Best Plan For Autism Starts With Behavioral Therapy

Although there is no cure for autism, various interventions can help diminish the symptoms, sometimes profoundly. Since both social and communication differences are part of the diagnosis, behavioral and speech language therapy are typically the foundation of intervention. But one challenge in planning, and a stress for parents, is that no single educational plan works for all children. From a research point of view, the most proven approach for children with autism remains behavioral therapy. While behavioral intervention sometimes seems meant only for overly rambunctious children who act out, that's not the case. It's also the main tool we have to develop social skills. Just as a varsity athlete continues to work to improve even when things are going well, a behavioral therapist acts like an athletic coach in polishing your child's social abilities. For a parent, figuring out what approach to take with behavioral therapy can be confusing. For starters, schools frequently move children into the mainstream quite early in their schooling. While that's always the larger goal, it may mean too soon a shift away from intensive behavioral programs that support social growth. Children who receive ongoing therapy are more likely to fall into the small number of children who outgrow the diagnosis entirely; in the short term that can mean less time in mainstream or "inclusion style" classrooms. More intervention now may mean more age-appropriate skills later, allowing an ea...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news