Therapy Options

🐕‍🦺 👕 💟 THERAPY INFORMATION ❣ 🍽

💪 Toddlers with Autism benefit from various therapy services. Below is some information about some different types of therapies along with links to gain additional information.

Once your pediatrician has determined a delay in your child's development a referral can be sent for therapy to begin. The type of therapy suggested will vary and could be one or multiple therapy types.

If your child in below 3 years of age, they could benefit from assistance using the Early Intervention program in your area (availability and name varies by location). This is a free service proving therapy and parent education. Your pediatrician may refer you, but typically a physician referral isn't required. The easiest way to find more information on this program is going to Google and typing in your County Name followed by the words "Early Intervention Services". Additionally your local County Health Department will most likely have information about the program, so you could visit their website.

At the age of 3, your child may be eligible for therapy services through the local school system as well as PreK. This is a free service typically funded by the government. The easiest way to find more information on this program is going to Google and typing in your County Name followed by the words "Child Find". Additionally your local County Health Department will most likely have information about the program, so you could visit their website.

💫 PLEASE REMEMBER 💫

Therapy is different for every person. If you are in therapy and don't feel things are working out or your child seems to be experiencing more aggressive behavior... you have the right to speak up! Request a different therapist. Take an active role in the sessions. Work with the team to establish the goals you want your child to accomplish. Additionally, a recommendation to therapy from any source is just a recommendation. Not a requirement! It is your decision to make on how to help your child live their best life. We are here to help you, but not make your decision. 💕

🙂😐 Speech Therapy (ST) - addresses challenges with language and communication. It can help people with autism improve their verbal, nonverbal, and social communication. The overall goal is to help the person communicate in more useful and functional ways. Communication and speech-related challenges vary from person to person. Some individuals on the autism spectrum are not able to speak. Others love to talk, but have difficulty holding a conversation or understanding body language and facial expressions when talking with others. A speech therapy program begins with an evaluation by a speech-language pathologist (SLP) to assess the person’s communication strengths and challenges. From this evaluation, the SLP creates individual goals for therapy.

Common goals may include improving spoken language, learning nonverbal skills such as signs or gestures, or learning to communicate using an alternative method (such as pictures or technology).

Examples of the skills that speech therapy may work on include:

• Strengthening the muscles in the mouth, jaw and neck

• Making clearer speech sounds

• Matching emotions with the correct facial expression

• Understanding body language

• Responding to questions

• Matching a picture with its meaning

• Using a speech app on an iPad to produce the correct word

• Modulating tone of voice

• Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) Some people with autism find that using pictures or technology to communicate is more effective than speaking. This is known as Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC). Examples of AAC methods include:

• Sign language

• Picture exchange communication system (PECS)

• iPadsSpeech output devices (such as Dynavox) The speech-language pathologist can help to identify which AAC method (if any) is right for someone with autism and teach him/her how to use the method to communicate.

For additional information on Speech Therapy: https://www.autismspeaks.org/speech-therapy-autism

👕👟 Occupational Therapy (OT) - helps people work on cognitive, physical, social, and motor skills. The goal is to improve everyday skills which allow people to become more independent and participate in a wide range of activities.

For people with autism, OT programs often focus on play skills, learning strategies, and self-care. OT strategies can also help to manage sensory issues. The occupational therapist will begin by evaluating the person's current level of ability.

The evaluation looks at several areas, including how the person:

• Learns

• Plays

• Cares for themselves

• Interacts with their environment The evaluation will also identify any obstacles that prevent the person from participating in any typical day-to-day activities.

Based on this evaluation, the therapist creates goals and strategies that will allow the person to work on key skills.

Some examples of common goals include:

• Independent dressing

• Eating

• Grooming

• Using the bathroom

• Fine motor skills like writing, coloring, and cutting with scissors

Occupational therapy usually involves half-hour to one-hour sessions. The number of sessions per week is based on individual needs.

For additional information on Occupational Therapy: https://www.autismspeaks.org/occupational-therapy-ot-0

🦵💪🏋‍♂️ Physical Therapy (PT) - can help children with autism more fully participate in daily routines at home and at school, acquire new motor skills, develop better coordination and more stable posture, improve their reciprocal-play skills (such as throwing and catching a ball with another person), develop motor imitation skills (copying an action performed by someone else), and increase their fitness and stamina.

For additional information on Physical Therapy: https://www.apta.org/apta-magazine/2018/07/01/physical-therapy-for-people-with-autism

🍽 🍛 🥕 Feeding Therapy - feeding and eating issues that are common with autistic children can create additional health and nutrition issues. Children with autism are often highly rigid and hypersensitive to textures, smells, and tastes. This can make them extremely limited in the types of foods they are willing to try and eat. Feeding therapy can expand the diet of an autistic child and help to change negative behaviors related to eating and feeding. Feeding therapy is provided as part of a comprehensive treatment plan and can be part of speech and language therapy, behavioral therapy, and occupational therapy.

Some of the specific feeding issues associated with autism include:

• Problems swallowing

• Difficulties chewing

• Poor posture and core body support

• Food aversions

• Rigidity regarding food and variations

• Sensory and texture issues

• Trouble feeding oneself For additional information on Feeding Therapy:

https://www.elemy.com/studio/autism-and-diet/feeding-therapy/#What_Is_Autism_Feeding_Therapy

👣🏫 👪 Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a very controversial topic! What works well for some may not work well for others. This group is completely neutral on this topic!! Our goal is to provide you with information and encourage you to perform your own research. This will allow you to make the appropriate decision for you and your family! 💕

ABA is a highly individualized therapy that looks different for every person and practitioner. Therapists work with autistic people to improve skills like:

• Communication and language abilities

• Social skills

• Self-care and hygiene routines

• Play and leisure skills

• Motor abilities The goal is not for someone to appear neurotypical. The goal is for their life to be improved in a way that is meaningful to them.

For additional information on ABA Therapy:

https://www.autismspeaks.org/blog/questions-and-answers-about-aba

🐕‍🦺 🐈 🐎 Animal Therapy - Any kind of animal can provide emotional, physical, or social support; in general, however, mammals make better therapeutic animals than reptiles, birds, or amphibians. Fish can be calming, but can't provide the kind of interactions that build healthy interactive skills. No matter which type of animal is chosen, there are five ways in which animals can work with autistic people of any age.

• Service animals - are almost always dogs, and certain breeds are most commonly selected to be trained for service. Service animals work with children or adults with autism to help them navigate physical space, avoid negative interactions, or calm their emotions. Because they are highly trained "professionals," service animals can be costly—but there are many sources of funding available.

• Therapy animals - may be any species; cats, dogs, Guinea pigs, parrots, horses, and many other animals can help people with autism build social communication skills, manage their emotions, and (for children) build play skills. Therapy animals are also used to support positive social interactions with peers.

• Emotional support animals - are often pets. They are animals that make it easier for a person living with autism to manage stressful situations such as travel, school, or medical interventions. Typically, emotional support animals must be certified by a clinician in order to be allowed into settings (such as schools) where animals are rarely allowed.

• Pets - for many people with autism, pets provide a unique type of social bond that's available through no other means. Research supports the theory that pets promote "prosocial" behaviors such as shared interactions and shared smiles.

• Hippotherapy (equine therapy) - is unique in several ways. It has been studied more intensively than other forms of animal therapy, and it can support both physical and social/emotional skills. In addition, becoming a skilled horseback rider has many long-term social and physical benefits.

For additional information on Animal Therapy:

https://www.verywellhealth.com/animal-pet-therapies-for-autism-4174509

🎸🥁 🎶 Music Therapy - is an evidence-based discipline that merges research with creative, emotional, and unique musical experiences for health treatment and educational objectives. Music therapy is used in many health fields, including autism. A credentialed therapist does an initial assessment, then develops a program and meets regularly with the autistic person for musical activities. The session usually starts with the therapist playing music, then having the client pick an instrument and join in. The therapist works with the person at their level, focusing on bringing out inherent talents and expression.

Music therapy can also help build:

• personal expression

• stress management

• social connection

• physical coordination

• focus

• the ability to share and take turns

For additional information on Music Therapy:

https://psychcentral.com/autism/music-therapy-for-autism#why-is-music-therapy-used

⌚🪁♾ Floortime play therapy, also known as Developmental, Individual Difference, Relationship-Based model of intervention (DIR) - helps children with autism build emotional connections and communication skills. Floortime is structured play therapy which can be administered by professionals, parents, guardians, or para-professionals in a huge range of settings. Floortime is meant to entice children to interact joyfully. Through structured interaction, they build behavioral, cognitive, and social skills. It's important that the adult engages with the child based on the child's interests and actions, even if those actions have no obvious content or purpose.

For additional information on Floortime Play Therapy: https://www.verywellhealth.com/floortime-play-therapy-overview-4582061