Sensational Kidz: Speech Therapy Autism

Sensational Kidz: Speech Therapy Autism

Pediatric Health The Newsletter About Taking Care Of The Ones That Matter Most

September 2018

“The School Year Can Be Scary For Your Child!” SENDING A CHILD WITH AUTISM BACK TO SCHOOL

Autism spectrum conditions show a wide range of symptoms and severity in their presentation, but common aspects are developmentally poor motor skills, difficulties coping with change and labored social interaction. Direct and consistent behavioral therapy, both physical and social, is extremely important in helping children overcome the challenges presented by their autism spectrum condition. Earlier therapies are shown to be far more effective as well as the consistency of those therapies. Summer vacation, with its break from the school routine, can lead to setbacks if not handled properly and the transition can represent a host of serious challenges for children on the

autism spectrum. (continued inside)

Inside: • Sending A Child With Autism Back To School

• Speech-Language Therapy

• Patient Spotlight

Pediatric Health The Newsletter About Taking Care Of The Ones That Matter Most

September 2018

“Regain A Stable Routine During The School Year!” SENDING A CHILD WITH AUTISM BACK TO SCHOOL

At the end of a several-month summer vacation, children on the autism spectrum are faced with a change to their routine, increased demands for social interaction and different physical requirements such as sitting during class or participating in sports. Pediatric occupational and physical therapy is a very powerful tool in helping children to overcome these challenges and cope with the return to school. Let’s examine three aspects of autism that can be treated through pediatric occupational and physical therapy. The Role of Routine. Summer time often represents an unhealthy break from routine for children on the autism spectrum. Occupational and physical therapy can help them to regain a stabilizing routine before they step back into the classroom and help them to continue to succeed once classes have begun. It is important to schedule their visits at regular intervals and let them grow comfortable and familiar with their pediatric occupational physical therapist. It is also important for parents to become involved and help them to continue the therapies on a schedule at home as well. Waking routines, eating routines and summer-study routines are all helpful alongside the direct therapy to be pursued since the autistic brain thrives on consistent routine. The Role of Social Interaction. Parents should search for opportunities to provide safe, controlled social interaction for their children on the autism spectrum so that the return to school doesn’t come as a shock. Teachers often note a significant regression of their students on the autism spectrum in their social skills and ability to interact in the first

weeks of school because the behaviors that come easily to other students are difficult to learn and retain in the case of autism. In the absence of classes, pediatric physical therapy can help provide social interaction but depending on the child and the form of autism, more social interaction should be sought to scaffold their cognitive development. The Role of Occupational and Physical Therapy. Many parents think of autism spectrum conditions as simply a disorder of the brain and sensory system, but this is not true. Far more than many other conditions, the brain-body connection is central to autism. Poor motor skills are a strong indicator of autism spectrum disorder and physical/occupational therapy tailored for autism brain patterns is incredibly important to develop lagging motor skills like picky eating, and even improve cognitive function. In most cases, occupational therapy can help with children with picky eating which is due to sensory and a number of other reasons. These therapies should be started as early as possible, but it is never too late. Some are simple exercises of coordination, tossing balls and taking the body through certain motions while others are more complex therapies that link kinesthetic learning with autism’s specific challenges. Occupational and Physical therapy before heading back to school can both improve cognitive function and help students focus on the differing demands of the school environment. Occupational therapy can also address the increased sensorial stimulation that will accompany a return to the classroom. To learn more about how we can help your child return to school, call our office today!

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SPEECH-LANGUAGE THERAPY

Speech-language pathologists are professionals trained to help children most effectively and functionally communicate their wants and needs, and manage the challenges of feeding and swallowing. Neuromotor and sensory-based techniques are utilized to compliment traditional speech therapies in order to promote improved language, speech, and feeding skills. The strategies used help to support progress across a variety of emotional conditions and ensure generalization and carryover into the home, school and in the community. Our speech therapy team can evaluate and treat the following skill areas: • Receptive language skills • Expressive language skills – articulation, fluency, voice • Motor skills of speech (apraxia, dysarthria) • Pragmatic language and social skills • Feeding and swallowing skills • Oral-motor skills • Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) Teletherapy Telepractice is the application of telecommunications technology to the delivery of speech-language pathology and audiology professional services at a distance by linking clinician to client or clinician to clinician for assessment, intervention, and/or consultation. We are able to provide speech therapy services using this method for intervention and/or consultation. Please contact us at Fredericksburg and Woodbridge, VA centers for details on Teletherapy.

CALL USTODAYTO SCHEDULE ANAPPOINTMENT!

FREDERICKSBURG (540) 841-4443

WOODBRIDGE (540) 841-4443

Patient Spotlight

“I am grateful!” “Sensational KidzTherapy is a wonderful place. Easy to find on the internet. I was very pleased how quickly they offered us evaluations for our twins. Within just 3 weeks, we already scheduled our first sessions and the kids loved it. Both our twins love their therapists and we are already seeing huge improvement. The scheduling is so easy and we are happy that they have managed to schedule us for days that kids aren’t at school. We did speech and OT sessions and I am grateful that our therapists were so informative and gave lots of tips and advice on how to watch the kids at home.” - Ms. Berghauser

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Depending on their needs, children who have autism can receive a broad range of therapies. Typically, they include a combination of behavior therapy, speech- language therapy, occupational therapy, social skills training and sometimes feeding therapy. In addition, parents may receive training on how to work with their children at home. Ideally, parents, teachers and physical therapists will all work together to integrate their approaches across the child’s daily life. Behavioral therapies are the foundation of treatment for most children on the autism spectrum. Autism Speaks encourages parents and adults to pursue treatments that are evidence based and to seek early intervention (www.autismspeaks.org). For more information, contact us at Fredericksburg & Woodbridge, VA centers. Augmentative & Alternative Communication. What is AAC? AAC stands for augmentative and alternative communication. It includes all forms of communication that is not verbal speech, including gestures, facial expressions, signs, pictures, and symbols. AAC devices includes a variety of systems such as: • no/low-tech (i.e. signing, simple communication boards) • mid-tech (i.e. single message switches) • high-tech systems (i.e. speech generating devices with dynamic displays). • AAC devices can significantly increase an individual’s ability to communicate their wants and needs, social interaction, and improved feelings of self-worth. Occupational therapists work with children with autism and their families to provide intervention that improves the child’s ability to participate in activities of daily living, play and school. In occupational therapy, the focus is on task analysis, breaking down a task into manageable steps for the child, teaching those steps to the key people in the child’s environment and structuring task and/or environment to support successful completion. For example, if a child with autism is having difficulty dressing himself, the occupational therapist could use a backward chaining behavioral approach which teaches skills by breaking the tasks down into manageable steps which are always performed in the exact same order. Occupational therapists work as collaborative consultants, providing strategies for intervention to families, teachers, in order to develop a child’s skills within their natural environments. Occupational therapists also work to improve child’s feeding skills for children who have oral sensitivity, ABA THERAPY AND AUTISM

Who would benefit from AAC? • Individuals with severe communication disorder

• Individuals without consistent means of communication across settings, communication partners, or communicative functions (i.e. requesting, commenting, directing activities) •AACassists individualswithsignificantbehaviors,as itcanhelp reduce frequency and severity of challenging behavior.

diminished oral motor muscle tone and motor control to improve the child’s intake for a variety of foods. Occupational therapy can also address the increased sensory stimulation that will accompany a return to the classroom. To learn more about how we can help your child return to school, call our office today! As per MADSEC Report, treatment approaches grounded in ABA are now considered to be at the forefront of therapeutic and educational interventions for children with autism. The large amount of scientific evidence supporting ABA treatments for children with autism have led to a number of other independent bodies to endorse the effectiveness of ABA, including the U.S. Surgeon General, the New York State Department of Health, the National Academy of Sciences, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Global Behavior Therapy Associates (now know as Behavior Innovations) provides aba therapy services to children with autism in Northern Virginia (www.abatherapy.me). Do you know a child who needs therapy? Pass this on to a friend! Does Your Child Need Help with New Patients! Schedule a FREE Screening for Speech, Occupational & Physical Therapy Today!

speech, language, balance, feeding, physical therapy, walking, running, jumping, playing with others, or just being a kid?

SPECIALIZED JUST FOR YOUR CHILD

FREDERICKSBURG (540) 841-4443

WOODBRIDGE (540) 841-4443

Sensational Kidz Therapy can further assess your child’s needs. Contact us today! kidztherapy.org