Dani Gillman
Therapy Tips
Seven Unconventional Autism Therapies You Should Know About
Autism Therapy.... These two words can have very different meanings. What really is autism therapy? The most common and highly regarded Autism therapies are- Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)
- speech therapy
- occupational therapy
1. Diet
Diet is one of the first things many families try when they consider alternative therapies. There are many different diets that focus on eliminating foods that might aggravate or upset the gut. Many families find that once a child’s digestive system is functioning better, a child’s overall well-being improves. The most common diets are Gluten Free/Dairy Free, Feingold Diet, and Specific Carbohydrate Diet.2. Melatonin
Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that works to regulate the sleep cycle. It’s estimated that more than half of all children with Autism also struggle with sleep issues. Many families find that adding melatonin to their child’s nighttime routine helps their children to both fall and stay asleep better.3. Floortime Play Therapy
Floortime Play Therapy is a technique which encourages parents to literally get on the floor and engage with their children at the child’s level and interest. Beginning by focusing on self-regulation, Floortime aims to increase emotional functioning and social interaction.4. Nutritional Therapy
Nutritional Therapy in the form of nutritional supplements. Many children with autism have difficulty processing everyday toxins and can benefit from supplements aimed at natural detoxification. As well, many children have been found to be deficient in different vitamins and minerals. The most common nutritional support used by families with autism is probiotics, aiming to control and heal the gut-related issues that plague so many children on the spectrum.5. Music Therapy
Music Therapy is an evidence-based therapy that helps to strengthen a child’s abilities, as well as transfer those abilities to other parts of their lives. This can be implemented with any child, regardless of musical ability or perceived talent.6. NeuroFeedback
NeuroFeedback works to train people to control their brainwave patterns by letting them observe their brain activity in a more direct manner. In its most traditional form, EEG electrodes feed into a computer that controls a game-like audiovisual display. People can “see” their brain waves and focus on controlling their thoughts. It’s been called a therapy of “thinking about thinking”.7. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy provides pressurized oxygen increasing blood flow and oxygen to the brain. It’s known to decrease inflammation and is often used therapeutically for cerebral palsy, dementia, and traumatic brain injury, and other disorders of the central nervous system. While more studies are needed to determine the long-term effects of some of these therapies, they have been widely regarded as safe and effective for many families. Some are easy to begin, such as diet and nutritional therapy, while others can be expensive and time-consuming like hyperbaric therapy. While it’s natural for families to want to try a new therapy that might help their child, remember to discuss all therapies with your child’s physician before starting any new regimen.
