Therapists often ask me intervention strategies for autistic kids. In this blog, I am listing at least four key aspects that I am mindful of in my sessions. Read them carefully and ensure to use them all!
1. Speak SLOW and LOW: Did you know? Autistic children experience a ‘noisy’ brain throughout childhood compared to their typically developing peers! (Green et al., 2022)
Many autistic children experience auditory hypersensitivity and hyperacusis, which often causes sensory overload and emotional reaction to sensory input.
Therefore, clinicians and caregivers working with autistic individuals must be careful to lower their voices and the rate of their speech to help children process speech optimally.
2. Allow the child to take the lead: A significant challenge faced by most autistic kids - is flexible thinking. Giving the child the autonomy and opportunity to express themselves, will efficiently guide the course of a therapy session. For example, the child states what he wants to do first or what learning methods he prefers, when he is saturated etc.
When children are unable to clearly state what they want, therapists can follow their body movements, eye gaze, and other indicators to understand what they are communicating. Follow the child’s lead, it will keep children motivated from the inside and can help improve their sustained attention.
3. Set the child up for success: How many of us would like to work on a project or a task where we are consistently failing? Or with a supervisor who is constantly telling us what to do? If we don’t like that kind of a setting or experience then how can we do that to our autistic children?!
Setting the child up for success means that you deliberately start from where you are certain that the child will be successful. For example: instead of starting with four flashcards or objects, start with only one at a time. The child will certainly be successful in identifying it. From there, gradually increase the complexity of the task.
4. Apply your mind to the child’s mind: I learnt this phrase from Kim Barthel, an occupational therapist. It was a light glow moment for me! Here is what I made sense of it - see what they see, listen carefully, try to comprehend what they are probably thinking, and connect emotionally with the child.
The aformentioned has become a part of my life. But when I started off as a young practitioner, I didn't know any of them! Thankfully, I could learn them from my son, and the children and their parents I work with everyday!
At the start, you may not be able to apply all the above strategies right away and that’s alright. Set yourself up for success and start with one at a time.
Chitra Thadathil MSc (Sp&Hg)
Speech Language Pathologist
Founder & Director at Dimensions CCD
Mara nyingi wataalamu wa tiba hunuliza juu ya mbinu za kuingilia kati kwa watoto wenye ugonjwa wa akili. Katika blogi hii, ninaorodhesha angalau mambo manne muhimu ambayo ninazingatia katika vikao vyangu. Zisome kwa uangalifu na uhakikishe kwamba unatumia zote! 1. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli Sema polepole na kwa sauti ya chini: Je, ulijua? Watoto wenye ugonjwa wa akili hupata ubongo wenye "ngurumo" wakati wote wa utoto ikilinganishwa na wenzao wanaositawi kwa kawaida! Watoto wengi wenye autism wanapata hypersensitivity ya kusikia na hyperacusis, ambayo mara nyingi husababisha mzigo wa hisia na athari ya kihisia kwa pembejeo ya hisia. Kwa hiyo, madaktari na watunzaji wanaofanya kazi na watu wenye ugonjwa wa akili lazima wawe makini kupunguza sauti zao na kiwango cha hotuba yao ili kuwasaidia watoto kusindika hotuba kwa njia bora. 2. Uwezekano wa kupata Mruhusu mtoto aongoze: Tatizo kubwa linalokabiliwa na watoto wengi wenye ugonjwa wa akili - ni kufikiri kwa njia inayofaa. Kumpa mtoto uhuru na fursa ya kujieleza, kutaongoza kwa ufanisi mwendo wa kikao cha tiba. Kwa mfano, mtoto anasema nini anataka kufanya kwanza au ni mbinu gani za kujifunza anapendelea, wakati yeye ni saturated nk. Wakati watoto hawawezi kusema waziwazi wanataka nini, wataalamu wa matibabu wanaweza kufuatilia miendo ya mwili wao, macho yao, na dalili nyingine ili kuelewa kile wanachozungumza. Kufuata uongozi wa mtoto, itawafanya watoto waendelee kuhamasishwa kutoka ndani na inaweza kusaidia kuboresha umakini wao wa kudumu. 3. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli Msaidie mtoto wako afanikiwe: Ni wangapi kati yetu wangependa kufanya kazi ambayo sisi wenyewe tunashindwa kufanya? Au na msimamizi ambaye daima anatuambia nini cha kufanya? Kama hatupendi aina hiyo ya mazingira au uzoefu basi jinsi gani tunaweza kufanya hivyo kwa watoto wetu autistic?! Kumweka mtoto kwa mafanikio inamaanisha kwamba unaanza kwa makusudi kutoka mahali ambapo una uhakika kwamba mtoto atafanikiwa. Kwa mfano: badala ya kuanza na kadi nne au vitu, anza na moja tu kwa wakati mmoja. Bila shaka mtoto atafaulu kuitambua. Kuanzia hapo, ongeza hatua kwa hatua utata wa kazi hiyo. 4. Uwe na uhakika "Kumbuka kuwa ""mwanangu ni mtoto"" ni maneno ambayo Kim Bartel, mtaalamu wa matibabu ya kazi, aliwahi kusema." Ilikuwa wakati mzuri sana kwangu! "Hii ndiyo niliyoelewa: ""ona kile wanachoona, sikiliza kwa makini, jaribu kuelewa kile wanachofikiri, na uunganishe hisia na mtoto.""" Mambo yaliyotajwa hapo juu yamekuwa sehemu ya maisha yangu. Lakini nilipokuwa mchanga, sikujua yeyote kati yao! Kwa shukrani, niliweza kujifunza kutoka kwa mwana wangu, na watoto na wazazi wao ninaofanya kazi nao kila siku! Mwanzoni, huenda usiweze kutumia mikakati yote iliyotajwa hapo juu mara moja na hiyo ni sawa. Jitayarishe kwa ajili ya mafanikio na uanze na moja kwa wakati. Chitra Thadathil, M.Sc. (SpH) Speech Language Pathologist, Mwanzilishi na Mkurugenzi wa Dimensions CCD