Healing Thresholds Autism Therapy Topic Feed

College Adds Seminar that Focuses on Educating Kids with Autism

scottie — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:54:30 +0000

Teaser:

The Miller College Institute is offering a seminar to teachers on evidence-based teaching methods for children with autism.

Body:

The Miller College Institute is offering a seminar to teachers on evidence-based teaching methods for children with autism. This Michigan college seminar doesn’t focus on a single method of teaching, but on an understanding of autism. Educators are then asked to use their own teaching skills to work with the kids. The participants are also encouraged to exchange ideas with one another. Another focus is on helping children communicate and learn using more visual methods. The course is geared towards general education teachers who work with developmentally delayed children, but is open to anyone involved with autism.

Read original article: New Miller College Seminar Aids in Autism Battle

Cognitive-Behavior Therapy Computer Game Engages Children with Autism

scottie — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:11:29 +0000

Teaser:

Paul O’Donoghue has written an article highlighting study on use of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for kids with autism.

Body:

Paul O’Donoghue, an Irish clinical psychologist, has written an article highlighting a study on use of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for kids with autism and other developmental delays. O’Donoghue first explains the difference between evidence-based therapy and alternative therapies. He then goes on to discuss a study using a computer game to teach evidence-based CBT to children who “otherwise find the usual therapeutic process boring or difficult.” Dr Gary O’Reilly of the School of Psychology at UCD led a team to develop a game that would provide feedback to behaviors in an attempt to increase positive behaviors and decrease negative ones. The game allows the children to visit a place called Gnattenborough’s Island where they are introduced to the main character, David Gnattenborough, who acts as a guide. The kids learn to recognize and deal with different emotions, for example, NATS (Negative Automatic Thoughts). The training is generic, but children keep a personalized diary on their progress. A CBT-trained therapist leads the game.

Solutions for Young Adults with Autism

scottie — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:21:58 +0000

Teaser:

Strive Community is New Jersey’s answer to what one mom calls “a tsunami” of children with autism who will reach adulthood in the next few years.

Body:

Strive Community is New Jersey’s answer to what one mom calls “a tsunami” of children with autism who will reach adulthood in the next few years. Strive provides an adult day program that uses evidence-based, best practice therapies for autism. They are utilizing applied behavior analysis (ABA) techniques from the Princeton Child Development Institute, who offers both a day program and group homes. Strive was founded by parents who are using their personnel expertise to bring the center as well as a bookstore to fruition. [words] Maplewood’s Bookstore provides an inclusive and intellectual environment for adults with autism.

Read original article: Locals Prepare for "Tsunami" of Adults with Autism

The Brain Trainer is Evidence-Based Training and Speech Therapy Center

scottie — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:12:44 +0000

Teaser:

The Millers, parents of a son with autism, could not find any therapy that worked for their son until they discovered The Brain Center.

Body:

The Millers, parents of a son with autism, could not find any therapy that worked for their son until they discovered The Brain Center. Founded by Dr. Vicki Parker, The Brain Center works with children and adults to improve areas of the brain including speech, focus, memory, attention span, auditory, and visual processing. Parker has over 25 years experience as a speech pathologist with a focus on neurological disorders. Each child is assessed and an individual program formed. The Miller’s son works on his cognitive learning skills: “tangrams - shape-based puzzles - playing matching games, learning to track something with his eyes and how to focus on tasks and instructions.” Even though their son continues with special education classes, The Brain Trainer integrates a more individualized treatment plan for him.

Read original article: Center Helps Your Brain Work Better

Responding to applied behavior analysis (ABA)

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 23:09:13 +0000

ABA is good for teaching discrete skills to kids with autism. Actually, there are conflicting analyses of the ABA effectiveness literature....and generalization is still a major challenge. ANd, with ABA, a teacher can focus entirely on nonfunctional skills in isolation with ABA.

THere is now growing evidence of the usefulness of developmental interventions for kids on the spectrum, such as DIR. I think a combination of therapies, as DIR and ABA can help a child learn to read, for example, and also to relate and connect with other people.

Responding to Social Thinking

Sat, 18 Dec 2010 03:27:28 +0000

Social Thinking by WInner is a nice concept and great for therapists who need a recipe for treating social communication skills. However, much more research must be conducted in order to determine the true benefit of this curriculum, as well as to demonstrate that it is in fact evidence-based. Further, research should be conducted by outside parties---not just those who have developed the program.

Responding to Social Thinking

Sat, 18 Dec 2010 03:26:47 +0000

Georgia Mom Creates Support Group for Parents of Kids with Autism

scottie — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Davina Drakeley-Lever, a pediatric nurse in Georgia, who has a 5-year old with autism, realized that lots of parents who receive the diagnosis don’t know where to turn.

Body:

Davina Drakeley-Lever, a pediatric nurse in Georgia, who has a 5-year old with autism, realized that lots of parents who receive the diagnosis don’t know where to turn. Her son was eligible for BabyNet, the early intervention program in Georgia, and then continued to receive speech, OT, and adaptive behavior therapy in school. She has teamed with Dr. Caroline DiBattisto, a developmental behavioral pediatrician, to form a support group – Autism Spectrum Disorder Support and Resource Group or A-Team. The group will meet monthly and will provide evidence-based information and therapy resources for parents.

Read original article: Group will Share Autism Experiences

Applied Behavior Analytic Interventions for Children with Autism: A Description and Review of Treatment Research

scottie — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Title	Applied Behavior Analytic Interventions for Children with Autism: A Description and Review of Treatment Research
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Granpeesheh D, Tarbox J, Dixon DR
Journal Title	Annals of Clinical Psychiatry
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	21
Issue	3
Pages	162-173
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19758537
Teaser	It may help children with autism if psychiatrists learn about applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy and learn how to work with ABA therapists.
Full Text	It may help children with autism if psychiatrists learn about applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy and learn how to work with ABA therapists. Most autism therapies have not been studied using evidence-based scientific research. This article reviews ABA therapy for children with autism and the research that supports its use. The article also describes how ABA can be used with psychiatry. The authors note that the most gains are found when ABA is used 30 to 40 hours per week as per the early intensive behavioral intervention model. The early intensive behavioral intervention model is also known for working on all areas of functioning where the child has problems.

Systematic Review of Pharmacological Treatments in Fragile X Syndrome

scottie — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:22:59 +0000

Title	Systematic Review of Pharmacological Treatments in Fragile X Syndrome
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Rueda J-R, Ballesteros J, Tejada M-I
Journal Title	BMC Neurology
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	9
Pages	53-64
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19822023
Teaser	There is no good evidence to support the use of pharmacological treatments or supplements in people with Fragile X Syndrome in general or those with a diagnosis of Fragile X Syndrome and autism.
Full Text	There is no good evidence to support the use of pharmacological treatments or supplements in people with Fragile X Syndrome in general or those with a diagnosis of Fragile X Syndrome and autism. This article reviews the research on drug therapy for the treatment of symptoms of Fragile X Syndrome. Most of the studies that they reviewed were very small and therefore it was hard for the studies to see an effect from the drug if such an effect did exist. Most of the studies were also poorly designed. The authors noted that a poorly designed folic acid study showed promise that folic acid supplements (10 mg/day) may raise the IQ of young children with Fragile X syndrome. One small study showed found methylphenidate to be helpful for children with Fragile X syndrome, but the study was short and poorly designed.