Main treatments for autism (and how to care for the child)

The treatment of autism, although it does not cure this syndrome, is able to improve communication, concentration and decrease repetitive movements, thus improving the quality of life of the autistic himself and also of his family.

For an effective treatment, it is recommended that it be done with a team composed of a doctor, physiotherapist, psychotherapist, occupational therapist and speech therapist, who indicate specific therapies for each patient, and often must be done for a lifetime. In addition, there are news about food care and activities such as music therapy, which can contribute greatly to the improvement of symptoms.

Thus, some important strategies for the treatment of autism, whether in mild or severe cases, include:

1. Remedies

Although there are no specific remedies to treat and cure autism, the doctor may recommend medications that can combat symptoms related to autism such as aggression, hyperactivity, compulsiveness and difficulty in dealing with frustration, such as clozapine, risperidone and aripiprazole.

2. Food

Some foods tend to improve or worsen the symptoms of autism, so it is important to be aware of what your child is eating. Foods that should not be eaten include milk and its derivatives because it contains casein, industrialized and with dyes, giving preference to organic foods, bought at the fair, rich in antioxidants and omega 3. See how food can improve autism .

3. Speech therapy

Follow-up with the speech therapist is important to improve the verbal communication of the autistic person with the world. During the sessions, several exercises are performed that can help the child to increase his vocabulary and improve his voice intonation, and games and games can be performed to attract the child's attention.

4. Music therapy

Music helps the autistic person to understand emotions, increasing his interaction with the world around him. The goal is not to learn to sing or play any instrument, it is only important to know how to listen and express yourself through the sounds that the instruments can produce and also through dance movements, for example, in a light and relaxed environment. Discover other benefits of music therapy for autistic people.

5. Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy must be guided by the psychologist and can be carried out alone or in a group, with weekly meetings. In it, behavioral therapy can be used, for example, which can help to dress yourself.

6. Psychomotricity

It can be guided by a specialist physiotherapist and during the sessions several games and games can be performed that can help the child to focus his attention on only one thing at a time, to tie his shoes, contributing to a better control of movements, fighting against repetitive movements, which are common in case of autism.

7. Hippotherapy

Horse therapy is very useful for improving the body's straightening reaction, when the child is on top of the animal, motor coordination, breathing control and developing the autistic's self-confidence. Sessions generally last between 30 minutes and 1 hour. Learn more about hippotherapy.

How to care for the autistic child at home

Some important precautions that should be taken at home to improve the quality of life of the autistic are:

• Observe if the child has any special talent, because many autistic people have an aptitude for mathematics, music, drawing or computing, for example;
• Respect routines, as the autistic person does not tolerate changes well;
• Avoid having unnecessary furniture and objects at home, to protect them from accidents;
• Develop good sleep habits, respecting bedtime, with less bright lights and light meals before going to bed.

Another important tip is to avoid places like snack bars and supermarkets, because for the autistic person there are many stimuli in these places, which bother him like very bright lights, loudspeakers announcing the day's offers, someone coughing and babies crying, for example. As time goes by, parents become aware of what the child tolerates or does not and as soon as they feel safe they can take the child to these places.

The autistic person can attend school like any other child, not needing special education, but this depends on the degree of autism. However, in the most severe cases of autism, the child may find it more difficult to accompany his classmates, generating symptoms such as anxiety and irritability, which can compromise learning. For this reason, some parents choose to enroll their children in the special school or hire teachers to teach the child at home.

Parents of the autistic person should have, from time to time, a day of rest to renew their strength because only then will they be able to offer the best for their children.

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