Use Occupational Therapy to Help Autistic Children
Occupational therapy is a treatment option with one goal in mind: helping people who are compromised physically, intellectually or emotionally to integrate coping skills into their lives, making life easier and learning more efficient ways to perform necessary tasks. Read on to learn more about use occupational therapy to help autistic children.
Instructions
See the Benefits of Occupational Therapy
1. See that when your child runs in circles, flaps his hands or shrinks away from even the lightest touch, he may be trying to alleviate the pressure of feeling over-sensitized.
2. Be aware that the occupational therapist's main goal when working with an autistic child is to integrate sensory perception. This can help the child to put stimulus into context, reacting to it in a way that is less distracting for the child.
3. Observe that occupational therapists can use various tools, such as feather light brushes and soft beanbags, to gradually help autistic children become used to certain types of stimulus. This can help an autistic child gain a more peaceful frame of mind, allowing the child to concentrate on certain tasks.
Find a Therapist
4. Ask your doctor whether she knows of an occupational therapist who has had good success working with autistic children.
5. Enter your zip code into the Sensory Disorder Processing Foundation website to find a list of occupational therapists in your area (see Resources below).
6. Join a support group for autistic children. Talk to the other parents about which therapists they recommend and why.
7. Call your health insurance provider to find out whether occupational therapy is covered by your plan. Ask whether the provider has a list of approved therapists.
8. Use your best judgment when choosing a therapist. You will want someone with whom your child can eventually feel comfortable.
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