How can Occupational Therapy aid in treating Autism in children?

On August 31, 2024

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 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. 




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