As a parent of a child with autism spectrum disorder, the number one thing you should do is make sure your child has the best life possible, despite the extra challenges thrown their way. Children with autism can benefit a lot from various forms of therapy that help them overcome the unique challenges that they may face. Here are five types of therapies for kids with autism spectrum disorder that you may want to consider.

Behavioral Therapy

Certain behaviors exhibited by children with autism are their way of communicating. Applied behavior analysis therapy can help us better understand what your child is trying to convey, and teach them more suitable ways to communicate those thoughts. If your child expresses themselves through troublesome behavior, a behavioral therapist can help them get to the root of the issue and redirect that energy to be more productive for everyone involved.

Socialization Therapy

Therapy for developing social skills is one of the more common types of therapies for kids with autism spectrum disorder. Socialization therapy provides a safe place for your child to learn about social norms and unspoken rules of communication that children without autism can pick up more naturally. With proper feedback and instruction, children with autism can develop excellent social skills just like any other child.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy focuses on assisting your child in becoming more independent with day-to-day tasks. If your child struggles with certain motor skills or needs help with everyday tasks such as dressing themselves or eating, occupational therapy offers assistance in performing these tasks independently. Occupational therapy can also help parents understand how they can best help their children with tasks they may still need assistance with.

Speech Therapy

It’s not uncommon for children with autism to struggle with verbal communication, but there are plenty of ways to help them. Speech therapy with a certified speech pathologist can help your child articulate their thoughts, become better listeners in a conversation, and assist them with forming cohesive sentences. A speech therapist can also recommend communication assisting tools that could help your child even more.

Sensory Integration Therapy

Many children with autism spectrum disorder experience overstimulation and struggle to process multiple sources of stimuli at once. Over time, sensory integration therapy will help your child acclimate to different levels of sensory input, and give them tools that will help them deal with overstimulation. This kind of therapy is extremely useful for children that struggle with visual distractions, loud noises, or certain textures.

Autism pediatric therapy is a great choice for parents looking to improve the lives of their children with autism. The HANDS Center for Autism can help you and your child live happier and healthier lives with some or all of these therapies.