Life Skills Psychological Services

Autism

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Therapist and child playing

Life Skills Psychological Services

Autism

back home

Therapist and child playing

Autism

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the term that health professionals use when talking about autism. The word “spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms and severity of the disorder, including high functioning autism. The Mayo Clinic provides an excellent description of the behavioral problems that are typical of autism:

“A child or adult with autism spectrum disorder may have problems with social interaction and communication skills, including any of these signs:

• Fails to respond to his or her name or appears not to hear you at times
• Resists cuddling and holding, and seems to prefer playing alone, retreating into his or her own world
• Has poor eye contact and lacks facial expressions
• Doesn’t speak or has delayed speech, or loses previous ability to say words or sentences
• Can’t start a conversation or keep one going, or only starts one to make requests or label items
• Speaks with an abnormal tone or rhythm and may use a singsong voice or robot-like speech
• Repeats words or phrases verbatim, but doesn’t understand how to use them
• Doesn’t appear to understand simple questions or directions
• Doesn’t express emotions or feelings and appears unaware of the feelings of others
• Doesn’t point at or bring objects to share interest
• Inappropriately approaches a social interaction by being passive, aggressive, or disruptive
• Has difficulty recognizing nonverbal cues, such as interpreting other people’s facial expressions, body postures, or tone of voice”
(Source of information: The Mayo Clinic)

“A child or adult with autism spectrum disorder may have limited, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities, including any of these signs:

• Performs repetitive movements, such as rocking, spinning, or hand flapping
• Performs activities that could cause self-harm, such as biting or head-banging
• Develops specific routines or rituals and becomes disturbed at the slightest change
• Has problems with coordination or has odd movement patterns, such as clumsiness or walking on toes, and has odd, stiff or exaggerated body language
• Is fascinated by details of an object, such as the spinning wheels of a toy car, but doesn’t understand the overall purpose or function of the object
• Is unusually sensitive to light, sound or touch, yet may be indifferent to pain or temperature
• Doesn’t engage in imitative or make-believe play
• Fixates on an object or activity with abnormal intensity of focus
• Has specific food preferences, such as eating only a few foods, or refusing foods with certain texture”
(Source of information: The Mayo Clinic)

The Cleveland Clinic describes some of the behavioral issues that are common in older children with autism:

• “Has trouble understanding what others mean; for example, they might not recognize sarcasm
• Doesn’t initiate social interactions
• Has difficulty mixing spoken words and body language
• Has a hard time building relationships with peers
• Gets along more easily with younger children or grown-ups
• Has difficulty seeing something from someone else’s point of view
• Doesn’t understand certain social rules such as greetings or personal space
• Repeats certain words from books, movies, or TV shows
• Strongly prefers familiar routines or patterns of behavior
• Has intense or highly focused interests, such as certain topics or collections”
(Source of information: The Cleveland Clinic)

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder are more likely than others to have additional problems such as:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Low self-esteem
• Learning problems and academic underachievement
• Oppositional and defiant behavior
• Sleep issues
• Eating disorders

How is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Diagnosed?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be diagnosed by a psychologist, developmental behavioral pediatrician, child psychiatrist, pediatric neurologist, or other qualified physician. Making a diagnosis will often include the following:
• Descriptions of the child’s behavior and development provided by parents and caregivers
• Observations of the child’s behavior by one or more highly qualified professionals
• Neuropsychological Testing
• Behavioral criteria described in the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association

How is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Treated?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is treated with a number of therapeutic approaches, including the following:

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a highly regarded treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It is used for all levels of severity on the autism spectrum. ABA is a learning-based approach that is designed to teach children and adults how to reduce or eliminate maladaptive patterns of behavior and learn skills that are necessary for success in life. ABA is used to teach social skills, reduce anxiety, manage emotions, help with learning problems and academic underachievement, and treat sleep issues and eating disorders.

Life Skills Training
Life Skills Training uses methods of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to teach children with high functioning autism to cope effectively with the demands and challenges of life. Life skills include decision-making and problem-solving, coping with difficult emotions and stress, self-awareness, and the development of empathy.

Social and Interpersonal Skills Training
Social and Interpersonal Skills Training is a type of Life Skills Training that helps children with autism learn conversational skills, as well as non-verbal communication through eye contact, facial expressions, and body language.

Parent Training
Parent training is a type of behavior therapy that teaches parents and other caregivers specific techniques for reducing their child’s problem behavior and replacing it with behavioral skills that lead to increased success at school, at home, and in important relationships.

Behavioral Self-Management Training
Behavioral Self-Management Training uses specific methods of instruction and practice to increase independence and teach new skills. For children who are high functioning on the autism spectrum, this training is also used to reduce anxiety, manage anger, develop more effective organizational skills, and improve relationships.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) may be helpful to children with high-functioning autism. CBT is based on the idea that the way a person thinks or feels affects the way they behave. The goal of cognitive behavioral therapy is to identify and change maladaptive thought patterns in order to cope more effectively with difficult situations. This approach may be helpful in the treatment of children with autism who experience anxiety and depression.

Family Therapy
Family Therapy is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on improving relationships among family members. A lack of knowledge about the nature of autism can be a source of frustration. In Family Therapy, problems related to autism are explained, and family members are taught specific ways of helping and providing emotional support to the child.

Autism Services

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the term that health professionals use when talking about autism. The word “spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms and severity of the disorder, including high functioning autism. The Mayo Clinic provides an excellent description of the behavioral problems that are typical of autism:

“A child or adult with autism spectrum disorder may have problems with social interaction and communication skills, including any of these signs:

• Fails to respond to his or her name or appears not to hear you at times
• Resists cuddling and holding, and seems to prefer playing alone, retreating into his or her own world
• Has poor eye contact and lacks facial expressions
• Doesn’t speak or has delayed speech, or loses previous ability to say words or sentences
• Can’t start a conversation or keep one going, or only starts one to make requests or label items
• Speaks with an abnormal tone or rhythm and may use a singsong voice or robot-like speech
• Repeats words or phrases verbatim, but doesn’t understand how to use them
• Doesn’t appear to understand simple questions or directions
• Doesn’t express emotions or feelings and appears unaware of the feelings of others
• Doesn’t point at or bring objects to share interest
• Inappropriately approaches a social interaction by being passive, aggressive, or disruptive
• Has difficulty recognizing nonverbal cues, such as interpreting other people’s facial expressions, body postures, or tone of voice”
(Source of information: The Mayo Clinic)

“A child or adult with autism spectrum disorder may have limited, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities, including any of these signs:

• Performs repetitive movements, such as rocking, spinning, or hand flapping
• Performs activities that could cause self-harm, such as biting or head-banging
• Develops specific routines or rituals and becomes disturbed at the slightest change
• Has problems with coordination or has odd movement patterns, such as clumsiness or walking on toes, and has odd, stiff or exaggerated body language
• Is fascinated by details of an object, such as the spinning wheels of a toy car, but doesn’t understand the overall purpose or function of the object
• Is unusually sensitive to light, sound or touch, yet may be indifferent to pain or temperature
• Doesn’t engage in imitative or make-believe play
• Fixates on an object or activity with abnormal intensity of focus
• Has specific food preferences, such as eating only a few foods, or refusing foods with certain texture”
(Source of information: The Mayo Clinic)

The Cleveland Clinic describes some of the behavioral issues that are common in older children with autism:

• “Has trouble understanding what others mean; for example, they might not recognize sarcasm
• Doesn’t initiate social interactions
• Has difficulty mixing spoken words and body language
• Has a hard time building relationships with peers
• Gets along more easily with younger children or grown-ups
• Has difficulty seeing something from someone else’s point of view
• Doesn’t understand certain social rules such as greetings or personal space
• Repeats certain words from books, movies, or TV shows
• Strongly prefers familiar routines or patterns of behavior
• Has intense or highly focused interests, such as certain topics or collections”
(Source of information: The Cleveland Clinic)

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder are more likely than others to have additional problems such as:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Low self-esteem
• Learning problems and academic underachievement
• Oppositional and defiant behavior
• Sleep issues
• Eating disorders

How is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Diagnosed?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be diagnosed by a psychologist, developmental behavioral pediatrician, child psychiatrist, pediatric neurologist, or other qualified physician. Making a diagnosis will often include the following:
• Descriptions of the child’s behavior and development provided by parents and caregivers
• Observations of the child’s behavior by one or more highly qualified professionals
• Neuropsychological Testing
• Behavioral criteria described in the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association

How is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Treated?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is treated with a number of therapeutic approaches, including the following:

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a highly regarded treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It is used for all levels of severity on the autism spectrum. ABA is a learning-based approach that is designed to teach children and adults how to reduce or eliminate maladaptive patterns of behavior and learn skills that are necessary for success in life. ABA is used to teach social skills, reduce anxiety, manage emotions, help with learning problems and academic underachievement, and treat sleep issues and eating disorders.

Life Skills Training
Life Skills Training uses methods of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to teach children with high functioning autism to cope effectively with the demands and challenges of life. Life skills include decision-making and problem-solving, coping with difficult emotions and stress, self-awareness, and the development of empathy.

Social and Interpersonal Skills Training
Social and Interpersonal Skills Training is a type of Life Skills Training that helps children with autism learn conversational skills, as well as non-verbal communication through eye contact, facial expressions, and body language.

Parent Training
Parent training is a type of behavior therapy that teaches parents and other caregivers specific techniques for reducing their child’s problem behavior and replacing it with behavioral skills that lead to increased success at school, at home, and in important relationships.

Behavioral Self-Management Training
Behavioral Self-Management Training uses specific methods of instruction and practice to increase independence and teach new skills. For children who are high functioning on the autism spectrum, this training is also used to reduce anxiety, manage anger, develop more effective organizational skills, and improve relationships.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) may be helpful to children with high-functioning autism. CBT is based on the idea that the way a person thinks or feels affects the way they behave. The goal of cognitive behavioral therapy is to identify and change maladaptive thought patterns in order to cope more effectively with difficult situations. This approach may be helpful in the treatment of children with autism who experience anxiety and depression.

Family Therapy
Family Therapy is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on improving relationships among family members. A lack of knowledge about the nature of autism can be a source of frustration. In Family Therapy, problems related to autism are explained, and family members are taught specific ways of helping and providing emotional support to the child.