Research summaries for autism therapy: occupational therapy (OT)

definition of occupational therapy (OT): Type of therapy that focuses on helping people with autism learn functional physical skills that involve using their muscles. These skills may include writing, riding a bike, or catching a ball. Occupational therapists may also provide sensory integration therapy to children with autism and/or sensory integration disorder.
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Can Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) Help Children with Asperger’s Syndrome to Master Social and Organizational Goals?, Summarized Oct 23, 2008

Teaching children with autism "how to think" and not "what to think" may help them gain social and problem-solving skills.

Many children with Asperger syndrome have poor social skills and rigid thinking styles that make it hard for them to organize their day. This paper describes two boys (aged 10-12) with Asperger syndrome who received a type of occupational therapy known as cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance (CO-OP). This approach to occupational therapy helped both boys to master social skills as well as organizational skills. The children and the mothers all noticed that these skills improved. Both boys generalized their plans into the home and (to a lesser extent) the school. Read more...

A Sensory Integration Therapy Program on Sensory Problems for Children with Autism, Summarized Aug 11, 2008

Sensory integration therapy may play an important role in autism therapy programs.

Sensory problems include problems with touch and balance. Some studies have shown that sensory integration therapy may result in fewer temper tantrums and increased activity. Sensory integration therapy may also help improve motor and play skills. This study was designed to create a sensory integration therapy program for children with autism. The authors found that sensory problems of the children with autism improved after sensory integration therapy. Read more...

Sensational Stars with Autism, Summarized Jun 19, 2008

Sensory integration therapy may help some children with autism.

This article describes sensory processing disorder and the sensory integration therapy and occupational therapy that can be used to treat it. Sensory processing happens when the brain takes in messages and converts them into something with meaning that allows for a response. Children who have trouble with sensory processing often also have trouble communicating. Families can be an important part of sensory integration therapy by giving the child the many sensory experiences that create a rich sensory diet. Sensory activities can happen during mealtime, bath time, and bed time. Read more...

Pharmacological Treatment Options for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Children and Adolescents, Summarized May 20, 2008

About one third of children with autism receive either drug therapy or vitamin therapy.

This review article describes drug therapies that are used to treat the symptoms of autism. In most cases, treatment for autism begins with behavioral therapy such as applied behavior analysis (ABA) and also includes basic therapies such as occupational therapy and speech therapy. In some cases, children with autism have symptoms that get in the way of these different therapies. Thus, drug therapies are used not to treat the core features of autism, but to relieve symptoms that get in the way of other interventions. While there are many drugs out there that can be used, more research is needed. Read more...

Showing 17-20 of 40 results

Synonyms for occupational therapy (OT) include: occupation therapy, occupational, occupational therapist, occupational therapy, occupational training, OT
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