Behavioral Training for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
What is ASD?
ASD is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by:
- Repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests, activities
- Problems in social communication and interactions
- Symptoms are present from early childhood and affect daily functioning
Autism is a spectrum disorder that affects individuals differently, presenting a range of challenges that can impact their daily lives and development. Autism affects all areas of functioning such as daily living, school and work, especially in early acquisition of skills.
Behaviour
- Stereotyped/repetitive behaviors
- Inflexible adherence to routines
- Highly restricted, fixated interests
- Hyper- or hypo-reactivity to sensory input
Social Communication:
- Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity
- Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction (e.g. eye contact, facial expressions, gestures)
- Difficulties in developing, maintain and understanding of relationships
Daily functioning affected:
- May have language problems
- Difficulties managing transitions
- Difficulties with gross motor, fine motor, visual perception and sensory processing
- Experience challenges in various environment especially in areas where environment is new and not familiar, have high social demands, have lots of changes or sensory inputs
Our Expertise in Behavioral Training
Behavioral training is essential in autism intervention. As every child is different, we believe in providing tailored interventions in the following:
- Behavioral modification: Behaviors are modified through reinforcement (e.g. praise and acknowledgement) to shape appropriate behaviors. Maladaptive behaviors are reduced by providing child with a structured approach (e.g. giving clear instructions, one at a time) so that expectations are clear to a child.
- Social-Communication skills training: Involves modelling and practicing in social scenarios to improve interaction with others, understanding of social cues, and building relationships.
- Parent training: Increases positive parent-child interactions and emotional communication skills. Strategies to improve parenting consistency with practice and learning of effective ways to cope with parental stress to better support your child.
- Cognitive training: Repetitive and progressive training of cognitive resources (attention, working memory) to strengthen and improve functioning and abilities
Partnering with Parents in Behavioural Training
Parents play a crucial role in the effectiveness of behavioral training for children with autism. Here are some effective ways to facilitate behavioral training:
- Understanding the child: Identify triggers for challenging or disruptive behaviours and what elicits a positive or negative response. With a better understanding, caregivers can be better at resolving problems and preparing ahead for situations that can be difficult for child
- Encourage independence: Foster independence by breaking tasks into manageable steps and providing clear instructions. Encourage your child to take on age-appropriate responsibilities.
- Create a structured daily routine: Establish clear routines that includes regular time for study, snack breaks , physical activities and daily activities (e.g., waking up, meals, bedtime) and use visual supports like schedules, charts, and timers to help your child understand what to expect.
- Practicing of transitions:
- Give child an advanced notice a transition is going to occur
- Use visual supports
- Use structure and consistency
- Use reduced language
- Provide light praise for good transitions
Experienced and Qualified Occupational Therapists in Singapore
Finding the right therapist who aligns with your values, skills and experience is crucial for both your and your child’s success. An occupational therapist is not merely a professional providing a service but a trusted partner in your parenting journey.
At Cornerstone Therapy, we meticulously select our team based on their character traits, years of relevant experience, commitment to family empowerment, and knowledge in intervention approaches to build Self-Regulation, Organisation and Motivation (ROM).
The ROM Theory is the cornerstone of our therapy because we prioritise ensuring that your kid is regulated, organised and motivated during therapy. This ensures that the child will be actively engaged in the activities specially designed for them. This active engagement is how we achieve meaningful progress that can be applied and generalised in real world contexts.
Location: 20 Sin Ming Lane Midview City
#03-66 Singapore 573968