A child psychologist provides practical advice on how technology and gaming can improve five executive functions. “Your child has problems with their executive functions” is a common phrase heard by the parents of kids with autism spectrum disorders. Educators, psychologists, and occupational therapists seem to connect executive functioning skills to virtually every activity that kids
Auditory training, discrete trial training, vitamin therapy, facilitated communication, music therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and sensory integration, Supplements, CBD oil, medical marijuana, chiropractic care, yoga.
Understanding Holistic Autism Health: 8 Essential Pillars for Families
A therapist and interventionist share their “Eight Pillars of Holistic Health” to help special needs families nurture wellbeing. For too many years, the full-body impact on people living with autism has been ignored. Holistic interventions support whole-body health. Many areas of research can help us widen the lens on autism, move away from outdated behavioral
Demystifying Autism Occupational Therapy: 5 Common Misconceptions Debunked
Two occupational therapists bust some common myths around occupational therapy and explain how it can benefit children with autism. What is occupational therapy? If your child with autism was referred to occupational therapy, you might be wondering what exactly they do, or you may have heard some myths about what they do. Occupational therapists can
How Autism Therapy Dogs Transform Lives: Proven Benefits for Your Child
Recent interest in Animal-Assisted Therapy (ATT) has parents wondering if dog-assisted therapy is a good support for their child with autism. This article details the benefits, research, and available resources. Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) has gained momentum in treating individuals with ASD due to the social-emotional benefits dog-assisted therapy provides. Recent researchers have highlighted the
Medical Cannabis for ASD: Thoughts to Consider
Ever considered cannabis for autism? Here’s an introductory guide to assist in a potentially new and somewhat daunting journey. Medical cannabis has gained its fair share of notoriety and praise in recent years. So what exactly is cannabis, and can it be used to help with symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? In this article,
Art For All: Encouraging Autistic Creativity
A look at the power of art in bridging the gap of creativity and communication for children with autism. The colorful image on this page was created by nonverbal artist J. Alexandar Chavez. The center of the artwork depicts the artist himself: a voice that does not form words, yet is learning to augment his
Can Energy Medicine Support Your Child’s Health and Wellbeing?
A look at the impact of focusing on one’s energy field for targeting symptoms of autism and ADHD. Have you ever heard of Energy Medicine? It provides the basis for all symptoms we ever feel in our body and mind. To put it simply, any symptoms we feel in our body or mind first begin
Alternative Medicines for Autism Symptoms
A mom shares her son’s treatment journey to help parents considering alternative medicine for their kids on the spectrum. My son is 13 years old and has cerebral palsy with co-occurring autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Ever since the age of four, he has undergone numerous treatments for his multiple disorders—and
What is Relationship Development Intervention (RDI)?
A look at the benefits of Relationship Development Intervention for bolstering the natural guiding relationship between parent and child. Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) is a whole-family approach based on the natural guiding relationship between parent and child. RDI is a collaboration where the parent becomes the main therapy provider, and other therapists, such as SLP,
How to Treat Picky Eating and Associated Behavior Through Noncontingent Reinforcement
Picky Eating Can Lead To Long-Term Problems; Treating It Is Crucial. How You Treat It Matters. Picky eating, also known as food selectivity, is a common issue among persons with developmental disabilities, particularly among those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Picky eating carries a greater risk of nutrient deficiencies and social inadequacy. This selectivity
Meditation for Autism: Benefits and Effective Techniques
Meditation is widely recognized as a valuable tool for well-being. You may wonder how meditation for autism spectrum disorder can be effective and which mindfulness activities are most beneficial. Stress and challenges with thinking clearly are common for autistic individuals due to societal pressures, making mindfulness a helpful tool for improving mental health. Meditation can
How Do You Choose An Autism Specialist?
As the autism diagnosis rates continue to rise, awareness of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the need for an autism specialist also increase. An autism specialist is trained to provide the support needed to a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and could work with the child in a school setting, therapy sessions, or other
Early Intervention in Autism: How Important Is It?
Your child has been showing signs of autism, yet there’s a part of you that thinks it’s too early to intervene. You’ve read about various management strategies, but how important is early intervention in autism? Early intervention services for autistic children have been shown to have a lasting impact on their development. Although there can
Behavioral Assessments For Autism: Facts You Need to Know
Imagine you pick your child up from school, go through her bag and find a letter from her teacher. You see the phrases flash before your eyes: “disruptive in class,” “hit a classmate,” and “damaged school property.” Naturally, you are very concerned about your child’s behavior and wonder what you can do next. For many
Autism Treatments: What are the New Developments?
The phrase “autism treatment” can cause quite a controversy in the autism community. At one time, autism was viewed as something “wrong” with a person that needed to be cured. As more research has been done, we’ve learned much more about autism and see neurodivergence differently. Research has provided incredible resources for parents and guardians
How the Masgutova Method Can Be Beneficial for Autistic Children
Dr. Svetlana Musgutova created the Masgutova Method during the 1989 UFA train disaster that resulted in many children being severely injured and traumatized. Dr. Musgutova figured out that these children were not responding to previously used cognitive approaches to therapy. These children were not responding because the level of trauma they experienced left them non-responsive
Chelation Therapy: Is It Worth the Risks?
“I’m sorry Mrs. Campbell, I am not sure what to tell you,” The doctor stated sympathetically, “Your son’s symptoms are not responding the way we had hoped. There is one treatment that we could try.”Mrs. Campbell looked up with desperate anticipation, “We would try anything to help our boy”.The doctor continued, “It is a controversial
What is Sound Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Sound therapy for autism spectrum disorders uses certain sounds that are thought to help with some behavioural disorders that can be associated with autism. It is thought that children with autism can benefit the most, because when there are early interventions the brain is more adapted to learn and respond. This article is going to
Cycles Approach Speech Therapy for Autism
This article is going to discuss the Cycles Approach speech therapy for autism. The Cycles Approach for speech therapy, also known as the Cycles Phonological Remediation Approach is a widely used speech therapy that can treat severe speech sound disorders (SSD) in early childhood and elementary aged children. The Cycles Approach for speech therapy is
Autism and Dancing: What are the Benefits?
Dance has always been known as a universal form of self-expression. The benefits are numerous. For kids with autism, dance can be a therapeutic resource. There are many studies exploring the benefits of dance, for both neurodiverse and neurotypical individuals, and thus there are many dance programs geared towards those with special needs to encourage
Benefits of Physical Therapy for Kids
Parenting neurodiverse children often requires us to have contact with many different kinds of professionals. This creates, what can be, an overwhelming amount of appointments, and many appointments, that in and of themselves are overwhelming. We often find it necessary to put children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) into situations that make them especially uncomfortable
The Benefits of Evidence-Based Practices for Autism
Evidence based practices for autism spectrum disorder are a procedure or group of procedures that use a combination of instruction and intervention approaches. Evidence based practices for autism are a procedure or group of procedures that use a combination of instruction and autism behavioral intervention approaches. For a practice to qualify as evidence based, researchers
Is Vocational Therapy Effective for Autism?
Vocational therapy is a branch of occupational therapy. It uses work scenarios as a means of treatment to help strengthen and develop interpersonal skills in a workplace environment. Many young adults with autism who are getting ready to choose a career typically benefit from learning various skills beforehand. These skills can be taught and made
Patent Approved on Microbiota Transplant Therapy for Autism
The US Patent Office has approved a patent submitted by Arizona State University (ASU) for the use of Microbiota Transplant Therapy (MTT) for treating autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms. The news marks a big step forward in the realm of autism treatments but does not yet mean that MTT is US Food and Drug Administration
Role and Importance of an Autism Psychiatrist
If it takes a village to raise a neurotypical child, we should be working to provide that and so much more for children with autism spectrum disorder. Among those resources needed may be an autism psychiatrist, a professional whose role encompasses way more than just diagnostics. Psychologist, psychiatrist, behavioral pediatrician, neurologist, the terms and the
Is Acupuncture Effective for Autism?
The world of complementary and alternative medicine may seem a little mystical and vague. Search suggestions from Google emphasize what many parents want to know: “Does it actually work?” But, more specifically, is acupuncture effective in treating a complex condition like autism spectrum disorder? What is acupuncture? Acupuncture has been around for a long time;
Finding the Right ASD Therapist or Psychologist
Here are some tips as you venture into finding the right therapist for your child on the spectrum. Finding the right autism spectrum disorder (ASD) therapist or psychologist can be a daunting task for families. There are many factors you should consider when choosing a behavioral health professional to work with. There will not be
What is Vibration Therapy for Autism?
Vibration therapy for autism is gaining attention as a soothing, sensory-friendly intervention for children on the spectrum. Much like a relaxing trip to the spa, where treatments such as hot stone massages or trigger point therapy ease tension, vibration-based therapies can help regulate the sensory system in autistic children. If you’d like to explore other
CEASE Therapy for Autism: the Controversy of a “Cure”
CEASE therapists are accused of making false claims about curing autism. With promises like “complete elimination of toxic imprints” CEASE therapy for autism fuels hope and derision in equal measure. As much as I dislike typing these words, many parents have admitted they want a”cure for autism”. They don’t want a “cure” because they don’t
Efficacy of Secretin Treatment for Autism
Discoveries about the biological treatment of autism symptoms are growing and are hot topics for parents seeking solutions to assist their children. One area scientists have been looking into for some years with limited success is secretin as a treatment for symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The first study into the use of secretin
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