How Occupational Therapy Can Help Children with Autism
Occupational therapy is a versatile treatment approach which helps many groups of people, including the elderly, those in rehabilitation from an injury or illness, and children and adults who experience autism. Occupational therapists can help children affected by autism learn how to better complete everyday tasks while also addressing the child’s unique sensory issues. Consider the ways an occupational therapist might be able to help you and your child with task completion and behavior management.
Sensory Processing & Occupational Therapy
Up to 80% of children affected by autism may also have difficulty with sensory processing. This may mean they are particularly sensitive to some sights, sounds, and sensations, or that they have trouble processing input from multiple senses at the same time. Many parents whose children are on the spectrum have observed behaviors which are giveaways for sensory processing issues, such as the child stiffening when being dressed, but they may not have made the connection that the texture of the fabric is distressing or even painful for their child.
Occupational therapists who work with children can identify when the child is having trouble processing or is distressed by sensory input and then help develop strategies for that child to cope with that stimulus. This way, the child is less likely to shut down or have other negative responses.
Other Benefits
In addition to helping a child cope with sensory issues, occupational therapy can help a child’s performance in everyday tasks. An occupational therapist helps a child learn skills like feeding himself, tying his shoes, and other self-care tasks which he may not have learned at the same time as his peers. Therapists also help children perform better in the classroom and improve their social development. They do this by observing the child’s areas of difficulty and helping devise strategies and techniques for the child to deal with those specific challenges.
If your child has autism, sensory processing disorder, or any other condition which could be helped by occupational therapy, turn to the therapists at Building Blocks Rehab in Fairbanks, AK. Serving interior Alaska and specializing in pediatrics, this rehabilitation center offers comprehensive therapy services all in one place, including physical, occupational, and speech therapies. They offer help with handwriting, socialization, sensory integration, and environmental adaptation. To schedule a visit, call
(907) 374-4911 or reach out online.