Occupational Therapy for autism helps people work on cognitive, physical, social, and motor skills. The goal is to improve everyday skills, allowing people to become more independent and participate in various activities. For people with autism, OT programs often focus on play skills, learning strategies, and self-care. OT strategies can also help to manage sensory issues. The occupational therapist will begin by evaluating the person’s current level of ability. The evaluation looks at several areas, including how the person:
- Learns
- Plays
- Cares for themselves
- Interacts with their environment
The evaluation will also identify obstacles preventing the person from participating in typical day-to-day activities. Based on this evaluation, the therapist creates plans and procedures that will allow the person to work on essential skills. Some examples of common goals include:
- Independent dressing
- Eating
- Grooming
- Using the bathroom
- Fine motor skills
Occupational Therapy usually involves half-hour to one-hour sessions. The number of sessions per week is based on personal needs. The person with autism may also practice these strategies and skills outside therapy sessions at home and in other settings, including school.
Some OTs are specifically trained to manage feeding and swallowing challenges in people with autism. They can consider the particular issue a person is dealing with and provide treatment plans for enhancing feeding-related challenges.
How do you know if your child needs Occupational Therapy?
Over time, every child grows different skills that aid them daily. However, when this growth is delayed, parents must seek professional assistance to help their children overcome these developmental delays.
Here are some significant symptoms that reveal your child is facing problems in particular aspects of life and needs the direct help of a therapist who can provide your child’s care and support.
-
Developmental delays
Development delays, such as difficulty manipulating objects or crawling, may indicate a need for occupational therapy. You may also notice other symptoms like your child not responding to your actions, possibly due to hindered physical and mental development. You should consult a medical professional if you have concerns about your child.
-
Difficulty with fine motor skills
If your child has difficulty with fine motor skills, such as strength and control, it may be a sign that they require occupational therapy. If you seek professional care at the right time, your child can perform necessary daily tasks such as reading, writing, or other daily activities.
-
Difficulty developing gross motor skills
Some everyday activities for children are hopping, running, jumping, or playing with a ball. However, if your child’s motor abilities take time, they may need help accomplishing any of these activities.
If you think your child cannot perform these activities, you should book an appointment with an occupational therapist to help your child overcome these developmental delays.
-
Sensory problems
A child prone to overreact to smell, taste, or sensory processing tasks may have sensory challenges. Children with sensory challenges may show a deficiency of sensitivity and a continual need to seek out sensations by touching objects. In such circumstances, Occupational Therapy is a chance to help your child overcome this developmental delay.
What are the benefits of Occupational Therapy for autism?
Occupational Therapy focuses on growing your child’s independence in other activities and promoting age-appropriate development. It guarantees that your child evolves all the abilities required to become an enthusiastic participant in the community and lead a self-sufficient adult life.
Additionally, there are many ways Occupational Therapy helps children with autism. Occupational therapists foster, support, and develop the aptitudes children require to be active in their home, school setting, and beyond. In addition, active participation in life boosts:
- learning
- self-confidence
- self-esteem
- social interaction.
- independence
Occupational therapists use a holistic strategy by assessing your child’s social, physical, emotional, cognitive, and sensory abilities. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) usually have problems communicating and interacting with others; thus, their activities, interests, and play aptitudes may remain limited.
Occupational therapists can assist children with growth delays at home or school. Therapists teach skills that permit children to experience independently across various daily activities. Play skills, fine motor skills, self-care abilities, and socialization are all targeted areas that are addressed through Occupational Therapy.
Opting for Occupational Therapy can offer several benefits for children with autism.
-
Improves gross and fine motor skills
Gross motor skills involve the more significant body muscles crucial for walking, crawling, jumping, catching a ball, and more. Occupational therapists can help your child improve these abilities, which are essential for stability, locomotion, balance, and postural control. Fine motor skills are based on the coordination of the smaller hands and fingers muscles.
Fine motor skills are essential for educational success, managing clothing fasteners, eating, holding a pencil, and more. An occupational therapist can help enhance your child’s fine motor coordination to improve their ability to complete day-to-day tasks independently.
-
Enhanced executive functioning skills
Occupational Therapy for autism can take executive functioning skills such as concentration, initiation, organization, sequencing, and recollection to improve academic performance and the capability to accomplish day-to-day routines more independently.
-
Improves visual motor or visual perceptual skills
Visual perceptual skills are a child’s ability to interpret and organize visual input and understand its meaning. An occupational therapist can help improve a child’s graphic motor skills, which are crucial for day-to-day tasks such as playing, handwriting, and reading.
Things to remember while planning Occupational Therapy for autism
-
Maintain transparency
An occupational therapist will request facts concerning your child’s medical and growth history. The more points the therapist has about your child, the higher the possibility of Therapy being victorious.
-
Collaborate with an occupational therapist.
Occupational therapists promote and facilitate the collaboration and participation of the parents by asking them to be a part of the decision-making and therapy process. Depending on the challenges your child is undergoing, private therapy sessions can help create trust between an occupational therapist and your child, leading to faster progress.
-
Keep interacting with your child.
After every therapy session, keep interacting with your child about their knowledge. Avoid being overbearing in your communication or treating your child as a grown-up. Regular communication between yourself and your child will help you track progress.
Conclusion
As a parent, you should do everything to help your child overcome everyday challenges that hinder their mental and physical growth. Please do not underestimate the significance of Occupational Therapy for autism, as it can help your child lead a healthy and fulfilling life.
Best therapists use occupational Therapy with best-in-class therapists to help your child succeed and grow by setting a higher standard for children’s autism care.
