What Are Special Interests? Special interests are commonly found in over 75 percent of people on the spectrum. Some interests begin in childhood, whilst others develop overtime. These interests can be narrow and quite focused on certain topics (wildlife, maps, music), subjects (math, science etc.), and hobbies (games etc.) and can get a bit intense at […]
Sensory Difficulties In Autistic Children
What are sensory difficulties? Sensory difficulties arise in individuals with certain conditions, for example in autistic people. This means that these individuals perceive and react to things in an unconventional manner, since their brain processes sensory information (related to the 7 senses including body awareness and movement) differently. An example of such a sensory issue […]
Autism and Sleep Problems
Autism and sleep problems Studies show that over half of autistic people, including adults and children have sleep issues. This issue may last throughout their lives or might diminish in severity at different stages. However, this issue does not disappear as autistic children grow up. Sleep problems are twice as common among autistic individuals as […]
Music Therapy for Autistic Children
What is music therapy? This kind of therapy is a well-established clinical use of music which is used to accomplish individualized goals such as improving mood, reducing stress and self-expression. What is Autism Spectrum Disorder? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects behaviour and communication. It may be diagnosed at any age, […]
Strategies to Reduce Echolalia
What is Echolalia? Echolalia refers to the repetition of certain words or phrases spoken by someone else, either after the words were said or later on. Echolalia in autism Echolalia is often associated as a function of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). With an autistic child, echolalia may appear with more frequency versus children with standard […]
Benefits of Water Play
What is play? Play consists of those activities performed for self-amusement that have social and behavioral rewards. It is child-directed and is enjoyable and spontaneous. Play allows children to gain control of their feelings, actions, and helps them achieve self-confidence. What is water play? Playing with water is not only a source of enjoyment, but […]
The Functions of Behavior
What is behaviour? Behavior refers to actions or reactions performed by humans. Behavior can be voluntary, involuntary, conscious or unconscious. Why does a behaviour occur? Behaviors happen for a specific reason. Sometimes the reasons are clear and can be understood easily, and other times they are unclear and difficult to understand. “What can be said […]