Autism is a mental disorder that affects nearly 1 in 84 people in the United States. Although it’s prevalence increases day by day, the symptoms grow differently too. Autism looks different in every individual who is diagnosed with autism. The core features that make humans human are also changed for those with autism. Their speech-language and ability to act normally in social situations is also unusual. People with autism used to think that there’s no hope for a better future for them, and that their disorder is something they have to live with for the rest of their life. While there are no scientifically proven treatments out there to cure autism, treatments that help the mental capability of autistic individuals are indeed out there and have proven to help people from time to time.
These treatments come in the form of therapies. Most rehabilitation therapists provide different types of therapies for the different cases of autism. They each have a different focus of study which requires expertise in all kinds of background knowledge on the mental condition known as autism. While the ideas and approaches to therapy look similar to the goals they address, the techniques used to achieve these goals are almost always different in each case. If the person with autism can’t decide on the kind of therapy they should get, it’s always best to have a loved one or a caregiver to decide which therapy fits them best. Even the outcomes of the treatments will need to be monitored by the caregiver or any other individual that the autistic person chooses to spend their valuable time with.
There are tons of therapies out there for autistic people, therapies that can actually help people with autism overcome some general phobias and improve their interpersonal skills.
Therapies To Help Autistic People:
Since the prevalence of autism in kids is second to none, many schools have adapted to this change and have therapy programs built to help kids through their mental problems. While made to mentally strong arm these kids, these therapies can sometimes do the exact opposite. Parents understand that sometimes their autistic child might not be progressing at the reasonable rate they expected them to. Maybe the problem is with the approach, maybe it’s with the therapist itself. For kids, the therapy that works best for them should always be opted by parents so their kid doesn’t need therapy as an adult.
Since therapies cost money, being resourceful even when looking for the best interests of your loved ones is a smart move. Which is why you should check out these worthy therapies to help autistic people:
Developmental Therapy:
The many therapies that were put in place to help people with autism are known as behavioral therapies. These therapies work on improving the interpersonal skills and behaviors of the autistic individual. They can help the person build up their emotional skills so their relationships are as consistent as the ones a normal person has. The abstract thinking autistic people carry with them can indeed be expanded so they can bond with others easily. There are many therapies that target the behaviors of autistic people, these include Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis therapy, social-communication, and emotional regulation therapies. While the cost of ABA is different depending on each case, it’s still reasonable.
Although it’s usually the caretakers and parents of the autistic people who pay for these therapies, the autistic individual can also opt for these therapies by paying out of their own pockets. The best part about these therapies is that once the caregivers or parents get the gist of how these therapies work, they can work on their autistic loved ones themselves.
- Social Skills Therapy: There is good news out there for kids with autism. Many schools have adapted new ways to help out special kids by providing social skills therapy. These social thinking programs might look tough on paper, but for an autistic person whose thinking ability or feelings are compromised, this is the perfect therapy.
While there are other therapies and programs too that can help the different symptoms of autism in a person, you should always opt for ones you think suit your best. The right social skills therapy will help the autistic child build friendships and survive in their social circle.
- Art Therapy: Many kids start taking interest in many different things like music, visual arts, acting and even dancing. While these interests remain the same for autistic kids, pursuing these fields as a career can be hard. For art therapy, the caregiver or parent of the autistic kid will need to pay from their pockets. This therapy is special since it can help the autistic individual expand their horizons and build skills that they take interest in. These can go from participating in a music band to the drama club, so the autistic person feels more close towards their real self.
- Animal Therapy: Autistic kids have a hard time dealing with things they don’t understand. Some significant entities an autistic person will struggle interacting with are animals. Animal therapy focuses on this individual skill, by providing support animals like service dogs so the autistic person can interact with the species easily while also getting their help. This will expand their social skills while also building their confidence for the many different experiences they might face in their life. A very unique and helpful example of Animal therapy is Hippotherapy, a therapy where an autistic individual can improve their motor and sensory input by horseback riding. While some animal therapies are paid by insurance policies, paying out of pocket is also an option out there.
Autism Therapies That Should Be Avoided:
The many therapies out there that can help autism aren’t exactly cures. Scientists have been working on finding a cure for autism for decades but haven’t found success yet. Till then, these so-called “treatments” are one’s best bet at living a normal life despite having autism. While some of these therapies are effective, others aren’t. Avoiding hoaxes and natural remedies like increasing the diet or taking vaccines is the safest bet. These therapies physically and financially cripple someone.