April is both Autism Awareness Month and Occupational Therapy Month — and it couldn’t be a more fitting duo of observances, as occupational therapy (OT) is a critical component of treatment for many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior.
To be diagnosed with ASD, a person would have demonstrated difficulties with three areas of functioning: social interaction, communication and restrictive/repetitive patterns.
“Symptoms may be present as early as 16 to 18 months of age,” says Jesse Ausec, a certified occupational therapist with Beaufort Memorial HealthLink for Children. “They can include speech and language difficulties, such as the absence or delay of speech, difficulty with normal back and forth conversation, inconsistency with eye contact, gestures and facial expressions, and repeating words and phrases.”
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Children with ASD may also:
- Avoid or seek different sensory experiences, such as not responding or over-responding to sounds, textures and movement
- Experience difficulty with imaginative and interactive play skills
- Have an unusual interest in specific topics, items or parts of toys
- Prefer routines and having things completed in a certain order or manner
- Visually inspect or admire objects or parts of objects
Screening for the disorder can begin when a child is as young as 18 months old. Parents can complete the free online questionnaire, The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised, or ask their child’s pediatrician to conduct an assessment. In addition, the STAT (Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children), an interactive, play-based screening may be recommended for children ages 24 to 36 months.
Children flagged “at-risk” by one or both of the screening tools will be referred for comprehensive diagnostic testing that includes observation of a series of activities as well as a variety of questionnaires and a caregiver interview. Occupational therapists with specialized training can complete both the screening tools as well as the comprehensive testing, and a diagnosis will be made based on the information garnered from all of the testing.
“It’s crucial to identify and diagnose ASD at an early age when the brain is more malleable and the opportunity is greatest for learning new skills,” Ausec says. “Think of a brand-new container of Play-Doh — while the ability to change the brain exists throughout an individual’s lifespan, early childhood is when the brain is most responsive to neuroplasticity, the ability to rewire, adapt and change the connections within the brain.”
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Early identification and diagnosis also provide a child with the opportunity to access a variety of services, including applied behavioral analysis and physical, speech and occupational therapies, designed to maximize the child’s skills and potential.
Occupational therapists are experts in the social, emotional and physiological effects of illness and help individuals of any age maximize their independence, safety and success by learning to complete necessary and meaningful daily activities, or “occupations.”
“For children, these activities might include playing and socializing with peers, completing school-related fine motor tasks, such as writing and scissor use, and completing self-care tasks, such as dressing, grooming and self-feeding,” Ausec says. “Pediatric OTs address all of these types of skills through fun, play-based activities.”
In older children and adults, occupations can include activities of daily living (bathing, dressing and grooming) as well as instrumental activities of daily living, which are more complex and include managing finances, driving, laundry, shopping and managing medications.
“Since ASD often interferes with a child’s ability to successfully engage in a wide range of daily tasks, OT plays a critical role in helping the child obtain his or her maximum potential,” Ausec says.
If you believe your child shows signs, symptoms and/or behaviors consistent with ASD or may require skilled OT intervention, you can find the help you need at Beaufort Memorial HealthLink for Children in Bluffton and Beaufort.
To learn more and schedule ASD screening/diagnostic testing and a variety of therapeutic disciplines, including occupational, physical and speech therapies, call HealthLink at 843-522-5900.