Garrett Streich

Shepherd University
TR Programming
Research Paper
Therapeutic Intervention for Autism and Seizure Disorder
What is Autism? Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by
impaired social interaction and verbal and non-verbal communication, and by
restricted, repetitive or stereotyped behavior. Autism affects information processing
in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize;
how this occurs is not well understood. A child should be screened for
developmental milestones from birth to the age of 3 to determine if they are
autistic.
EARLY SIGNS OF AUTISM:

Doesnt
Doesnt
Doesnt
Doesnt
Doesnt
Doesnt
Doesnt
Doesnt
Doesnt
Doesnt
Doesnt
Doesnt

make eye contact.

smile when smiled at.
respond to his or her name or to the sound of a familiar voice.
follow objects visually.
point or wave goodbye or use other gestures to communicate.
follow the gesture when you point things out.
make noises to get your attention.
initiate or respond to cuddling.
imitate your movements and facial expressions.
reach out to be picked up.
play with other people or share interest and enjoyment.
ask for help or make other basic requests.

Other issues relating to Autism:

Low IQ
Seizures
Sleep problems
Low muscle tone
Allergies
Sensory Integration Disorder
Pain
Hearing and Vision Impairment

Treating Autism
Occupational Therapy: is a health service that is concerned with an individuals
ability to participate in desired daily life tasks, or occupations, which give ones
life meaning. If a persons ability to perform these tasks which include caring for

ones self or others, working, going to school, playing, and living independently is
impacted by an illness, disease, and/or disability, OT can be important. OT is often
paired with sensory integration.
Physical therapy: An individual with autism spectrum disorders may benefit from
Physical Therapy if they have any of the following indicators: muscle stiffness or
tightness; Delay in obtaining motor skills milestones; Poor balance and coordination;
Difficulty in moving through the environment; Postural abnormalities; Muscle
Weakness; Pain.
Speech Therapy: services focus on enhancing or restoring limited or lost
communicative skills or oral motor skills like swallowing. Since autism often affects
speech and communication, many will need Speech Therapy to help facilitate
language. Some individuals may do well with a Picture Exchange Communication
System (PECS) and others may do well with augmentative communication devices.
TR for Autism:
Physical activity remains one of the most effective treatments for autism, yet it's
also one of the most underutilized. Dr. Stephen M. Edelson, director of the Autism
Research Institute, notes that strenuous exercise can help decrease a number of
behaviors associated with autism, including hyperactivity, aggression, self-injury
and destructiveness. Edelson recommends autistic children should engage in
vigorous exercise, an aerobic workout of 20 minutes of longer, three or four days
per week, but points out that mild exercise doesn't seem to have much effect on
behavior. Leading an individual with this disorder will bring about some challenges
because if they are in a group they will need more attention, also they might not be
able to do some of the activities that you may have planned. So if you are working
with an autistic child find out about their condition and if they are unable to do
some things prepare for that and have other activities for them to stay active.
What is seizure disorder? It is a brain disorder in which clusters of nerve cells, or
neurons, in the brain sometimes signal abnormally. The normal pattern of neuronal
activity becomes disturbed, causing strange sensations, emotions, and behavior, or
sometimes convulsions, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness. Seizure
disorders, including epilepsy, occur in as many as 39 percent of those with autism.
It is more common in people with autism who also have intellectual disability than
those without. Someone with autism may experience more than one type of seizure.
Seizures associated with autism tend to start in either early childhood or
adolescence. But they may occur at any time
Conclusion:
Autism is a disorder that can be known about at a very young age. It is better to
know about it at such a young age because you dont have to grow up adjusting to
it. There are many characteristics and symptoms that come along with it, so it may
be easier to find out that other disorders. On the down side another disorder that is
associated with autism is seizures. Individuals that are autistic suffer from seizures
at a young age. There isnt much that they can do for seizures so the only thing
they can do for that is take medication, but with autism there is a lot of good that
can come from being active and doing recreational therapy.

Site Sources

http://nationalautismassociation.org/resources/signs-of-autism/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism
http://nationalautismassociation.org/autism-treatment-2/therapies/
http://www.autism-society.org/about-autism/diagnosis/related-conditions.html
http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/symptoms
http://www.livestrong.com/article/514524-recreation-therapy-activities-forautism/