Assist Autistic Children With Technological Gadgets

There are many ways to use technology that lead to benefits. Different technology has been available to help life quality. Children with autism and other developmental disabilities can find assistance when using technology. It can happen, but this is only earning some attention even though many are finding it useful.

Different types of technology are assisting children with autism. An example is augmentative communication systems. Using technology has shown to improve a variety of skills for these children including social interaction, motivation, attention, expressive communication, academic, self help, daily living and academic skills. They are also being assisted because they are earning a better understanding when it comes to their environment.

Another example is assistive technology. This is a product system, item or equipment that maintains, improves or increases function for the child. This modified or customized element is explained by the Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988. This service helps the individual directly. These children usually process information visually better than when using auditory skills. Therefore, assistive technology gives them visual information. It is something that can be used in their daily lives to help them function better.

Then there are the visual representation systems. These include realistic drawings, objects, line drawings, photographs and words that are provided through technology. The child that understands visual presentations will find this helpful. Everyone is different as are autistic children. They will appeal more differently to the various visual representation systems. It could be because they have various dependent factors including organization, motivation and more.

There is also the Picture Communication Symbol (PCS) which are drawings. This includes the 'Picture This' software program presenting photos minus clutter often brought about by the background. This program has 2,700 photos in categories. These categories include: games, following directions, reading activities, academic activities, sequence activities, schedule creating and augmentative communication systems. This technology is used to help teach the child with photographs as well as objects to help them understand various elements. It could be a black and white line drawing or a black and white picture, for examples. The idea is to make the picture bigger until the object is covered up.

Each child has their own way of dealing with their autism. It is important to find treatment to help them cope with their life to live fulfilling life. helping the children with assistance methods shows consistent improvement as they tend to process visual information better. Apart from that medicine, therapy and even physiotherapy helps to reduce the symptoms of autism. At least the twitching, flapping of limbs, repetitive movements are reduced. Some of the medication used includes anti-depressants and behavioral modification therapies to ensure that they can behave as normal as possible. However, there are no standard one-fit results as each child is different and the autism spectrum is wide.

Additionally, visual aids and technological gadgets have helped them get a better understanding of the environs while it helps to enhance social skills, academic learning improves while they develop organizational skills.

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Autism Treatment - Help Autistic Behaviors

Many children are diagnosed with autism, and it's important to have early and appropriate intervention. Once the diagnosis has been made, the parents, doctors, and specialists should discuss what is best for the child, and a form of autism treatment should be applied. In this article you will learn some of the best autism treatments that are available for an autistic person. As always, it's important to discuss the methods with your doctor before trying anything.

There a few different autism treatments that are available. They include communication therapy, change in behavior, dietary changes, and as a last resort, medication. Some types of medication have been known to have adverse results and possible side effects, so it's sometimes best to try natural remedies before resulting to medicine.

Communication Therapy

Some forms of autism make it hard for the person to communicate verbally, so language development is necessary. Speech therapy has been known to help patients get the ability to speak. Picture exchange communication systems, or (PECS) is an autism treatment that uses images that represent ideas, objects, or activities. The patient is able to forward the request, desires, and needs of others.

Behavior Modification

There are different methods of changing behavior, such as bad behavior, repetitive and aggressive behavior. Behavior modification will provide the skills necessary for people with autism to function in their environment. There is a theory called applied behavior analysis, or (ABA). This form of autism treatment simply states that behavior that is rewarded is likely to be repeated. Also, sensory integration therapy is a type of behavior modification that focuses on helping patients cope with autistic sensory stimuli.

Dietary Changes

By using dietary changes for autism treatment, it is possible to improve food tolerances or allergies that may contribute to problems for people with autism. Studies have shown that high levels of protein in wheat, oats, and rye can affect brain function. Elimination of these types of foods that contain gluten and casein may be a possible autism treatment, but the method is quite controversial. This should only be done with the advice from a health care professional.

Medications

Lastly, medications can be used as autism treatment, as well as help other diseases that can accompany autism, such as epilepsy. Anti-depressants have been used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive behavior and anxiety. They have been known to reduce the frequency of repetitive behaviors, irritability, tantrums and aggression. They've also been known to improve eye contact. However, there are side effects when using medication as a form of autism treatment. They include muscle aches, chills, sweats, insomnia, and vomiting.

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Autism: Communicating With PECS

When I first started teaching autistic children I was amazed with how easily those with non-communication skills usually adapted to PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System). While I had been trained to use the system it really did not mean much to me until I entered the classroom and put it into practice.

Most of you are aware of the PECS basics: in the classroom each student has his/her own communication board that has been plasticized (doing this gave it a much longer life and we were able to keep each one clean). My staff and I used pieces of construction paper, taped them together so each one was long enough to accommodate the number of icons we would use each day.

We then used the computer to choose the different icons we needed. Some of those, such as the bathroom, bus, and playground icons we printed in quantities; while others, such as cash register, office, and bicycle we printed in smaller quantities. Once they were ready we placed them on a piece of construction paper and plasticized them. We then put Velcro on the communication board, and the icons, so that one would attach to the other (the extra icons we made were put in an icon book so they were readily available when needed).

There were times we faced the problem of not being able to find an appropriate icon for a specific need. This happened sometimes when we took the children to a certain restaurant. We wanted to prepare them by placing the icon on their board so they would know what we were doing and where we were going once we left the classroom and started walking toward the office. Preparing the students with this information, in advance, often saved a tantrum or another behavior from a child who became anxious. We tried to be as creative as possible. Sometimes one of the paraprofessional educators had a strong artistic ability and could draw an appropriate picture that we turned into an icon. If we did not have an 'artist' in our classroom we would try to find a picture in a magazine or find a similar icon that we could adapt.

During my memorable years of teaching autistic children I always tried to convince parents that their child should have a similar communication board and icons in their home. This offered consistency and it also helped the child to understand what would be going on during the evening and on weekends. Often parents complained that they did not always know what they would be doing during the evening. One evening, they would say, they wanted to watch TV while another evening they wanted to go out to dinner. They said that the decision may not be made until minutes before the activity was selected. I tried to reinforce the fact that 'some' preparation, in advance, was better than no preparation. Others found the communication system to be 'bulky' or 'time-consuming.' This is true; however, using PECS can save a parent a lot of time by preventing melt-downs and anxious moments. The parents would also be concerned because the 'icon making program' is expensive. We tried to meet this situation by offering to make the icons for the family. Some families also discovered that some non-profits or governmental agencies would help purchase this for them. Also, there are some wonderful pictures you can download, for free, on the internet.

If you are open to the idea of making the transition of communication from home- to school-to home consistent - I strongly suggest you look into the PECS program for your non-communicative child. It offers your autistic child a way to communicate - and this opens a whole new world.

By Jack E. George

http://www.jackegeorge.com
http://www.theautismhandbook.com

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