Early diagnosis is incredibly helpful for autistic children. The younger they are, the more effective the intervention is. Their brains are more malleable, allowing them to better understand the treatment. Here are four types of early intervention for autistic children to help them get the therapy they need.
Occupational Therapy
Some children with autism have challenges with daily living activities; this is where occupational therapy comes into play. It helps kids work on their social, cognitive, and large and fine motor skills.
The main goal of occupational therapy is to enable children to live independently by teaching them skills such as bathing, eating, and dressing. Therapists use different methods to help kids develop and remember these skills, including adaptive and play strategies.
Sign Language
Some autistic children struggle with communication and need a way to tell those around them what they need or want. Otherwise, they can become frustrated and develop aggressive behaviors because they don’t understand what to do with these feelings.
Sign language can help bridge the gap and make communication easier. Pair the visual word with the spoken one to help your autistic child make the connection.
ABA Therapy
ABA stands for applied behavioral analysis. It’s a widely known and accepted therapy for children with autism. The reason professionals love this therapy type is because of its long-term positive effects.
ABA therapy’s focus is identifying and modifying certain behavior. It focuses on increasing positive behaviors by introducing strategies to help children calm down. These tactics could include square breathing, a calming corner, and other coping skills.
ABA therapy can also help kids with social and language skills. The therapist will encourage positive behavior and discourage or ignore the harmful behavior. What does ABA therapy help improve? Kids can improve their focus, attention, and social skills while decreasing problematic or destructive behaviors.
Speech Therapy
Speech therapy aims to improve an autistic child’s nonverbal, verbal, and social communication skills. Children with autism have trouble with language and communication, so speech therapy is an excellent early intervention. It can help them express what they want or need, articulate words, communicate more effectively, and understand what others are saying. Combine speech therapy with sign language for additional benefits.
If you suspect your child may have autism, getting that diagnosis is the first step. After that step, the doctor will prescribe and suggest which of the above types of early interventions will best serve your autistic child. Contact South Shore Autism Center to see how our early autism services are the right choice. We have multiple facilities across Massachusetts.
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