What are the most beneficial therapy types available for Aspergers?
Question
What are the most beneficial therapy types available for Aspergers?
Answer
When a child is first diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, he may be referred for therapy. Asperger’s Syndrome, as you know, is not a condition that can be cured. Asperger’s Syndrome is a neurodevelopmental condition that is treated with an individualized treatment plan that may include different therapies and medications. “The Autism Sourcebook : Everything You Need to Know About Diagnosis, Treatment, Coping, and Healing,” by Karen Siff Exkorn is one of the best published resources for families dealing with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. Written by a parent of a child with Autism, this book covers all aspects of living with Autism once the diagnosis is received. Here are some of the most common treatment options.
* Young children are often treated with ABA therapy. Applied Behavioral Analysis is a form of therapy used to teach young children basic skills in many different areas. For example, ABA can be used to teach young children to make eye contact, to play with toys, and to identify shapes and colors.
* Cognitive-behavioral therapy is used to treat the emotional side of Asperger’s Syndrome like anxiety, depression, and obsessions. This therapy helps form the connections between feelings, emotions, and behavior.
* Occupational therapy is basically used to teach independence. Grasp, handwriting, social skills, and play skills are often included. This therapist may help your child learn to tie his shoes of zip his jacket.
* Sensory integration therapy may be included by the occupational therapist. Some occupational therapists are trained in sensory therapies and some are not. This therapy helps get your child’s sensory systems in synch.
* Speech/language therapy covers speech articulation as well as pragmatics, or fluency. Language therapy covers social communication, and in some cases, social skills. Speech/language therapy will help your child learn to communicate verbally or nonverbally, if necessary, with the use of picture exchange and/or sign language.
* Physical therapy addresses the physical awkwardness that sometimes comes with Asperger’s Syndrome. Awkward gait and lack of balance are common complaints. This therapist may help your child learn to kick a ball, walk up and down stairs, and ride a bicycle.
* Social skills training is a therapy that teaches children with Asperger’s how to relate to others, making and keeping friends, how to recognize social cues and gestures, and other details such as personal space and understanding slang.
It is very important for parents to fully support and participate in their child’s therapy. Asperger’s therapies can be successfully performed by parents in the home with the proper support and training.
Thanks for reading,
Dave Angel
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How do you get social skills therapy? Are there therapists that specialize in this type of therapy?
Comment by Jill Giambroni — January 4, 2011 @ 5:25 pm
I’m getting really frustrated that there is no clue on how to deal with my son who is almost 22 with oppositional defiance disorder, ADD, OCD, who refused to grow up. He still won’t take care of his hygiene and smells horribly….so does his room, where he spends the majority of his time on his computer. There’s no support groups within our area. Its so frustrating not know what to do. He had a job for about 6 months but they let him go. They said it was because of the economy but I suspect they were annoyed by his nuances as most people are. He hasn’t been able to get a job since then (2007). He’s in & out of community college. Failed 5 out of 8 classes taken….expensive! He’s very intelligent but lost!
Comment by Barbara — January 4, 2011 @ 6:05 pm
What we found extremely helpful was neurofeedback done by a qualified psychologist. It was amazing to see the difference it made for my adult son. He had better concentration skills, less anger, less frustration. It was so good to see him becoming the person he was meant to be. Unfortunately, he was killed this summer when a semi-truck ran him off of the road. A great loss because he was finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
Comment by J Huff — January 4, 2011 @ 8:54 pm
The tips and information provided by this news letter have been very helpful, not only to me but to my family members that help with my son, and his teachers and school social worker. Thank you so much for putting this out there.
Comment by LORRAINE AYERS — January 5, 2011 @ 7:11 am
I have a 4 year old kid who is diagonised to hve mild autism features. He is undergoing occupational therapy,remedial and speech therapy. It would be of great help if someone can suggest me how to sort the below issue.
He pushes any tiny tots who he sees on his way. Mostly i feel kids younger to him.
Comment by Piya — January 16, 2011 @ 9:38 pm
How wonderful to see children escaping their challenges in spectrum.Please don’t stop feeding us with informations.It has helped me alot as a therapist.
Comment by Amayo Ogbemudia Peter — February 3, 2011 @ 5:38 am