Below are a list of the main therapies and interventions that are usually prescribed by developmental Paediatrics and counsellors to children who belong in the Autism spectrum, and the latest reviews and the systematic critique on its effectiveness in bringing about developmental changes and positive quality of life to whom it is administered to.
Occupational Therapy
In a simplified description, occupational therapy is a broadly focused approach in therapy which focuses on the areas of learning, social interaction, behavioural modification, praxis, gross motor, and even judgment and coordination. With its broad scope, it is often mainly utilized by many specialists as an approach in therapy plans and designs.
Trusted institutions such as Brain Train, often work closely with developmental paediatricians on the frequency and delivery of therapy plan. Across many cultures, there are variations on the delivery of such method in therapy, but the results among many critiques and research suggests the consistency of positive results as reported by both parents and specialists in the field.
ABA Therapy
For many institutions ABA therapy, Applied Behaviour Analysis, is one of the best alternatives for therapy aside from occupational therapy. Thought they vary in approach, their goals are mostly related such that it still focuses on behavioural modification, learning of new set of behaviours, and reinforcement of positive behaviours as well as social skills and self-help skill development.
ABA is commonly more intensive among many approaches in therapy even in terms of time and duration, but there are still positive results being reported even with such rigorous approach, nevertheless it is still needed to be confirmed with a specialist if the individual would be place in an ABA therapy program or in occupational therapy.
Speech Therapy
In most cases individuals in the autism spectrum has a trouble with socializing or in many cases they have a trouble with communicating especially in the aspect of speech. And in many cases, speech therapy is included in the therapy design for individuals within the spectrum. Speech therapy has been at the focal point of many research studies which relates to autism, and in all instances the data shows positive results.
Also, positive correlation between the amount or frequency of speech therapy sessions and the increasing ability to effectively communicate among individuals with autism on a long-term study. This implies that the methods and approach in speech therapy are indeed effective and are essential in any therapy plan for children with autism.
According to Literature and data conducted for the previous years starting from 2014, research suggests that though each therapy and intervention has its own strength and benefits, it still remains relative to the case, prognosis and severity of the degree of disability in which these interventions are deemed to be effective. Nevertheless, all of which that are mentioned above are consistent with their results in terms of bringing about behavioural, cognitive, and emotional improvements to a great number of clients it was administered to.
