Although autism can not be cured, there are a lot of educational support services and specialized behavioral therapy can improve the abilities of people with autism. But help for autism has many types and families are usually difficult to choose which one fits assistance because the effect will be different in each persons. Treatment of autism also requires a commitment of time, emotional, and financial.
Autism treatment program (often called intervention) typically involve specialists, such as pediatricians, psychologists, psychiatrists, speech therapists and occupational therapists.
Important aspects in the development of children who should be focusing on each support is the ability to communicate, the ability to interact, cognitive abilities (eg, play creatively), and academic skills.
Intervention Social Interaction
This type of assistance aims to help autistic children to communicate and interact so that they are more adaptable. This early intervention may also be held at the school or with their parents and teachers.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis) divide capability (eg, communication and cognitive abilities) into simple tasks that are taught in a structured and provide a gift or compliment to encourage good behavior. ABA is usually done at home, but sometimes there are certain programs that can be applied in school or daycare.
Simple tasks become more complex over time in this type of therapy that is widely used in Indonesia can help the development of the child with the ability to gradually improve. But there are some experts who doubted the usefulness of alarming intensity and ability are developed outside of therapy.
Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH)
There is research that shows that children with autism often show a better response to the information given visually. That's why the emphasis TEACCH structured learning system using visual communication.
Teaching and Training For Parents
The role of parents for children with autism is very important. The active participation of parents will support and help improve the ability of the child.
Seek as much information as possible about autism and treatment is highly recommended for the elderly. You can find out more through Community Care Autism Indonesia (MPATI), Autisma Indonesia Foundation, and the International Center for Special Care in Education (ICSCE).
Help your child to communicate can reduce anxiety and improve behavior because communication is a special obstacles for children with autism. Tips may be useful:
Use simple words.
Always call the child's name when talking to him.
Take advantage of body language to clarify your intentions.
Speak slowly and clearly.
Give your child time to process your words.
Do not talk when all around you are noisy.
Improve Communication Skills
There are several treatment is usually recommended to overcome the problems experienced by your child's communication, namely:
Help psychological therapy
Psychological treatment may be recommended to help treatment if your child is suffering from autism and psychiatric problems, such as anxiety disorders. Examples of this type of treatment is cognitive behavior therapy or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Psychological therapy is generally done by seeing a psychologist to tell the feelings as well as their impact on the behavior and welfare. Therefore the specialists involved should adjust therapy method with limitations with autism. For example, information in the form of written or visual and use simple language.
Speech therapy
Almost all children with autism have difficulty speaking. This therapy prioritize training to improve the ability to speak so that children are able to interact with others.
The therapist will use a number of techniques such as visual aids, story, and toys to improve communication skills.
Picture Exchange Communication System (Pecs)
Pecs therapist will use pictures to help children with autism. This method is chosen because the image is more effective to communicate for some autistic children.
In the early stages, children will be taught how simple communication such as giving picture cards to communicate with adults. Then the therapist will teach skills more difficult, for example using picture cards to form sentences. The aim of this process is that children learn to start communication without being asked.
Makaton communication methods
Makaton is a method of communication using sign language and symbols to help people with autism communicate. This method is designed to assist verbal communication. Therefore, sign language and symbols typically used in conjunction with a word that means can be better understood.
Each movement has a Makaton sign language symbols each in the form of simple images. The symbol can also be used without sign language. Makaton is very flexible because it can be used according to the needs of each wearer. For example for:
Express thoughts, choices, and emotions.
Marking objects, images, photographs, and place.
Playing and singing.
Write recipes, shopping lists, letters, and messages.
Help show the way or buildings.
Most people with autism who initially using Makaton time they will stop naturally and switch on verbal communication skills along with the ability to talk to them.
In addition to improving the basic abilities of communication in some people with autism, Makaton can also help the process of their social interactions.
Use of Drugs
Although can not cure autism, drugs may be given the relevant specialists to control certain symptoms. But your child is usually advised to undergo re-examination after drinking for several weeks because these drugs have significant side effects. Several types of drugs commonly given are:
Depression can be overcome with a kind of selective serotonin release inhibitors (SSRIs).
Sleeplessness that can be treated with drugs such as melatonin.
Hyperactivity can be treated with drugs such as methylphenidate.
Epilepsy can be treated with a type of medicine called anticonvulsants.
Aggressive behavior and harmful, such as berserk or hurting yourself. If severe or psychological treatment had no effect, these abnormalities may be overcome with anti-psychotic drugs.
Treatment methods are Worth Avoiding
There are a number of alternative treatment methods that calculated the potential to overcome autism, but their effectiveness has not been proven at all, and there is even a possibility of some of them dangerous. Here are some alternative treatment methods should be avoided:
Special diets, such as gluten or casein-free diet.
Neurofeedback therapy. Usually monitored brain activity through electrodes placed on the head. Patients could see his brain waves through the screen and be taught how to change it.
Chelation therapy that uses drugs or other substances to remove metal substances, especially mercury, from the body.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Treatment with oxygen under high pressure air chamber.
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