Several ASD therapies have surfaced over the years that show promising results in patients. If you are thinking about choosing an ASD therapy for your beloved kid and want to compare therapies, you are at the right place.
Read this blog till the end to find nine great therapies for ASD treatment that are approved by skilled therapists worldwide.
Table Of Contents
Proven Therapies For Supporting A Kid With Autism
1. Behavioral Management
Managing the behaviors of a patient with autism can make it easier to replace bad habits with desirable ones. The good thing about this therapy is that it provides a detailed plan for caregivers and helps them introduce positive behavioral changes in patients.
Keep in mind that this therapy is not your one and only option, which is why you should explore it before proceeding with it. You can read the applied behavior analysis principles to decide if it can prove to be a good approach.
Besides reading, you can also consult your kid’s therapist to find out which route of behavioral management therapy is the best for your kid.
2. Physical Therapy
As ASD is a neurological disorder, it stops a patient from performing day-to-day tasks by limiting motor coordination. A patient on the ASD spectrum might sometimes find it difficult to move their body willingly because of such poor neurological function.
The purpose of physical therapy is to improve the motor coordination of a patient suffering from ASD. Therapists start by introducing practices and routines that allow a person to strengthen their muscles over time.
Choosing the right physical activities for your kid depends on their physical and mental condition. This is why you need to consult your kid’s therapist to choose the right physical routines instead of developing one yourself.
3. Occupational Therapy
Due to poor motor activity, it can be difficult for a person on the ASD spectrum to process sensory information and perform daily tasks the right way. To help a person suffering from autism, therapists have designed occupational therapy that helps a person perform daily tasks easily.
The good thing about this therapy is that it is not fast-paced and can help a person develop the necessary skills for performing daily tasks. This therapy focuses on the use of “communication devices” that help a person develop motor skills over time.
Once a patient with autism develops the ability to process sensory information, they are then introduced to practices that allow them to perform everyday life tasks easily.
4. Social Skill Training
As people with autism find it difficult to deal with a lot of sensory data, they seldom enjoy time in social activities. Having a disliking for social activities can stop people on the ASD spectrum from living a better life like others.
The purpose of social skill training is to help people with autism better deal with social scenarios. This therapy is also focused on replacing bad behaviors displayed in social settings. A person with autism who receives social skill training will develop the skill of maintaining proper communication.
Besides that, it will also help a person engage in sports activities so they can enjoy healthy competition with others.
5. Nutritional Therapy
Your child with autism might not like to have food regularly. Like normal people, a patient suffering from autism who doesn’t consume food regularly will soon develop signs of malnutrition. The purpose of nutritional therapy is to help patients focus on enjoying a healthy diet.
The primary purpose of this therapy is to replace the behaviors of patients connected with food. For example, when a person undergoes this therapy, they will be introduced to foods they love to consume. It will also be examined if the person has any underlying digestive health issues that stop them from eating food.
6. Joint Attention Therapy
It might be difficult for people with autism to focus on a task all alone. However, pairing such a persona with another one and encouraging them both to complete a given task. Joint attention therapy works on this very principle and produces great results.
The good thing about this therapy is that it is specifically beneficial for kids. It will allow your kid to interact with other kids of their age and learn how to navigate properly through social settings.
Another plus point of this therapy is that it allows your kid to stay focused in group activities. After receiving this therapy, your kid will find it easier to enjoy completing chores with you.
7. Medication Treatment
As of now, there is no single medicine that can solve all the symptoms of ASD patients. However, there are medicines that can be effective for the treatment of specific ASD symptoms and help patients live better life.
The purpose of medication treatment is to identify all such medicines that can be useful for your kid. Your therapist will go through the existing medical literature to choose medicines that can benefit your kid without producing any side effects.
As a parent, it is your important responsibility to ensure that you don’t provide any “bogus” medicines for the treatment of your kid. Trust your kid’s doctor only and avoid buying any products that claim to ease ASD symptoms.
8. Early Intervention
As of now, the latest research indicates that the identification of ASD symptoms can make it easier to treat a patient. Providing positive behavioral training at an early age can help your kid recover faster and enjoy a good life.
Your therapist can play a vital role in the betterment of your kid’s neurological condition. Take your kid to their therapist so you can keep a close eye on your kid’s behavior and introduce better changes in the long run.
9. Educational Therapies
In some cases, you might not be able to provide the best care to your kid with autism at home. If you want professionals to take care of your kid and want to help your kid thrive in social conditions, you should consider choosing educational therapies for them.
The good thing about educational therapies is that they are planned with the specific needs of your kid in mind.
