Navigating Autism with Behavioral Therapy: A Comprehensive Guide

What is the best treatment for our child? What else can we do? It must have crossed your mind countless times as the parent of a child with autism. Or what kinds of therapies are available for a child with autism?

In a series of articles about the various autism treatments and how they might lessen symptoms, enhance cognitive function and daily living skills, and maximize an autistic child's ability to function and participate in the community, GodsOwnChild aims to provide some of the answers to these questions.

The biggest difficulty and worry for doctors when treating an autistic child is that there is no one therapy that can be effective for all children. Behavioral therapy is seen as the most effective treatment because it will aid in the development of their social skills. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Research Council both released research that found that behavior and communication strategies that support children with ASD also involve the child's family and give the child structure, order, and direction.

Children with ASD have distinctive strengths and limitations in social communication, conduct, and cognitive capacity since ASD impacts people differently.

Types of autism treatment available in India 

• Behavior analysis
• Social skills training
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Sensory integration therapy
• Use of assistive technology

Among these, applied behavior analysis (ABA) is now widely employed in schools and treatment facilities and is widely approved by medical professionals.

Applied behavior analysis

To help your child acquire a range of skills, ABA promotes positive behaviors while discouraging negative ones.

There are various behavioral therapy types, including:

• Applied behavior analysis: It's a very organized, scientific strategy that fosters play, communication, self-care, academic, and social living abilities while reducing harmful behaviors.
• Verbal behavior therapy:  Applied behavior therapy of this kind teaches autistic children who are not vocal how to communicate.
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy: The therapist offers helpful solutions. This helps with issues like excessive fear or anxiety, which are frequent in people with autism.
• Developmental and individual differences relationship: With this form of therapy, parents and therapists can involve their kids in activities that they all find enjoyable.
• Relationship development intervention: Setting objectives for the growth of interpersonal engagement abilities, such as empathy and general motivation to interact with others, is aided by this therapy for autism.
• Although behavioral treatment is the best for an autistic person's skill development, other therapies like speech and occupational therapy can also aid in skill development; therefore, it is not necessary for everyone.
• The most effective method for helping children with autism gain abilities remains behavioral treatment, whether time and effort are spent inside or outside of the classroom.