The Top 5 Best Child Autism Therapy Techniques for Effective Treatment

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is a common neurodevelopmental disorder. Symptoms of ASD start early in life and are lifelong. Symptoms of Autism include social or communication differences, sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, and restricted interests. However, what these symptoms look like can vary extensively. For example, one child may be hyper-expressive and talkative, but another child may not communicate verbally.

Early detection and intervention are heavily recommended among experts. One of the reasons early detection matters is that kids with autism can often access essential services more easily once they’re diagnosed, such as therapy. That said, the type or types of treatment a child responds best to may depend on factors like their unique symptoms. 

So, what are your options, and how can they help with common ASD symptoms? Here are some of the top five therapy techniques for children with autism and how they may fit into your child's treatment plan.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Applied behavior analysis is a common and well-known type of therapy for autistic children. Applied behavior analysis, or ABA, uses behavior modification techniques like positive reinforcement to help kids meet specific goals. In ABA, a child's progress is tracked regularly by their therapy provider. ABA goals could relate to daily life skills, navigating social interactions, and replacing problem behaviors (e.g., behaviors that may harm oneself physically) with healthier behaviors that do not harm the child.

ABA therapy techniques for children with autism

In addition to other symptoms, autism is largely marked by differences in communication and social interaction. Examples of how this might manifest include but aren't limited to difficulty with reciprocity, understanding unspoken social rules, and interpreting modes of non-verbal communication like gestures and facial expressions. In turn, improving social skills is a common ABA goal. Common techniques used to help kids with social skills in ABA include:

• Social stories or narratives, which the therapist uses to help kids better understand how to succeed in social interactions and how behaviors might make others feel. 
• Replacing inappropriate behaviors with appropriate behaviors and teaching kids why replacing a problem behavior (like hitting another child) matters.
• Roleplaying with social scripts (phrases and sentences to use during specific social situations).
• Learning hidden curriculum (learning hidden social rules that come more naturally to others).

ABA therapy is often seen as the gold standard for children with autism. Research shows that ABA can help autistic children in multiple areas, including cognitive language and social communication outcomes, which are some of the most-studied outcomes in ABA research. There are different types of ABA, with two common methods including discrete trial training and pivotal response training.

Speech Therapy

Some children with autism spectrum disorder have limited speaking skills or do not communicate verbally. Others may communicate verbally but still struggle in certain areas, like speaking clearly, speaking appropriately, or navigating social situations. Speech therapy can help children increase word usage, speak more clearly, work through feeding and swallowing challenges, match emotions and facial expressions, respond to questions, and better understand body language, among other goals. 

Techniques used in speech therapy to improve communication skills

Speech therapy can occur in a therapy office, at school, or even at home as part of an early intervention program. When your child first starts seeing a speech therapist, they'll get an evaluation. This evaluation will guide a child's treatment plan and help the therapist set specific goals. For example, a highly communicative child will have different goals from a child with more limited speaking skills. Common techniques used in speech therapy to improve communication include:

• Teaching essential words, like "help," and how to use them in specific situations.
• Social skills groups (could be in addition to one-on-one therapy). 
• Matching pictures to words.
• Roleplaying. 

Although further exploration is needed, research on speech therapy as an early intervention for autism shows that it is promising, leading to outcomes like better social communication, language skills, and even self-esteem. 

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy aims to help people with activities necessary for daily living. It can be used for a number of different disorders or life circumstances, from neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and ADHD to various physical and mental health conditions. Goals of occupational therapy for autism frequently include but aren't limited to using fine motor skills for activities like writing, learning emotional regulation techniques, better navigating social situations, and improving gross motor skills. Occupational therapy can aid executive function and may help kids, teens, and adults succeed in multiple areas of life.

Techniques and activities used in occupational therapy for children with autism

The techniques an occupational therapist uses will depend on the goals a child needs to work on. Like with the other types of therapy in this article, occupational therapy starts with an evaluation where a provider gets to know what the child needs help with so that they can set individualized goals. Occupational therapists working in autism care often use techniques and activities such as:

• "Dress-up" games (teaches kids to button, zip, tie, or use other fine motor skills needed for getting dressed).
• Assembling puzzles (for fine motor skills).
• Obstacle courses (for gross motor skills).
• Interactive video games.
• Yoga poses.

Extensive research shows that occupational therapy can help children with both fine and gross motor skills. Additionally, studies have shown that working with an occupational therapist can help kids with sensory processing and integration. 

Social Skills Training

Social skills training (SST) can refer to any form of adult-direction instruction that teaches children social skills. A therapist, parent, or another adult may be able to provide social skills training to a child. SST is often beneficial for autistic children for several reasons. Many children with autism have lower levels of interaction with peers or less interest in peers, whereas others may very much want to engage in social situations but run into challenges when they do so. Regardless of one's desire for social interactions, challenges with social interaction seen in autism can mean that children don't know how to navigate essential situations in day-to-day life as effectively without support. 

Techniques and strategies used in social skills training 

Social skills training can take place in group, individual, or classroom settings. The setting or settings in which children's SST takes place will vary based on their current needs. For example, some kids might not yet be ready for groups and might work one-on-one with a provider until they are. Common strategies used in social skills training programs include:

• Using roleplay to show children how to take turns, maintain a conversation, ask questions, and use other important social skills.
• Video modeling (watching a video that demonstrates a social skill and modeling the behavior).
• Learning social skills through common play activities (e.g., games and puzzles).
• Group teaching sessions, where kids are taught in groups with other children.

Research shows that social skills training can be effective for various age groups, including kids ages 3-5, elementary school-aged kids, middle school-aged kids, and high school to college-aged kids (15-22). For example, a meta-analysis of 19 studies found that social skills training had a large positive effect on social responsiveness in adults with ASD. Additionally, a review of five randomized controlled trials examining those with autism aged 6-21 found that it can improve social competence and friendship quality.

Sensory Integration Therapy (SIT)

Kids with autism often have sensory issues, which can include both under or over-reactivation of certain stimuli. Sensory integration therapy, or SIT, is a type of therapy that helps children improve the way they process and integrate sensory input. This can increase their personal comfort, ability to participate in social interactions, and help them experience adaptive or appropriate reactions to sensory input. It is important to note that studies remain mixed on the effectiveness of SIT and additional research is warranted.

SIT techniques for sensory processing issues in children with autism

Sensory integration techniques can help regulate the nervous system and can be very important for many children with autism, supporting their day-to-day life productivity and mental health. SIT is provided by occupational therapists, who may use any combination of activities and techniques, such as the following:

• Deep pressure activities. For example, using sensory brushes to apply pressure to a child's skin, wearing weighted vests, or wrapping the child in a blanket. These are often comforting for autistic children.
• Play activities are very common in SIT. For example, using playground equipment like swings or slides, playing on trampolines, scooter boarding, finger or footprint painting, or playing with sand.
• Therapeutic listening, which involves listening to sounds to stimulate a child's auditory system and, in turn, enhance sensory processing and self-regulation.
• Environmental changes or supports. SIT may recommend changes to a child's environment or supportive objects to help with sensory issues at home or in public, such as headphones or reducing distractions.
• Practicing balance with balance boards and similar tools. 

Visual stimulation, sensory diet, and other techniques are often used as well. While a recent meta-analysis conducted on 24 studies found that SIT has been effective for kids with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and other concerns, like cerebral palsy and intellectual disorders, others have failed to find similar effects. Improvements may be seen in areas including but not limited to motor skills, adaptive behaviors, social skills, and sensory processing. 

Conclusion

ABA therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, social skills training, and sensory integration therapy are five common therapies used in autism care. Each type of therapy discussed in this article may help children in different ways, though there is some overlap in the goals different therapies or therapy providers can help out with. 

For example, ABA therapists can help kids with social skills, but social skills training can also be provided in other environments or by other adults. Occupational therapy can help kids with a wide range of essential skills, like completing self-care activities, managing emotions in a healthy way, navigating social interactions, and using fine or gross motor skills.

Individualized treatment plans are critical for children with autism because every child with ASD is different, with unique strengths and challenges. For example, one child may love talking, but another child may have little-to-no verbal communication ability. Autism therapy treatment plans should meet children where they are and help them work toward manageable goals.

It's important that families explore and seek out therapies that may help their child. Parents and caregivers should get to know providers and ask questions to thoroughly understand the therapeutic process so that they feel confident and comfortable with their child engaging in therapy for autism. Depending on the type or types of therapy your child participates in, sessions may occur in a therapy center, at school, or at home.