Autism

What is autism?

Autism is a developmental disability that affects how a person communicates, interacts, behaves, and learns. The degree of disability varies significantly. Some children may require a lot of help, while others need very little.

Autism is a spectrum disorder and includes other conditions that used to be diagnosed separately, including autistic disorder, Asperger syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder.

What are the symptoms of autism?

Children with autism tend to have difficulties with communication, social interaction, and behavior. Common symptoms may include:

• Not pointing or looking at objects to show interest
• Not interacting with other people
• Poor eye contact
• Desire to be alone
• Repeat or echo phrases
• Repetitive behaviors
• Difficulty adapting when there’s a change in routine
• Lose developmental skills they previously had

Symptoms of autism generally present themselves when your child is around 18 months old. However, autism can be difficult to diagnose. If you or your pediatrician suspects your child has autism, you may be sent to a specialist for a formal diagnosis. 

Getting an early diagnosis is essential, so your child gets the treatment they need. 

How is autism treated?

Therapy is an important component of autism treatment and often includes occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy. The team at Solaris Pediatric Therapy offers therapy services for children with autism to help both the child and their family. 

What is DIRFloortime?

DIRFloortime is the approach the team at Solaris Pediatric Therapy uses for children with autism. The approach is the developmental, individual-differences, and relationship-based (DIR) model and aims to promote healthy development so your child can reach their fullest potential.

At Solaris Pediatric Therapy, the DIRFloortime approach uses your child’s natural interests as a gateway to understanding their world and drawing them out into a shared world. By following your child’s lead, the team at Solaris Pediatric Therapy understands your child’s emotional viewpoint better, which is the first step in bringing your child from their insular world into the shared world. 

Once your child is out in the shared world, the therapist introduces challenges to help your child master the fundamentals of relating, communicating, and thinking. The goal of autism therapy at Solaris Pediatric Therapy is to help your child be empathetic, creative, logical, and reflective.

To schedule a consultation with the experienced team at Solaris Pediatric Therapy, call the office or request one online today. 

BOOK ONLINE