Autism Treatment for Kids – What Is Sensory Integration Therapy?
There are many different kinds of autism treatment for kids, but one that we will focus on here is sensory integration therapy.
Kids with autism have many sensory issues, but there is help available. Occupational therapists, who specialize in treatment for autism, are able to use different methods of sensory integration therapy to try to address some of these problems.
Auditory Integration Therapy is a Helpful Autism Treatment for Kids
If your kid is very sensitive to sounds and noise, therapists can use an autism treatment called auditory integration therapy. Your kid listens to different tones and frequencies of music, using headphones. These tones are prepared specifically for your kid. Your brain needs to adjust itself to hear these tones, so in this way, this process can actually, over time, change the way the brain processes auditory information. As a result, this can make your kid less sensitive to auditory stimuli.
Wilbarger Deep Pressure Technique – A Lesser Known Autism Treatment
Many kids are sensitive to touch and often have trouble with the feeling of clothing, or have similar tactile problems. These kids may do well with an autism treatment called the Wilbarger Deep Pressure technique. Your kid's skin is brushed with a special brush, in a very specific way. This stimulates receptors and nerves in your body and brain and in time can help you tolerate the feeling of touch more. Please note that this autism treatment for kids should only be done with a professional who is trained in this technique.
Another Method of Autism Treatment is Sensory Integration Therapy
There are also other methods of autism treatment for kids that would fall under the category of sensory integration therapy. Some kids are under stimulated while others are over stimulated. Keep in mind that some kids are under receptive to sensory stimuli, and need to do activities such as balancing, spinning, running, rolling on a ball to get themselves "going" and start "feeling okay."
Other kids, however, are over sensitive to sensory information, and need to avoid it as much as possible. But no matter which is the case, there are methods of autism treatment, often referred to as a "sensory diet," that can help change the way your kid's brain processes sensory information. Activities that look like play, done with a competent autism therapist, can actually change the way your kid's brain works. It is really an amazing type of autism treatment.
Sensory Diet – an Important Autism Treatment for Kids
The autism treatments that fall into the grouping of sensory diet are varied. Depending on your therapist, they may use one or more autism treatments in the "sensory diet" category to help kids with sensory issues. Depending on whether your child is under receptive or over receptive to sensory information will determine exactly the type of activities (e.g., spinning, balancing, running, rolling on a ball and so on) the therapist will recommend. Ideally, the autism treatment will help re-engineer the brain so that they can process sensory information better. This autism treatment may look like play but it actually can change the way an autistic child's brain works.
Sensory integration therapy is an important autism treatment for kids.
For details about therapies and suggestions from parents that can help both children and adults live full and happy lives see the book The Autism Survival Guide. There you will be able to sign up for the FREE Autism Newsletter as well as get additional information to help your loved one be happy and succeed in life.
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