An Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental issue that leads to significant social, communicative, and behavioural difficulties. People with this disorder have exceptional to highly impaired cognitive, reasoning, and problem-solving abilities. Although there are no physical changes in people with ASD, they speak and behave in ways that others do not. Most individuals with ASD require a great deal of assistance in their everyday life.
The American Psychiatric Association revised the term “autism” to “autism spectrum disorder” in 2013. ASD has become a catch-all term for Asperger syndrome, autistic disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder.
Affected individuals have difficulty understanding and interacting with others in both verbal and nonverbal language. People with this disorder also struggle in the following aspects: rigid hobbies, resistance to leaving the zone of comfort, increased or reduced responses to sensory inputs, and recurrent motor and cognitive actions, such as waving or swaying hands.
8 Ways to Assist Children with Special Needs Adapt to a New Learning Environment
Talk to your child in a comfortable environment
Always stay calm and rational when interacting with your child. You might need to reference something they enjoy before starting a dialogue. Make sure that they feel at ease when you need them to pay attention. It’s all about timing.
Use a reward system for good behaviour
Monetary rewards or point systems are some positive reinforcement strategies that can promote the desired behaviour. Incentives can be used to motivate children to adapt in a specific way.
Reward systems are also a fantastic tool for establishing an effective learning environment since they encourage good behaviour. Treat your kid with prizes such as screen time, special foods, or additional outdoor time when they listen, act correctly, or complete a task.
If you have additional children in the family, this strategy can be highly successful. Through peer mirroring, children with autism can learn social skills and enhance their communication abilities.
Communicate changes to your kid in both verbal and visual ways
Try to explain adjustments to your kid both vocally and graphically. Visual and vocal reinforcements can help your child understand and accept a new concept. This is also particularly helpful in a classroom environment.
Use picture stories to teach your child about important situations
Write a list of facts about something you would like your child to learn about, then illustrate the topic with images. Visual stories teach children that words have meaning. Kids look at images for additional info or contextual cues. In addition, pictures can be used to help them memorize new object names.
Practice school routines at home whenever possible
If possible, repeat school procedures at home. Take note that it may require some creativity. Start considering what your child will become accustomed to in school while they are still on summer vacation. If they are going to be eating lunch at school, then consider packing “practice” lunches.
Try to encourage your child to help with meal preparation the night before, and leave a note somewhere to remind them to put their lunch bag in their backpack each morning. When it’s time to eat, have them practice removing their lunch bag from their backpack, eating, then resealing the empty containers and replacing everything.
Create helpful home routines
Create a method for recording and celebrating accomplishments. Create a wall chart and have your child place a sticker on it each time they complete a task. Then, determine how many stickers will earn a prize, such as a favourite food or letting them play with something they like.
Let your child make some choices
Allow your child to make decisions so they can feel in charge sometimes. Ask them what they want to do first in the morning when establishing a routine, or let them pick something they would like to bring to school.
Start right now
We have a special mentoring program specifically geared towards families that have a child with ASD.
Battling ASD with the help of Key Healthcare Key Mentoring.
- Applied behavioural analysis enhances functional skills and adaptability to social situations.
- Social skills training improves the ability to navigate social situations.
- Speech and language therapy improves speech patterns and understanding of language.
- Occupational therapy addresses adaptive skills deficits with daily living activities and handwriting.
- Parent management training helps parents respond to problematic behaviour and encourage appropriate behaviour in their children.
- Parent support groups help cope with the stressors of raising a child with autism.
- Special education services use tailored plans to allow children with autism to reach their full academic potential.
Final Thoughts
Children with ASD often lack interpersonal, psychological, and communication skills. They tend to repeat particular habits and resist change in their everyday routine. Consult your kid’s doctor if you suspect your child has ASD or if you have concerns about how your child communicates or behaves.
According to studies, early intervention programs can substantially help a child’s development. It is crucial to get assistance as early as possible to ensure that your kid achieves their maximum capabilities.
We at Key Healthcare can offer the best possible help by providing teen residential treatment for autism, teen substance abuse treatment and by our mental health treatment for teens to cure their various addictions. For more information about the programs we offer, feel free to contact us today.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What can I do to help students with autism? For students with autism, a variety of unanticipated events might be disruptive. They may find it challenging to focus due to flickering fluorescent lights or sounds from other children. Calm, tranquil hues assist in creating a more soothing ambience. Avoid overcrowding the walls with visuals or other decorative items.
- What is the best way to support someone with autism? The important thing you can do if your child has ASD or other developmental disorders is beginning therapy as soon as possible. Seek assistance the moment you feel something is amiss. Ignoring the situation or waiting for it to go away on its own will not lead to a positive outcome. You don’t even need to wait for a proper evaluation. The most effective method to accelerate your child’s development and decrease behavioural issues is to intervene early.
- What are suitable activities for autism? Children like jumping into play situations with their hands first. Completing tasks like constructing bricks, solving puzzles, and colouring drawings will provide the kid with abilities that he will use for the rest of his life. An essential part of an ASD treatment plan is occupational therapists. They are specialists in determining the best diversions for kids.
- What is the most effective treatment for autism spectrum disorder? Medication is most helpful when coupled with behavioural treatments, according to research. The only medication authorized by the FDA for children with ASD aged 5 to 16 is Risperidone (Risperdal).
- Can autism go away with age? According to studies, some children who are appropriately diagnosed with ASD at a young age may see symptom reductions as they grow up. Additional studies are needed to help experts comprehend this shift and guide them toward more successful therapies.
