Autism spectrum disorders are a group of neurodevelopmental anomalies that prevent individuals from engaging in social interactions.
Autism is a disease of sensory experiences and the following kinds of therapy may be administered for attempting to mainstream the child:
–Occupational therapy: Occupational therapy deals with improving gross and fine motor skills and developing skills for daily activities. An occupational therapist can also help in managing sensory challenges.
–Sensory integration therapy: Sensory integration therapy (SIT) aims at training a child in utilizing all the senses together, that is, touch, smell, taste, sight, hearing, maintain balance, etc. through activities that engage different body parts. SIT is meant to reduce repetitive behaviours in autistic children by managing their experiences of sensory overload.
–Speech therapy: Speech therapy is particularly beneficial for autistic individuals since they lack social communication skills. A speech language pathologist identifies the autistic individual’s requirements and sets goals to develop speech accordingly.
–Behavioral therapy: Behavioral therapy aims to reinforce positive behaviors while discouraging behaviors that are undesirable.
The therapies available can help the child to manage the sensory experiences, however autism cannot be cured.
As a means to manage the symptoms, autistic individuals are usually also asked to adhere to strict diets.
Additionally, as the child grows up, they may experience different mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. These conditions can be managed by medications.
All of these interventions can ease the symptoms of an autistic individual and help them to integrate into the society.