Sensory Integration: Therapies

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2012年9月15日星期六

Top Twelve Therapies For Autism

If your child is diagnosed with autism, you may not know where to start. If you are lucky, your physician will have some suggestions and your child's teachers will have some suggestions. Beyond that, you will likely turn to your neighbors, books, and the internet.

As you read and talk with others, you will likely quickly realize that no one therapy works for all children. While many children with autism are able to improve with therapy, there is no magic cure.

So, acknowledging that all children are different, your best shot is to look closely at your child and at your family and try the therapies that are most likely to make a difference and that are the most realistic for your family. Since many autism therapies are poorly studied and none are proven 100% effective, you cannot afford to rely solely on science-based evidence. Instead, I suggest that you begin with the therapies that are most commonly used by families with children with autism. While there is no guarantee that these therapies will work for your child, it does suggest a level of acceptance in the autism community.

The top 12 most commonly used autism therapies are:

Speech and language therapy (used by 70% of parents)
Visual schedules (used by 43.2% of parents)
Sensory integration therapy (used by 38.2% of parents)
Applied behavior analysis therapy - ABA (used by 36.4% of parents)
Social story therapy (used by 36.1% of parents)
Vitamin C (used by 30.8% of parents)
Vitamin B6 and magnesium (used by approximately 30% of parents)
Essential fatty acids (used by 28.7% of parents)
Picture exchange communication system - PECS (used by 27.6% of children)
Casein-free diet (used by 26.8% of parents)
Gluten-free diet (used by 23.1% of parents)
Vitamin A (used by 22.0% of parents)

Consider these therapies first. Consider the pros and cons for your family if you were to adopt these therapies. Is the therapy too expensive to be realistic for you? Is the therapy inaccessible for your family? Is the therapy too complicated for your family structure? Be realistic. If a therapy will put undue stress on your family, try the next therapy down the list.

When you decide on a therapy approach, keep a detailed record of your child's symptoms and response to the therapy. Try to add just one therapy at a time (perhaps just one per week). If a therapy causes worse behavior in your child, then drop it. If, after a month, you see no improvement in your child, consider dropping the therapy. Above all, do not believe so much in any given therapy that you deny the response that your child is showing you. No one therapy works for all children. If a therapy does not work for your child, then move on and try another therapy. Your child is precious, but so is your time and money. You owe it to your child, yourself, and your family to find a therapy approach that works specifically for your situation.

(The list of most popular therapies was taken from a survey by Dr. Vanessa Green that was published in 2006.)

Lara Pullen, PhD is the CEO of http://autism.healingthresholds.com. Healing Thresholds Autism Therapy is a free website and email newsletter dedicated to healing the lives of families touched by autism. They provide comprehensive therapy fact sheets, daily updates of autism therapy research and news, and a global directory of autism-related therapists and services. The 100 top autism therapies are listed and discussed at http://autism.healingthresholds.com/therapy with comprehensive fact sheets provided for the top twelve therapies.

Lara is a former research scientist in the field of immunology. She has been a medical writer since 1999 and has written on a wide range of topics from Alzheimer's disease to diabetes. She is the mother of three children, the youngest of whom has Prader-Willi Syndrome.

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Physical and Alternative Therapies for ADHD

Four and a half million American children aged between five and seventeen have been diagnosed with ADHD since 2006. The symptoms vary from one child to another and certain symptoms may be more pronounced in one child than it is in another child, depending on the type of ADHD that the child has. Generally, the symptoms could include overactivity, uncontrollable behavior, impulsivity, and the inability to remain focused.

Some medical doctors like to prescribe medications while naturopaths advocate natural remedies, such as mineral supplements that have proven helpful for the condition. In addition to any herbal or pharmaceutical medicines, research has shown that physical therapy can be very beneficial. It is suggested that parents exhaust all other options before settling for drugs.

Since there is a link between sensory integration disorder and ADHD, sensory integration is one of the therapies on offer to help improve hyperactivity, impulsiveness and restlessness. Strenuous exercise and deep pressure are some of the methods used. Research has shown that kids who receive sensory intervention therapy are better able to pay attention in noisy classrooms and generally more at ease.

The therapy will depend on the type of behavior which is most pronoounced. The exercise ball, swings and gentle or deep brushing of the skin are some of the most common therapies.

Occupational therapy is used to improve school performance by helping the child to learn self-management techniques. Sensory integration therapy stimulates the five senses in a regulated manner. The patient is assisted in effectively organizing the sensory information and interpreting it correctly.

The alertness is regulated with self-regulation techniques which helps the child to better concentrate on the task at hand. Programs exist for both adults and children alike.

As part of the intervention, the sensory input is managed along with the regulation of alertness levels. This helps the child to easily regain focus after a break and to help him or her maintain concentration during the day.

It is recommended that ADHD kids take part in physical activities such as organized sports. Sports provide an appropriate outlet for all that hyperactive energy.

Lizette has extensive experience in creating home education tools and resources that are available freely from [http://www.twinstaracademy.com/]

She also has a lot of experience in dealing with an ADHD child, thanks to her 9-year old daughter. However, she has found benefit from Minerals for ADHD

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

2012年8月28日星期二

Asperger's Syndrome Treatment - Six Therapies That Can Help Solve Your Child's Sensory Issues

Perhaps one of the most important kinds of treatment for kids diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a form of high functioning autism, is sensory integration therapy. What is sensory integration therapy? Well, kids with autism have a lot of sensory processing issues. This means that every kind of stimuli seems too extreme for them. While most people have some kind of filtering system, kids and adults with Asperger's syndrome have a very hard time filtering out extraneous sensory information.

What does a sensory overload look like?

Your child may not want to put on the clothes you laid out for him because they are too scratchy or there's a tag in the back. He may refuse to go into many public places because they are too noisy, or the lights are too bright. He may suddenly have a tantrum because the smell of someone's perfume is overwhelming him.

A Child Who Is Under-Sensitivity To His Surroundings May Also Have Problems

Conversely, there are also kids who are under-sensitive to sensory stimuli and are constantly seeking and craving it. They are the kids who will be tearing around your house, crashing into things and generally on the move all the time. They want to touch everything and experience everything, and can never seem to sit still.

What both of these categories have in common are deficits in the sensory processing system. And there are ways to treat them.

1. Auditory Integration Therapy

An occupational therapist who is trained in helping kids with sensory issues will have a number of tricks up their sleeve. One is auditory integration therapy (AIT). Studies have shown that listening to special CDs of music that have certain frequencies and pitches can actually change the way that the brain processes information. With this therapy, it's changing the way sounds are processed.

The person who is getting AIT listens to a CD made for them for two sessions of 30 minutes each per day, using headphones. Over a period of time, the music can actually change the way the brain hears the music, and make a person less over-reactive to loud noises, and more able to process sounds and language effectively.

2. The Wilbarger Brushing Protocol

The Wilbarger Brushing Protocol is a treatment for Asperger's syndrome when kids have tactile sensitivity issues. In other words, they have problems with touch. Kids with this problem often can't stand the feel of their clothes, can't stand to play outside because they might touch something weird, or jump if someone accidentally touches them.

This method of treatment involves using a surgical brush to brush the person's skin in a very specific way. This is done several times a day at preset intervals. It needs to be done with a trained therapist's supervision. When it is done correctly, it can reduce sensitivity to tactile stimuli.

3. Other Methods

There are many different tools that occupational therapists will use to help a child with Asperger's syndrome who has sensory issues. Many of these will be different for each child. A lot of them may look like playing, but it actually has specific goals and focuses on specific sensory systems in the body to change the way that system processes information.

Here are a few other techniques:

Weighted blankets: People with Asperger's often crave deep pressure, as it is calming to them. Weighted blankets provide this. This increases their ability to focus.
Trampolines, swing sets, and rocking toys: These can stimulate the vestibular system in a person with Asperger's. This can help either calm them down or stimulate them, depending on their sensitivities. Any activities involving movement can be helpful in this case.
Joint compression: This is a treatment an occupational therapist can teach you that can regulate a person's nervous system. It involves manipulating and pulling on joints in a certain way that acts to kind of reset the sensory system.
Sensory fidget bag: A sensory fidget bag can be useful to keep on hand. This should include anything that you can find to fill a bag with that your child can fidget with. Some examples are stress balls, koosh balls, feathers, slinkys, and so on. These sensations will give the child something to focus on, thus also having a calming effect.

As you can see, there are many ways that sensory integration issues can be treated. Sensory integration therapy can be a very useful treatment for children who exhibit specific symptoms of Asperger's syndrome.

Hopefully these tips can make life a little easier especially for children with Asperger's and their parents. In addition to these methods, there are many other tips and suggestions that can help your loved one live a fulfilling and happy life. A great site to find information to help children with Asperger's syndrome is the web site www.AspergersSociety.org. There you will be able to sign up for the FREE Asperger's Syndrome Newsletter as well as get additional information to help your loved one be happy and succeed in life.

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2012年7月15日星期日

Cerebral Palsy Therapies

A child with cerebral palsy will have a group of neurological disorders that are caused due to injuries in the brain. Along with the condition that the child suffers from, it will also give rise to many secondary disorders like difficulty in seeing, hearing, talking, feeding, toileting, walking and many more. All these conditions have to be treated on time with the help of therapies and exercises that will develop the child's ability to perform his daily activities independently. There are many therapies that can be performed on the child like speech and language therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, drug therapy and sensory integration therapy.

A physical therapist will try framing cerebral palsy training to the child to improve the development of large muscles like legs, arms and abdomen. These therapists will help children to learn better ways to move and balance, thus enabling them to develop their motor skills. They will also help children to learn using the wheelchair or stand by themselves or go up and down the stairs safely. Physical therapists will try adding a fun quotient too by making children run, kick, throw or ride a bike too! This therapy usually begins in the first few years soon after the diagnosis to prevent any musculoskeletal complications like weakening or deterioration of muscles.

An occupational therapist will help the child to improve development of small muscles of the body like hands, feet, face, fingers and toes. These therapists will teach the children to perform their daily activities like dressing, eating and making sure that they are properly positioned in wheelchairs. Besides, they also teach children easier and better ways to write, draw, dress and feed themselves and also how to cut with scissors and brush their teeth. Occupational therapy aims at providing the right special equipment that will make the day to day activities of a child easier and simpler.

A speech and language therapist will help develop better control of the jaw and muscles so that the child can see improvement in speech and language skills as well as eating abilities. They also help developing creative communication methods for those who cannot speak. Hence, a speech and language therapist will develop a child's communication skills by means of talking, using sign language or communication aid. For all those children who are able to talk, the speech therapist will help making their language clearer or building their language skills by learning new words, learning to speak in sentences or improving their listening skills. For children who cannot talk, they can learn sign language and use special equipment like a computer that talks to them.

The degree of severity of the condition varies in children and treatment is based accordingly. Since no two children will suffer the same disabilities, the consultation of a doctor and proper diagnosis before beginning the treatment is essential. Once the exact problem is determined, the therapists can form a cerebral palsy fitness program that will suit the special needs of your child and help overcoming their difficulties.

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2012年6月25日星期一

Effective Therapies to Provide Help For Autism in Children, Toddlers and Babies

Like any other disorders, the effects of autism on a child can be minimized by early detection. Intervention programs can then be applied to help improve the development of the child. This is one of the best ways to help for autism. Children with autism can benefit from therapies and have a better future.

There are five types of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and each one varies in effects and treatment. It is important to recognize which spectrum of condition your child belongs before he or she must be treated.

Autism affects the communication, social skills, and activities of a child. Therefore, these are the areas in which parents and caregivers must concentrate in providing help for autism. Children with the disorder must be taught how to speak, play with others, and behave properly as early as possible.

Here are the best therapies that would help for autism - children, toddlers, and babies:

Speech Therapy

Almost all children with autism will have difficulty in talking or communicating. Get your child started on speech therapy as early as possible. Speech Therapy includes the treatment of speech and communication disorders. This can be done in a private setting, in groups or teams, or in a clinic.

Sensory Integration Therapy

Autistic children are sensitive to bright lights, loud sounds, and touch. This therapy will help your child become less sensitive to these things and will greatly improve your child's behavior. It will also help the child use his or her body effectively within the environment.

Occupational Therapy

Most people with autism often lack some of the basic social and personal skills required to live independently. This therapy will help children with autism achieve independence in all aspects and develop skills necessary for self-sufficient and satisfying lives.

Always get updates about ASD

Everyday, new therapies and treatments are being tested to help child with ASD. New things are being discovered that can give help for autism. Children with the disorder must be given more priority to have a better life.

Autism should not be a reason to burden your family. Although there is still no cure for autism, early detection can really make a big difference. Visit HELP FOR AUTISM and learn more about its causes, symptoms, and how to handle it. Reviews on the top 3 books online about autism are also available.

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2012年5月23日星期三

Asperger's Syndrome Treatment - Six Therapies That Can Help Solve Your Child's Sensory Issues

What does a sensory overload look like?

A Child Who Is Under-Sensitivity To His Surroundings May Also Have Problems

What both of these categories have in common are deficits in the sensory processing system. And there are ways to treat them.

1. Auditory Integration Therapy

2. The Wilbarger Brushing Protocol

3. Other Methods

Here are a few other techniques:

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2012年5月8日星期二

Cerebral Palsy Training - Therapies and Surgery

Children with cerebral palsy suffer from many disorders that make their daily activities a challenging task. Since each child will suffer a different amount of disabilities, the treatment will be done accordingly. There are many treatments available for a child like speech and language therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, drug therapy, sensory integration therapy and many more. Since no two children will have the same severity, these therapies will be customized for every individual. However, most of the children will suffer from movement problems, hence developing motor skills will form an important part of any program that is designed for the child.

The treatment involves a team approach and includes the consulting doctor, nurse, caretaker and all the therapists who will work together to help your child overcome all these difficulties and train them to become independent eventually. The therapists play a vital role here since they will be spending maximum time with your child to train them in intensive programs that involves cerebral palsy exercises. These special exercises will primarily aim to develop the child's movement, balance and posture. Generally, it is considered better to take your child to a doctor once you see symptoms because this condition is irreversible and there is no permanent cure. Moreover, the condition of the child can either improve or worsen over time depending on the treatment. Hence, therapy should be started at an early age so that appropriate diagnosis can be done to treat the condition.

There are many benefits that the cerebral palsy therapies can offer. These include fewer movement limitations, better postures, better muscle development and better abilities in toileting, feeding and dressing themselves. Furthermore, these programs enhance the child's abilities to do things that would have otherwise seemed impossible. Besides, they add a lot of fun and hope in every child and give them an opportunity to see other children who are like them.

Sometimes, if therapies cannot do much help to the child, then surgery might be recommended. Surgery is done mostly to correct contractures, reduce spasticity in the legs and improve muscle development. If you are opting for a surgery, then it is necessary that you discuss with the doctor about issues like their long term effects, the risks involved and postoperative follow up. Besides, always take a second opinion on the same to avoid any miss-happenings. For conditions such as abnormal walking on toes that indicate a tight heel cord, then surgery may correct it by lengthening the tendon. By doing this, the child will improve his ability to walk, balance and prevent further deformity. Surgery can also be performed to relieve spasticity in the legs and hips of patients by identifying the sensory nerve fibers behind the spinal cord and selectively cutting it.

Many times surgeries are not recommended, but there are instances when it has to be used so that the child can achieve his optimal level of functioning. Hence, cerebral palsy training with the help of exercises and therapies should be included in the child's day to day activities to reduce the chances of opting for a surgery.

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2012年3月2日星期五

Therapies for Cerebral Palsy

Children with cerebral palsy can be easily affected with seizures which is a secondary disorder that is very common in this condition. For this reason, the child's doctor would prescribe drugs that will control seizures associated with cerebral palsy. There are many types of seizures and there is no one drug to cure them. Hence, for various types of seizures, different drugs will be prescribed such as Tegretol, Dilantin and Phenobarbital. Drug therapy can also reduce spasticity associated with cerebral palsy and drugs for this include Diazepam, Baclofen ad Dantrolene. Drug therapy cannot completely correct the complications associated with cerebral palsy but it will help manage these problems. However, consulting a physician to find out about the drug therapy is very necessary.

To help achieve optimal level of functioning, sensory integration therapy can be used. This therapy will help overcome problems experienced by children in absorbing and processing sensory information. When these abilities are improved, it in turn improves balance and steady movement. The therapy will include stimulating touch sensations and pressures on different parts of the child's body. The therapy will motivate children to learn sequences of movements with the help of Styrofoam, chips, water or textured toys.

Sometimes, because of the muscle problems that the children with cerebral palsy face, the doctor or therapist can recommend special equipment that will help them to do daily activities. Most of the times, a wheelchair is recommended when the child cannot walk. Children will be trained to use their arms to roll the wheels of their child themselves so that they can move around without difficulty. There are wheelchairs that have a motor which will move the wheels of the child too. In these, there will be a joystick that the child can operate. Some children with cerebral palsy will be able to walk but have poor balance. For these children, a walker can be given to go around instead of wheelchair. A walker will be made of light metal and is adjustable in height. It can also have a basket in which the child can put his belongings.

Because of the motor problems that are often associated with cerebral palsy, children will find problems in eating too. Sometimes they won't even be able to talk. To help with all this, special utensils that can provide grip and meet the special requirements of the child can be used while feeding and communication aid can be used help the child understand or talk. Regardless, it is important that certain amounts of training with cerebral palsy is taking place.

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2011年12月25日星期日

Asperger's Syndrome Treatment - Six Therapies That Can Help Solve Your Child's Sensory Issues

What does a sensory overload look like?

A Child Who Is Under-Sensitivity To His Surroundings May Also Have Problems

What both of these categories have in common are deficits in the sensory processing system. And there are ways to treat them.

1. Auditory Integration Therapy

2. The Wilbarger Brushing Protocol

3. Other Methods

Here are a few other techniques:

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

2011年12月11日星期日

Physical and Alternative Therapies for ADHD

The therapy will depend on the type of behavior which is most pronoounced. The exercise ball, swings and gentle or deep brushing of the skin are some of the most common therapies.

The alertness is regulated with self-regulation techniques which helps the child to better concentrate on the task at hand. Programs exist for both adults and children alike.

It is recommended that ADHD kids take part in physical activities such as organized sports. Sports provide an appropriate outlet for all that hyperactive energy.

Lizette has extensive experience in creating home education tools and resources that are available freely from http://www.twinstaracademy.com/

She also has a lot of experience in dealing with an ADHD child, thanks to her 9-year old daughter. However, she has found benefit from Minerals for ADHD

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

2011年12月5日星期一

Top Twelve Therapies For Autism

As you read and talk with others, you will likely quickly realize that no one therapy works for all children. While many children with autism are able to improve with therapy, there is no magic cure.

The top 12 most commonly used autism therapies are:

(The list of most popular therapies was taken from a survey by Dr. Vanessa Green that was published in 2006.)

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