Occupational Therapy For Autism: How It Can Help

Occupational Therapy For Autism: How It Can Help

Introduction For children with Autism, participation in daily activities is much harder than for their peers. Sensory processing issues and not understanding social cues can cause distressed or aggressive reactions.

The benefits of Occupational Therapy treatment for Autism are plenty. It can help children regulate their behavior and participate effectively in daily activities.

Understanding Autism Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): a range of neurodevelopmental disorders that affect social, behavioral, and communicative abilities. While there is no cure, the right treatment can help to manage symptoms and improve participation in day-to-day activities. This includes: ➔ ➔ ➔

Social and communication skills therapy Speech and language therapy Stem Cell Therapy

What is Occupational Therapy for Autism?

Occupational therapy is a program that builds, enhances, and maintains essential social skills a child needs to lead an independent life. ➔

It takes into account the child’s unique physical, mental, emotional, cognitive, and sensory needs and imparts skills accordingly

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It targets the child’s sensory processing issues, to help children gain better control over their behaviour and thus remove learning barriers

How does Occupational Therapy help Autism?

There are several skills that one can build on through Occupational therapy for Autism. These include: ➔ ➔ ➔ ➔ ➔ ➔ ➔

Gross motor skills like riding a bike or climbing the stairs Fine motor skills like handwriting or using scissors Daily activities like brushing or using the toilet Visual skills for schooling Perceptual skills, such as telling the difference between colours and shapes Problem-solving skills Communication and social skills

These skills help children with Autism: ➔ forge better relationships ➔ express themselves effectively ➔ self-regulate emotions in social settings

The Role of an Occupational Therapist The therapist will spend some time observing the child to determine the child’s current interaction with their environment and which skills or behaviours need attention.

Occupational therapy activities for Autism are customized to suit a child’s evolving needs. Before introducing Occupational therapy, therapists may observe a child for: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Transitions between activities Attention span across activities Responses to stimuli like touch or sound Motor skills including balance and how they handle objects Interaction with caregivers and peers Any aggressive or antisocial behaviours Need for personal space Play activities

Occupational Therapy Activities for Autism These activities can be done at home with the parent or caregiver.

The activities that therapists recommend as part of occupational therapy for children with Autism fall under five categories: 1.

Gross motor skills These exercises for children involve engaging multiple muscle groups, with the aim of engaging the whole body. Activities include: ➔ ➔ ➔

Games involving running and jumping Practising a variety of walks, like the bear crawl, army walk, and crab walk Ball play with a variety of balls, including throwing, catching, rolling, and kicking

Occupational Therapy Activities for Autism 2.

Fine motor skills Such activities engages the small muscles in the digits and palm of the hand for better grip and coordination. Like:

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Working with tweezers or chopsticks Squeezing and making shapes out of putty or play dough Playing with small figurines or blocks, encouraging a pincer grasp

3. Muscle coordination and posture control Most children with Autism have weak muscle tone. Core-specific occupational therapy exercises help manage Autism, these include: ➔ ➔ ➔ ➔

Lying prone when doing an activity (making the child engage their trunk muscles) Games that involve balance Exercises with a therapy ball Bike-riding or scooter board activities

Occupational Therapy Activities for Autism 4. Sensory processing and modulation The most critical part of occupational therapy for Autism. Children with Autism have unique sensory processing issues. Activities can either cause over-stimulation or sensory deprivation.

The therapist provides a suitable sensory diet that varies the amount of sensory input through the day. This enables the child to process better. Activities include: ➔ ➔ ➔

Pressure inputs such as body massages, lying in a ball pit, or pressing cushions on the body Games involving pushing or pulling something heavy Texture play, where the child interacts with a variety of textures like noodles, dry beans, uncooked rice, sand, putty, etc

Occupational Therapy Activities for Autism 5. Self-care activities Here are some self-care activities to integrate into Occupational therapy for Autism: ➔ ➔

Encouraging the child to dress and bathe themselves (help only when necessary) Teaching tricks they can use when they feel overwhelmed, such as reciting a poem or counting numbers or naming five things in the room

In conclusion, the sooner a child starts a program, the better the results are.

Consult your doctor today about the best occupational therapy for Autism for your child.

Thank you.