Research summaries for autism therapy: environment

definition of environment: All parts that make up an area surrounding something. Environment can include the environment outside, such as the air, ground, plants, and other parts of the outdoors. Environment can also refer to things inside, such as a classroom environment that includes teachers, other children, and books.
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Environmental Fit: A Model for Assessing and Treating Problem Behavior Associated with Curricular Difficulties in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Summarized Jan 13, 2010

Children with autism may have fewer behavior problems when they are in an environment where they can successfully complete tasks.

A child with autism who has a good environmental fit is in an environment that is geared toward their abilities. With a good fit, they may have more success with motor (movement) and academic (e.g. reading) tasks. This study asked whether environmental fit was related to problem behaviors for 6 children with autism (4 to 13 years old). The authors said that children with autism who had good environmental fit had fewer problem behaviors. They also completed more tasks correctly, and they felt better overall. The authors said that matching activities with current skill levels may help lower problem behaviors for children with autism.

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Environment Enrichment Alters Locomotor Behavior and Ventricular Volume in Mecp21lox Mice, Summarized Feb 9, 2009

An enriched environment may help young children to overcome some of the symptoms of autism.

Scientists have created a mouse model of Rett syndrome (a genetic form of autism). This mouse study looked to see if mice with Rett syndrome/autism are helped by being in fancy large cages with shavings, tunnels, climbing ladders, and a running wheel, all of which were changed weekly (enriched environment). The authors found that the fancy cages improved behavior and brain structure in normal mice and mice with autism. The brains of mice in the fancy cages were larger and had more neuronal connections and more brain growth factors when compared to the brains of mice in the normal cages. The mice in the fancy cages also moved more than the mice in the plain cages. Read more...

Social Skills Training for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Summarized Jan 16, 2009

Social skills therapy may be an important part of any autism therapy plan.

This review articles describes the research behind social skills therapy for children with autism. Social skills include learned behaviors that help one person to engage with another person. There are five things that may cause social skill problems: 1) lack of knowledge, 2) lack of practice or feedback, 3) lack of cues, 4) lack of response, and/or 5) problem behaviors that get in the way. There are five types of social skills therapies: 1) changes in the environment, 2) teaching the child social skills, 3) teaching the child other skills such as play skills, 4) peer groups, and 5) programs that include all of the above. This article focuses on social skills therapy programs that teach the child with autism. Read more...

Nutritional and Environmental Approaches to Preventing and Treating Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Review, Summarized Mar 14, 2008

Many studies have been done that suggest that changing diet and giving supplements may help in the treatment of autism.

About 40-80% of children with autism also have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Behavior therapies such as applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy and drug therapy can both be useful interventions in the treatment of autism and/or ADHD. This review article reviewed scientific studies on the role of nutrition and environment in the treatment of autism and ADHD. Some studies have found that special diets can help children with autism and/or ADHD. The authors believe that many different treatments will likely be needed to treat patients with autism and ADHD. Read more...

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Synonyms for environment include: ecological variation
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