FOR CHILDREN

Autism Spectrum Disorder

bt_bb_section_bottom_section_coverage_image

Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that results in impairments in social communication and interaction, as well as restrictive interests and behaviours. While some children with Autism could be highly gifted and independent in their daily living, others could be non-verbal and highly dependent on others for their functioning. Most children are diagnosed around the age of 2 or 3, though some children are diagnosed as early as 18 months.

Get in touch today

Symptoms of Autism

Signs and symptoms of Autism include:

Social skills deficits:

Does not respond to name
Avoids or fails to maintain eye contact
Does not show interest in interacting or playing with others
Unable to understand turn-taking
Unable to make friends and sustain friendships
Limited understanding of non-verbal communication shown by others

Language and communication deficits:

Delayed language and speech abilities
Repeats words and phrases over and over again
Lack of facial expressions and non-verbal communication
Talks in a sing-song or flat voice
Unable to engage in pretend play
Does not understand jokes or sarcasm

Unusual behaviours:

Engages in repetitive motions such as spinning self in circle or flapping hands
Gets upset quickly with small changes
Lines up toys or objects in the same manner and gets upset when order is changed
Plays with certain parts of objects, such as wheels or spinning parts
Has preoccupied and obsessive interests

There are many different forms of therapy available to manage the condition. One common approach is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), which is a form of Behavioral Therapy. ABA involves changing behaviour through understanding what occurs before and prior to the behaviour, encouraging desired behaviours and discouraging unwanted behaviours to build upon a variety of skills.

Get in touch today