Autism #1 (Visual Perception Treatment for Autistic Children, Self-Control with Autism and Family Vacation with Autistic Children

 A Gift of Sight: Visual Perception Treatment for Autistic Children

Autism affects each child differently, so it is difficult to find the exact treatments your child will need to deal with his symptoms. One thing that effects some autistic children (but not all) is visual cognition problems. By using some standardized methods to improve visual perception, you can give your child the ability to see the world more clearly, which will make learning and understanding easier, and possibly contain some behavioural problems as well. 

Autistic children mainly have overstimulation problems and biases. These are some of the same problems that many people without the disorder develop, and there are many treatment options available. However, people with autism often find that the overstimulation of the world with light, colours, contrasts, shapes and patterns is excessive, leading them to act or generally turn off. Sometimes this is a genetic condition that is simply made worse by autism. Therefore, if the child's parents have difficulty reading or have received treatment for visual problems, it is very likely that the child will need help as well. 

The Irene Method is an effective method for treating visual disturbances. This method uses colour to create a more harmonized world. You may have heard of these methods if someone has ever suggested using a colour filter over the page while reading for better and faster reading. This method has been shown to work, and when your autistic child has reached reading maturity, you should try these colour filters to see if there is a difference in speed and comprehension. However, your autistic child is more likely to benefit from colour filters throughout the day, not just when reading. To solve this problem, special glasses with coloured lenses were manufactured. Not all children react the same to all colours, so figuring out which colour blocks harmful light is a trial and error process. You can also use coloured light bulbs in your home to help autistic people with their visual perception problems. 

This method mainly helps children in areas: depth perception, social interaction, learning and physical well-being. Colours help the child determine how far they are from an object and the world becomes more three-dimensional, which helps in-depth perception. Social interaction also improves because the child feels in a calmer world and can see and interpret facial expressions more clearly. Colours allow learning, especially when reading, and in general, the child will feel better, as it will help reduce headaches and dizziness. By trying these and other techniques for solving visual perception problems, you can help your child better cope with the world and with his autism.

 

Achieving Self-control with Autism

Self-discipline is a skill that most autistic children have a hard time acquiring. This includes not only inappropriate outbursts but also habits that can be potentially dangerous, such as being aggressive towards others or harming yourself, such as banging your head against walls. To prevent these and other behaviours, one technique parents and educators can use to control autistic tendencies is self-management. Giving the child power over himself is often the key to maintaining control over violent situations and perhaps a positive step towards learning other behaviours as well. 

 

Self-management works because the child is no longer completely controlled by others. By teaching self-management at specific times of the day, such as when the child is in school or in therapy, they will be more likely to continue practising self-management throughout the day. The key is to implement a program in which to monitor your own behaviour and activities. Start small and continue to control the child from a more passive point of view. Every ten to fifteen minutes reminds the child that he is in control and that he needs to monitor and be aware of good and bad behaviour. 

 

This follow-up is a form of self-assessment. When a child is in control, he can think more closely about his past and present behaviour. Set clear goals with the child, such as an afternoon without aggression towards others or a day at school without self-harm. Every fifteen minutes ask the child how he is doing. Has the goal been achieved? If the answer is no, the child may not be ready for self-management or the goals may be too unattainable. First, you need to make sure the goals are easy to achieve, then move the child to more difficult goals in the future. When a child is successful in self-control, he will have a more positive attitude towards the experience. 

Of course, an important part of self-management is a reward system. Ask the child to create their own reward, based on her interest. Reinforcement will make these good behaviour goals more clearly marked in the child's mind, and by choosing and rewarding himself, the child will feel completely in control of the self-management system. Choose simple rewards to get you started, like smiley faces for each goal achieved and sad faces for each missed goal, and work towards a bigger goal, such as a special activity or a new toy when a certain number of smiley faces have been achieved. 

These types of programs don't run overnight, so you and the child should have enough time to spend on a self-management experience. By reinforcing good behaviour with rewards, as determined by the child rather than an adult, they will be more likely to continue doing so even when they are not participating in the program. If your autistic child is mature enough, this might be a good treatment program to try.

Are We There Yet? Family Vacations with Autistic Children

While planning a family vacation with kids can get your parents fooling you, in the end, it can be a rewarding experience for everyone. It is no different if you have an autistic child in the family. The important thing to remember is that you need to be prepared for whatever life throws at you. For an autistic child, vacations can be scary and confusing, or they can be a great learning experience, leaving behind wonderful memories that the whole family can enjoy. 

First, choose your location based on the needs of your autistic child. For example, if you are sensitive to sound, an amusement park is probably not the best idea. You can enjoy a quieter holiday on small beaches and campsites. In general, you should be able to find a place that everyone in the family likes. Once there, plan your days accordingly. For example, you may want to see attractions very early or late to avoid crowds. 

You can also consider taking vacations during the off-season if your children's schoolwork is not going to be interrupted. This gives your autistic child more comfort if he is nervous in crowded situations and gives him peace of mind. When choosing a location, also consider how far it is from your home. How will you get there? If you are dealing with an airport, remember that security personnel may need to touch your child and be prepared for it. 

Choose a place and activities that everyone can enjoy, but also offer opportunities for learning and social interaction for your autistic child. For example, a child who doesn't like touch sensations can enjoy the soft sand of a beach, and the waves can provide a very different kind of sensation. Being outdoors, the beach is also a great place for your baby to scream without disturbing others. Children who don't normally answer can benefit from a museum, where they can ask questions and you can ask them questions. 

Remember that most people who are on vacation in their chosen location have never had to deal with autism before. Try to be understanding of their ignorance, but also defend your child if they treat him unfairly. Know your child's constitutional laws and also be willing to compromise. For example, if a restaurant is reluctant to serve you after your child made a scene last night, he explains the situation and asks if it would be possible to bring you takeout, even if you normally don't. Try not to be rude to people; Staring happens often, but instead of sarcastic comments or malicious looks, ignore them as much as possible and focus on having fun with your family.