Therapy & support options

Behavioural interventions focus on teaching children new skills by looking at how their behaviour is influenced by their interactions with other people and the environment around them. These types of therapies are usually structured and work by reinforcing positive behaviours.

Some examples include:

• Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI): This therapy is often recommended for younger children and involves structured sessions aimed at improving skills like communication and social interaction.
• Positive Behaviour Support (PBS): PBS is an evidence-based approach that focuses on understanding the reasons behind challenging behaviours and promoting positive, long-term behaviour changes by teaching new skills and improving the child’s quality of life.
• Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA): ABA is a well-known, evidence-based approach that breaks tasks down into smaller steps, rewarding positive behaviours. It’s commonly used to help children with autism develop a range of skills, from communication to self-care.
• Discrete Trial Training: A technique that’s part of ABA, this involves repetitive teaching in short bursts, with prompts and rewards to reinforce the right response.
• Functional Communication Training: This method helps children replace challenging behaviours with more effective ways of communicating.
• Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS): PECS is designed to teach children to communicate through pictures, helping them express their needs when verbal communication is difficult.

_{Note: Research evidence supporting the use of these therapies may vary and should be discussed with health professionals.}

Developmental interventions focus on helping children learn through natural, age-appropriate interactions with their environment and the people around them. These therapies are centred on meeting the child where they are developmentally and building on that foundation.

Some examples include:

• Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT): PACT involves parents or carers directly, using natural interactions to encourage better communication skills.
• Developmental Individual-Difference Relationship-Based (DIR)/Floortime: This model encourages development through play by following the child’s lead and using their interests to foster engagement.
• Social Communication, Emotion Regulation, and Transactional Support (SCERTS): SCERTS works on social communication and emotional regulation, key areas that children with autism often find challenging.
• Video-feedback Intervention to Promote Positive Parenting adapted to autism (VIPP-AUTI): This approach uses video feedback to help parents reflect on how they interact with their child, and make adjustments to improve communication and connection.
• Hanen More Than Words: A program that helps parents build communication skills with their child through everyday routines.

_{Note: Research evidence supporting the use of these therapies may vary and should be discussed with health professionals.}

Naturalistic developmental behavioural interventions bring together both behavioural and developmental approaches. These types of therapies take place during everyday activities and routines, making them easier to integrate into family life.

Some of the common ones include:

• Early Start Denver Model (ESDM): ESDM is designed for toddlers, and blends developmental and behavioural techniques to support areas like social skills and communication.
• Joint Attention, Symbolic Play, Engagement, and Regulation (JASPER): JASPER focuses on key areas like joint attention and symbolic play, which are often areas of difficulty for children on the spectrum.
• Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT): PRT aims to work on core aspects of development, such as motivation and response to multiple cues, to create improvements across a range of areas like communication and social engagement.
• Learning Experiences Alternative Program (LEAP): LEAP involves inclusive classroom settings where children with autism learn alongside their typically developing peers, supported by teachers and therapists.

_{Note: Research evidence supporting the use of these therapies may vary and should be discussed with health professionals.}

Sensory processing issues are common for many children on the autism spectrum. Sensory-based therapies aim to support learning by addressing how children respond to sensory stimuli, whether that’s sound, touch, or movement.

Examples include:

• Ayers sensory integration: This approach works on improving how children process sensory input by providing activities that help the brain better interpret and respond to different sensations.
• Environmental enrichment: By offering a range of sensory experiences, environmental enrichment can help stimulate brain development.
• Music therapy: Music therapy uses musical activities to help children express themselves, communicate, and interact with others.

_{Note: Research evidence supporting the use of these therapies may vary and should be discussed with health professionals.}

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are all connected. By learning to recognise unhelpful thoughts and replace them with more positive ones, children can improve their emotional regulation and reduce anxiety or challenging behaviours.

Here are some CBT programs adapted for children with autism:

• Cool Kids: A structured program that teaches children strategies for managing anxiety.
• Secret Agent Society: This combines CBT with fun, interactive activities to help children build social and emotional skills.

_{Note: Research evidence supporting the use of these therapies may vary and should be discussed with health professionals.}