How can Occupational Therapy aid in treating Autism in children?
On August 31, 2024
If you check the latest figures, you will find that people who have Autism are growing rapidly. What also needs to be noted is that the number of autistic children is also growing. If you are the parent of an autistic child, in all probability, you will be looking for the best treatments for the problem. When treating autistic children, you need to note children's occupational therapy is now one of the best treatments available. So let us see what occupational therapy is about.
Why does
autism spectrum disorder occur?
Autism
spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition regarding neurodevelopment problems. It
involves a condition wherein there is impairment in social communication. They
have restricted and repetitive behaviors and isolated areas of interest as
well. It is being observed that 1 in every 54 children in the US is being
diagnosed with ASD. It can be recognized as early at the age, typically between
two and four years. As a parent, you need to note that early intervention can
make a big difference in treating this health condition. Intervention with occupational
therapy can be efficient if conducted rightly by an expert occupational
therapist who can bring in normalcy to a large extent.
Let us try
and understand what occupational therapy is.
What is
occupational therapy?
Putting it
simply, occupational therapy holistically treats people with different health
conditions. These could include people who have had some severe injuries,
diabetes, Autism, and other health conditions. The primary role of occupational
therapists is to help patients develop an ability to engage in meaningful
day-to-day activities. It also includes communicating with others
appropriately.
How is
occupational therapy usually conducted?
To begin
with, occupational therapy involves communicating with the patient directly to
understand their specific needs. Through this interaction, the occupational
therapists try to understand and assess the patient's overall condition in
terms of physical, emotional, sensory, and cognitive abilities. Once this has
been assessed, they design a specific treatment plan based on the patient's
overall condition. They then try and implement the treatment plan and monitor
the progress based on the treatment. If some changes can aid, these are
incorporated and monitored again. As seen in most cases, occupational therapy,
especially in children, can work wonders. So, it is if you have an expert
occupational therapist treating the child.
When it comes to treating children with ASD, occupational therapy
specially focuses on the following:
·
The treatment tries to focus on sensory integration and
sensory-based strategies.
·
It also emphasizes on mental health and wellness.
·
They try the development and self-regulation strategies and
programs.
·
Occupational therapist also often organizes peer groups, social
participation, and play activities.
·
They work towards the improvement of self-care routines to help
with daily activities. These can include bathing, feeding, and grooming.
·
The therapy also focuses on motor development.
·
There is also use of cognitive behavioral approaches to support
positive behaviors.
Conclusion
To conclude we can indeed say that Occupational Therapy is
especially useful to treat children with ASD. It is best that you bring early
intervention of it at an young age for the child for the best results. To know
more please visit our website.