody noses
  • bad breath
  • appearing fatigued
  • lack of proper hygiene

Behavioral changes can include:

  • loss of interests or other activities
  • loss of a job or expelled from school
  • difficulty doing daily tasks like cooking or driving
  • participate in risky behaviors
  • lying
  • isolation

There are other behavioral changes associated with addiction, and they depend on the situation and the type of substance abuse

Are You Ready to Get Help?

If you’re thinking, “My addiction is serious”, there’s plenty of ways to begin the journey to sobriety. The sooner you acknowledge that you need help, the sooner the healing can begin. There’s always hope!

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