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Recovery from autism may be possible even in the absence of autism therapy.
This case study describes a five year old male child who recovered from autism in 13 days without any intervention. The boy had an IQ of 25 to 30 and no speech. The boy’s family was loving and the boy was not deprived. The boy recovered while he was in the hospital and being watched by the authors of the study. The authors do not know why or how the child recovered.
Imitating musical play routines of children with autism may help increase their social interactions.
Imitation is an important way for infants and children to learn to interact socially with other people. Four children (5-8 years old) with autism were given musical instruments that matched ones the therapist had. They used tambourines, castanets, blocks, rhythm sticks, and maracas to imitate simple lively music. The music therapist gave either verbal praise or imitated the child's actions when the child played, danced, and/or sang. When the music therapist imitated the children's behavior, the children were more active and responded to the therapist.
Children with autism can be taught to use gestures when communicating.
While some children with autism can copy a gesture if told to do so, they don't often copy gestures in normal settings. This study looked at whether reciprocal imitation training (RIT) could be used to teach preschool-aged children with autism to make gestures. All five young children in the study increased their use of gestures after RIT. The children who were able to copy gestures at the start of the study were the ones who made the most progress at the end of the study. At the end of the study many of the children were able to use some gestures on their own in normal settings (generalize).
Older children with autism (9 years old) can be taught to speak spontaneously using Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). This study was designed to improve ABA so that it is most effective at teaching children with autism to speak spontaneously. The study included six children who were mostly nonverbal. The therapists used ABA to teach the children to state what another child was doing. Some of the children needed to be asked by the therapist to state the action, whereas others learned to state the action spontaneously. Unfortunately, the study was limited to two actions: playing ball, and sleeping.
Jstar, an Atlanta-based comedian, brought an improvisation (improv) workshop to kids with autism in Michigan. The workshop was part of Go Comedy’s Spontaneous Motor City improv festival. In the three years, he has worked with kids with autism, Jstar says the skills required for improv – the ability to work on stage with others – has helped develop social skills, communication, and emotions. He started his program at The Basement Theater when a colleague brought a child with autism in for acting lessons; the friend said her grandson wasn’t fitting into traditional youth theatre.
Read original article: Unique Workshop for Kids with Autism Comes to Ferndale
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Re: NEWS - Improv Workshop Helps Kids with Autism with Their Social Skills
Aug 24, 2011 by AnonymousThank you so much for mentioning the Shenanigans class that Jstar conducted recently in the Detroit area. To give a little more insight, Jstar owns his own theater and co-produces the Spontaneous Combustion - Motor City improv festival. He was excited to discover an opportunity to also bring Shenanigans to some new faces in Detroit. It sounds like the kiddos had a wonderful time!
My grandson, diagnosed with Asperger's, is the inspiration for Shenanigans, when, several years ago, I struggled to find a way to help his social growth. After much research, I came across improvisational theatre, saw a good fit for the skills I wanted to target, and couldn't find a similar program here in Atlanta or anywhere. So I decided to develop a program and find someone involved in improv theatre who could get excited about my vision and help me move it forward. I found Jstar and brought him on as my charter instructor in 2009, and he has been an enthusiastic champion for Shenanigans ever since.
Shenanigans is an applied improv theatre program targeting those with special needs, especially Asperger's, high-functioning autism, and related conditions. We use the process of learning improvisational theatre games and exercises to work on social skills by unveiling the mysteries of human interaction. The main tenet of improv, "Say Yes, and..." teaches our students better adapting skills when the unexpected pops up, and flexibility to deal with those changes and move forward.
With our growing team of instructors, the Shenanigans program has spread throughout the metro Atlanta area. We are now reaching beyond our home city to bring the Shenanigans-style approach to others who are interested.
I am always eager to talk more about our wonderful program and the benefits our actors receive from their participation.
Sandy Bruce, Founder & Exec Dir, Shenanigans (www.ShenanigansImprov.com - on Facebook: /ShenanigansImprov)
Yoga
Apr 12, 2007 by AnonymousYoga is being used as alternative therapy for children with autism.
For information about one such program in Bangalore, India, visit the Web site of the SGS Vagdevi Center (http://www.vagdevi.org/).
"Using Yoga Therapy (YT) to increase communication, social and cognitive skills in children with autistic spectrum disorders". Presented at the National Seminar on Indian Psychology, Bangalore, 27th December
Abstract: The growing number of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD), along with treatment studies suggesting substantial gains when treatment is provided at a very early stage, has led to the development of Datta Methodology for Enhancing Learning (DMEL). (DMEL abstract annexure.) DMEL was introduced in 1996 at Vagdevi Integrated School at pre-primary level with 75 children diagnosed as having one or other form of communication disorders. 6 children with ASD were treated exclusively using DMEL for a period of one year. The result indicates that children under this program have demonstrated spontaneous communication, reciprocal social interaction and reduced to restricted, repetitive and stereo typed behaviors and were ready to be mainstreamed. Throughout the study, the family was involved especially during yoga therapy (YT) sessions. Involving family in the study enabled children to transfer the skills learnt from school to home. In this article an attempt has been made to introduce DMEL as an alternate treatment procedure for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Learning Disabilities (LD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
The Earlier the Better: Interventions that Benefit Children with Autism
Sep 23, 2006 by AnonymousFound a great article on a recent OSEP-funded study by the National Research Council that states, "Early intervention and a coordinated program of instructional strategies are key to progress for children with autism spectrum disorders. http://ericec.org/osep/newsbriefs/news21.html.
Here's what the services are essentional to early intervention: