If you are considering autism movement therapy for a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), keep reading this article to learn about what it is, its benefits, and the primary purpose of this fun, unique, and engaging form of therapy.

What is autism movement therapy (AMT)?

Autism movement therapy (AMT) is an autism treatment method that revolves around music and dancing. It may be relied on to teach children with autism how to improve their motor skills, sensory functions, and other capabilities.

At a session, the therapist and your child may engage in one or more of the following activities:

• Dancing to music.
• Discuss and plan different dance moves and rhythms.
• In group settings, kids may take turns playing different musical instruments or work together on performing a certain tone or song.

These activities require your child to use their body, communicate (both verbally and nonverbally), and memorize dance moves or musical notes. Because of this, autism movement and dance therapy can have plenty of academic, communicative, sensory, and psychological benefits.

Benefits of Autism Movement Therapy

Here are some of the main benefits that your son or daughter will attain through autism movement therapy sessions:

• It stimulates the brain.
• This therapeutic method assists children with ASD with developing communication and motor skills.
• AMT enhances autistic kids’ sensory processes.
• Movement and dance therapy addresses and manages behavioral problems that are associated with ASD.
• Perhaps most noteworthy, AMT shows children with autism how to have fun.

All of these benefits help serve the primary purpose of autism movement and dance therapy.

What is the core purpose of dance therapy?

There are several goals and objectives that movement and dance therapists try to achieve. A lot of them are related to the individual needs of the child on the autism spectrum that they’re seeing. 

In other words, when you initially take your child to see a therapist, they will evaluate their condition and personal challenges. After that, the therapist works with you on creating a custom treatment plan for your son or daughter.

Generally speaking, one of the main purposes of movement and dance therapy is to allow autistic patients to experience a sense of joy, happiness, fulfillment, and overall well being. This is particularly important for children with ASD that suffer from depression and other related mental conditions.

Another goal behind these treatment sessions is to heal and help patients manage the debilitating symptoms of autism. 

Examples include finding healthy ways to stimulate the brain, refining their bodily balance and coordination, building up their motor skills, and strengthening the connection between the brain and the rest of the body.

To give a brief summary, autism movement and dance therapy is a fun, unique, and engaging treatment method for minimizing and managing ASD symptoms. It will allow your child to get better at communicating, reaching their academic goals, staying balanced when they move their body, and in other areas of their life.

If you are ready to work with the best Applied Behavior Analysis therapy provider in New York or New Jersey, give us a call at (732) 402-0297. Our dedicated team is ready to help and we will treat you like family.

If you are considering hyperbaric oxygen therapy for autism, you may be wondering: How does it work? What does a session look like? Does insurance cover it?

In this article, you will find all the answers that you’re looking for (and more) about how this treatment can benefit your autistic child.

What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Abbreviated as HBOT, hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps the body naturally recover from injuries and illnesses through supplying it with large amounts of oxygen.

HBOT is generally administered in a straightforward and non-invasive manner.

What does it look like?

When undergoing therapy, patients initially step into a hyperbaric oxygen chamber.

The ambient pressure in these chambers can be three times higher than the ambient pressure that’s in the air that we normally breathe. In turn, this allows patients to inhale 24% to 100% more oxygen than they would in a typical setting.

Why does it work?

Since HBOT increases the solubility of oxygen, its molecules can reach deep into the patient’s tissues and organs. In comparison to the oxygen that’s in the air that we regularly breathe, HBOT lets the molecules go 400% deeper.

As a result, the patient’s heart rate, thinking processes, and physical movements dramatically improve, and so do their other bodily functions that rely on oxygen.

There are a variety of medical issues and illnesses that impact the body’s ability to absorb oxygen.

What conditions are treated with HBOT?

In the past, deep-sea divers with decompression used to be the main group of patients that relied on this type of treatment. Their problems with decompression were addressed with hyperbaric chambers that are filled with oxygen.

However, in 2004, HBOT became a common way to treat and minimize autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms.

Here are some other medical conditions that HBOT may help heal:

• Alzheimer’s
• Arterial gas embolism
• Athletic injuries
• Bone infections
• Certain mental conditions
• Cerebral palsy
• Delayed radiation injury
• Multiple sclerosis
• Neuropathy
• Severe carbon monoxide poisoning
• Smoke inhalation
• Strokes
• Treatment of gangrene
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Traumatic inadequate blood flow
• Wound healing

Each of these conditions and illnesses require HBOT sessions to be conducted in a specific way. That is to say that an HBOT session for a stroke patient looks different than the one that an autistic child would attend.

How does an HBOT therapy session work?

Generally speaking, the doctor or medical professional will have your autistic son or daughter sit or lay down in a hyperbaric chamber. As your kid begins breathing in and inhaling the oxygen, the practitioner who’s overseeing the HBOT session gradually increases the oxygen levels.

Keep in mind that clinics deliver HBOT therapy in their own way. Therefore, you want to talk to multiple providers and identify the type of session that works best for you and your son or daughter.

Here are a few questions that you should ask:

• Does the clinic’s staff specialize in or have experience working with autistic patients?
• Can you enter the oxygen chamber with your child?
• Is your kid allowed to watch a TV show or movie while they’re in the chamber?
• Can you and/or your child play with a smartphone or tablet during the session?

Another aspect to inquire about is the type of chamber that the clinic uses.

Types of Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers

The following are the two main types of HBOT chambers:

Monoplace Hyperbaric Chambers

In short, this chamber has the appearance of a long plastic tube that’s designed to fit one person.

Multiplace Chambers

Multiplace chambers are larger and can accommodate two or more patients simultaneously.

Both types of chambers provide you with the same treatment. With a multiplace chamber, however, a patient would have to use a mask or hood to breathe pure oxygen.

Equally as important is that professional clinics rely on medical-grade HBOT chambers that deliver air with a 100% oxygen level. The ambient air in mild chambers (mHBOT), which may be installed at home, only contains 21% oxygen due its lower ambient pressure.

You want to talk to your autistic child’s doctor to determine the most appropriate chamber for them.

Do you need a prescription for HBOT?

Yes, a doctor’s prescription is required to receive HBOT treatment.

How can HBOT help in the treatment of ASD?

HBOT assists autistic patients with the following:

Reduce Neuroinflammation

Neuroinflammation is considered to be one of the conditions that influences and causes ASD symptoms.

To clarify, with neuroinflammation, the brain and spinal cord get inflamed as a response to certain factors or stressful events. In turn, patients could end up developing cerebral hypoperfusion (a medical problem that’s characterized by an inadequate blood flow to the brain).

Autistic children that suffer from neuroinflammation-induced hypoperfusion tend to experience the following:

• Communication barriers
• Diminished or limited cognitive abilities
• Problematic social interactions
• They struggle with focusing and paying attention

Needless to say, HBOT therapy is one of the most effective ways for enhancing the quality of the brain’s blood flow and minimizing the symptoms of neuroinflammation and hypoperfusion.

Improve Behavior

In the same vein, research has shown that HBOT therapy can help autistic kids with their movements and cognitive capabilities. This allows them to get better at acquiring new skills, managing their behaviors, and initiating conversations spontaneously.

Improve Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Unfortunately, mitochondrial weakness is a common condition among children with ASD. It leads the patient to have low energy levels that could make their thinking process and bodily functions sluggish.

On the plus side, recent studies have indicated that HBOT therapy improves mitochondrial functions. Consequently, it can reduce autism symptoms and enhance an autistic child’s motor skills and balance.

Reduce Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress results in brain tissue damage and a severely slower metabolism. This causes the patient to develop and show ASD symptoms. 

Oxidative stress occurs when the amount of free radicals and antioxidants in the body becomes imbalanced. However, according to the latest research, HBOT therapy enables the body to produce antioxidant enzymes that prevent the cells from oxidative stress.

When it comes to ASD symptoms, treating oxidative stress will improve your autistic son or daughter’s social skills, mood, and memory.

This is alongside the other general benefits that HBOT therapy allows them to attain.

Other Benefits of HBOT

Here are a few medical uses to HBOT therapy:

• Abating anaerobic gut microbe colonies in a patient’s body 
• Decreasing seizure activity
• Increasing glutathione production
• Lessening gut inflammation and bloating
• Remedying a leaky gut through healing the intestinal lining
• Speeding up the detoxification of heavy metals
• Strengthening and enhancing the immune system

These benefits can be realized by autistic patients and neurotypical ones who suffer from other conditions.

Does hyperbaric oxygen therapy work for autism?

So far, the studies that looked at the link between HBOT therapy and ASD symptoms have produced mixed results, and medical professionals are still conducting more research.

Some studies indicate that HBOT therapy can decrease autism-induced brain and gastrointestinal system inflammations. In fact, both doctors and parents of autistic children reported that HBOT therapy had the following boons:

• Better quality of sleep
• Enhanced cognitive capabilities
• Improvements in bowel movements
• Improvements in focusing and maintaining attention
• More affectionate and calm behaviors
• Reduced sensory problems and issues
• Refined and improved communication skills
• A stronger connection between the autistic child and their family

With that being said, a lot of researchers believe that there isn’t enough empirical evidence to conclude that HBOT therapy is effective for children with ASD.

They specifically note that the existing research has these limitations:

• The studies aren’t accurate because they aren’t duplicated across or extended to the at-large autistic population (in other words, only a few patients were tested on).
• Concurrent treatments that are taken alongside HBOT therapy might falsely attribute the improvement in symptoms to the latter. 
• Placebo effects may have impacted the findings and preciseness of certain studies.
• Rigorous experimental controls and sound scientific practices are lacking.
• While the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized using HBOT therapy to treat various medical conditions, they haven’t approved it as a safe autism treatment due to the insufficient scientific proof of its effectiveness.

Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy safe for autistic children?

In general, HBOT therapy is safe for children, and they can tolerate air with a 100% oxygen level for up to 2 hours per day at a maximum pressure of 1.5 atm.

Yet, just as with any other medical treatment, HBOT is occasionally accompanied by undesirable side effects.

Here are several of the main medical risks of hyperbaric oxygen therapy:

Sinus Damage

Sinuses are parts of the skull that are filled with air. HBOT therapy may produce unequal levels of air pressure across the sinuses.

Two common sinus damage signs are bleeding in the sinuses and severe pain.

Fluid Buildup in the Middle Ear

While HBOT doesn’t directly cause this problem, improper attempts to balance the air pressure that’s in the middle ear could unintentionally damage the membranes that separate it from the inner ear (which is filled with fluids).

When this happens, the fluids build up in the middle ear and create hearing impairments.

Lung Damage

Lung damage is a very rare HBOT side effect, and it mostly impacts severely-ill patients who require the treatment throughout the day or on an ongoing basis.

When the lung takes in air with highly-concentrated oxygen levels for several consecutive hours, a patient might experience chest pain and difficulty breathing.

Oxygen Poisoning

Oxygen poisoning can give rise to seizures because it’s toxic to the central nervous system.

However, oxygen poisoning is an infrequent HBOT side effect, and it primarily impacts patients that suffer from seizure disorders and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Reversible Myopia

Reversible Myopia occurs when a patient’s nearsightedness (myopia) gets worse. As the name suggests, this HBOT side effect (brought about by changes in the eye lens’s shape) is reversible and temporary.

Claustrophobia

Some patients experience claustrophobia when they enter the small, fenced off oxygen chamber. This can be addressed by using a larger, multi-place chamber.

At times, those with severe claustrophobia might have to be sedated before their session.

How long do hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions last?

The length of a typical HBOT session is between 90 minutes and 2 hours.

How many HBOT sessions are needed for autistic children?

In general, kids with ASD need to undergo 20 to 40 treatment sessions.

Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy covered by insurance?

Whether or not your insurance will cover HBOT therapy depends on multiple factors. You may want to carefully consider how they apply to your and your autistic child’s situation.

After all, paying out of pocket for this treatment is very expensive. An individual session can cost up to $250, which adds up to $10,000 for 40 sessions.

First of all, Medicare and private insurance companies might ask you to provide an HBOT treatment authorization in order to cover it.

Secondly, certain insurers (among them are BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, Humana, and United Healthcare) will pay for your child’s HBOT sessions as long as they’re medically necessary. This includes for off-label conditions like autism.

Keep in mind that the coverage for these conditions could still get denied by some insurance carriers, while others may require you to initially pay an out-of-pocket deductible.

Third, given that the FDA hasn’t approved HBOT as a treatment for autism and considers it to be an experimental medication, Medicaid and private insurance companies typically do not cover it without the appropriate authorization.

Other Therapy Options for Autistic Children

If your insurance or Medicaid plan doesn’t pay for your HBOT costs or if your son or daughter has a health issue that could be exacerbated by oxygen treatment, you have alternative options.

With ABA therapy (which stands for applied behavior analysis), a trained and licensed practitioner can work with your kid on managing their ASD symptoms, improving their skills, and attaining a lot of the benefits that they would gain from HBOT treatment.

Above all, the majority of insurance plans and Medicaid will cover ABA therapy since it is the most commonly-used and widely-accepted ASD treatment.

If you are ready to work with the best ABA therapy provider in New York, New Jersey or Indiana, give us a call at (732) 402-0297. Our dedicated team is ready to help and we will treat you like family.

If you want to learn about how autism impacts children’s physical and motor skills, you’re in the right place.

In this article, we cover the bodily defects that autism causes and how physical therapy can enhance your child’s motor skills, balance, and movement coordination.

What is Autism?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological condition. ASD also leads to developmental problems among children.

Children with autism typically deal with a range of challenges that influence their social, behavioral, communicative, and physical capabilities.

Physical Challenges of Children with Autism

Children with ASD usually experience delays in developing many skills, among them are their gross and fine motor skills.

Gross Motor Skills

Autism can affect one or more of a child’s following gross motor skills:

• Staying balanced and coordinated while making large bodily movements.
• Moving the arms, legs, and feet.
• Running and jumping.

Why are their gross motor skills not developed?

Children tend to acquire gross motor skills by observing others (namely adults and older children) and mimicking them.

However, autistic boys and girls prefer to keep to themselves and don’t show a lot of interest in interacting with or watching people who are around them.

As a result, they don’t pick up these gross motor skills. The same could be said about their fine motor skills.

Fine Motor Skills

Here are some of the fine motor skills that autistic children commonly struggle with:

• Intricately moving their hands and fingers, such as when they write or draw.
• Being able to perform tasks like tying a knot, scribbling, and feeding oneself.
• Staying coordinated, stable, and reliant on their core strength. For example, children with ASD may run into this challenge when they ride a bike.

Needless to say, the same shortcomings that impact an autistic child’s motor skills also affect their physical abilities.

Physical Issues You May See in Autistic Children

Children with autism generally experience one or more of the following physical difficulties:

1. Delays in learning how to walk, skip, jump, and/or run.
2. Their moves can be slow and/or unpredictable.
3. Reductions in their muscle tones, which can make them clumsy and likely to fall.
4. Imperfect coordination.
5. Poorly-maintained physical balance.
6. They struggle with controlling their body posture.
7. Balance problems that prevent them from walking or running in a stable manner.
8. They find it difficult to walk on their toes (much more so than neurotypical children).
9. In the same vein, going up and down the stairs can be complex for children with autism.
10. Deficiencies in eye-hand coordination.
11. Limitations at aligning their sensory processes with their bodily movements.
12. They struggle when they want to decide on their next physical movements (such as getting up from a chair) or repeat previous ones.
13. Challenges that limit their ability to perform movements or tasks in a certain order.
14. They have a hard time emulating others’ actions and behaviors.
15. Children with autism might develop fine motor skills and activities (including writing and drawing) at a later stage than their neurotypical counterparts.

With that being said, many of these ASD-induced barriers can be minimized and managed through physical therapy.

How can physical therapy help those with autism?

Physical therapy revolves around helping people with various medical conditions regain or acquire movement, balance, and coordination capabilities.

This can be especially advantageous to children with ASD, particularly when they get treated by a physical therapist’s work who focuses on  patients with autism.

What is a physical therapist?

Simply put, physical therapists are medical professionals who are trained at diagnosing and handling medical conditions that impact a person’s bodily movements and makes it difficult for them to perform day-to-day tasks.

There are many physical therapists who particularly specialize in treating autism-related physical issues.

How does it work?

When you take your autistic son or daughter to a physical therapist, here is what you can expect the process to look like:

1. The physical therapist conducts an evaluation, examines your child’s motor skills, and identifies developmental delays.
2. They put together a custom treatment program that suits your child’s personal needs.
3. The therapist starts your child’s treatment program, which might include exercise therapy, one-on-one sessions, and/or group therapy.

Alongside physical therapy, there are additional treatment methods that could enhance your autistic boy or girl’s motor skills.

Other Types of Therapies Offered by Physical Therapists

Physical therapy sessions may be conducted alongside certain forms of therapies that help children with autism with improving their motor skills.

The following are a few of the most prevalent types:

• Dance and Movement Therapy
• Hippotherapy
• Music Therapy
• Play Therapy
• Recreational Therapy

Both physical and other types of therapy sessions will entail similar activities that can strengthen an autistic patient’s motor capabilities.

What To Expect During a Therapy Session

At a typical session, you can expect to see gym balls, swings, slides, and physically-engaging objects.

Meanwhile, here are some of the exercises that your autistic son or daughter might participate in:

• Catching: For example, your child may catch a ball or frisbee.
• Clapping
• Jumping: This could be jumping as part of a hoop course or to catch/throw a ball.
• Kicking
• Skipping: Playing skipping rope, for instance, can assist your child with developing new balance and coordination capabilities.
• Throwing

How long does a physical therapy session last?

The length of a physical therapy session depends on your son or daughter’s age.

For younger children, sessions are generally 20 to 30-minutes long. Older children, on the other hand, could spend up to an hour with the therapist.

This is because boys and girls in different age groups are treated through specific forms of exercises and activities.

Physical Therapy: From Baby to Adult

Here is what physical therapy entails based on your child’s age:

Birth to Age 3

Physical therapy for ASD patients who are 3 years old or younger is centered around basic motor skills. For instance, the therapist may show them how to roll, sit, stand, and run.

Most of these activities are done in a fun and engaging way.  

Ages 3 to 18

From the time they turn 3 years old and up until they become an adult, an autistic child’s physical therapy sessions start to pivot towards more advanced motor skills.

Examples include skipping and kicking, catching, and throwing balls.

18 Years and Older

After they reach their 18th birthday, an ASD patient’s physical therapy sessions will revolve around giving them the tools that they need to live as independently as possible.

Notably, the frequency of your son or daughter’s sessions is equally as important as their length.

How often should a child get physical therapy?

How often your child attends physical therapy is based on the program that they’re enrolled in.

• Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP)/Individualized Education Program (IEP): These sessions are provided by the education system (i.e. your child’s school). Their frequency is determined by the IFSP or IEP team that works with your autistic boy or girl.
• Clinical Settings: Here, the child’s primary care physician, their therapist, and you (their parent or caretaker) decide on the recurrence and length of the sessions. Another factor to consider in clinical settings is the number of physical therapy hours that your insurance will cover (and whether you can afford to pay out of pocket for the uncovered time).

Before you enroll your autistic son or daughter in a physical therapy program, consider researching the different providers that are in your area and learning about the services that they offer.

The Best Physical Therapists in New Jersey for Autistic Children

The following are five of the best physical therapists in the Garden State:

1. Maywood Physical Therapy and Rehab Center

• Address: 119 E. Passaic St, Maywood, NJ 07607
• Phone Number: (201) 880-7787

2. InHome Pediatrics

• Address: 6 Alexander Ct, Jersey City, NJ 07305
• Phone Number: (201) 401-0702

3.Liberty Physical Therapy

• Address 1: 115 Christopher Columbus Dr, Ste 300, Jersey City, NJ 07302
• Phone Number 1: (201) 366-1115
• Address 2: 132 Newark Ave (Pedestrian Plaza), Jersey City, NJ 07302
• Phone Number 2: (201) 366-1116
• Address 3: 2 Journal Square (Opp. JSQ Path Station), Jersey City, NJ 07306
• Phone Number 3: (201) 366-1120

4. Child PT

• Address: 575 NJ-28 Building 1, Ste 204A, Raritan, NJ 08869
• Phone Number: (908) 543-4390

5. Cardinal Children Therapy

• Address: 825 NJ-73, Ste g, Marlton, NJ 08053
• Phone Number: (856) 435-6023

As you study your options, you should keep your autistic son or daughter’s unique personal challenges in mind. Finding a therapist who’s covered by your insurance plan is also crucial.

In turn, this allows you to identify a therapist who is trained to help them improve motor skills, balance and coordination, and other abilities based on their age, needs, and desires.

If you are ready to work with the best ABA therapy provider in New York, New Jersey or Indiana, give us a call at (732) 402-0297. Our dedicated team is ready to help and we will treat you like family.

As a parent of a child with autism, it can sometimes be overwhelming to care for them. 

These inspiring quotes about autism will help to inspire you when you need a little pick me up.

43 inspiring Autism Quotes 

“If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism” – Dr. Stephen Shore

“Autism… offers us a chance for us to glimpse an awe-filled vision of the world that might otherwise pass us by.” – Dr. Colin Zimbleman

“Don’t think that there’s a different, better child “hiding” behind the autism. This is your child. Love the child in front of you. Encourage his strengths, celebrate his quirks, and improve his weaknesses, the way you would with any child. You may have to work harder on some of this, but that’s the goal.” – Claire Scovell LaZebnik

“Do not fear people with autism; embrace them. Do not spite people with autism; unite them. Do not deny people with autism; accept them, for then their abilities will shine.” – Paul Issacs

“Children with autism are colorful – They are often very beautiful and, like the rainbow, they stand out.” – Adele Devine

Autists are the square pegs, and the problem with pounding a square peg into a round hole is not that the hammering is hard work. It’s that you’re destroying the peg.” – Paul Collins

“I am different, not less.” – Dr. Temple Grandin

“If they can’t learn the way we teach, we teach the way they learn.” – O. Ivar Lovaas

“Kids need to be encouraged to stretch their shine!” – Amanda Friedman

“It takes a village to raise a child. It takes a child with autism to raise the awareness of that village.” – Elaine Hall

“Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible” – Frank Zappa

“It seems that for success in science and art, a dash of autism is essential” – Hans Asperger

“Even for parents of children who are not on the spectrum, there is no such thing as a normal child.” – Violet Stevens

“Autism is part of my child. It’s not everything he is. My child is so much more than a diagnosis.” – S.L. Coelho

“Autism can’t define me. I define autism.” – Kerry Magro

“There needs to be a lot more emphasis on what a child can do instead of on what he cannot do.” – Dr. Temple Grandin

“To measure the success of our societies, we should examine how well those with different abilities, including persons with autism, are integrated as full and valued members.” – Ban Ki-Moon

“The most interesting people you’ll find are ones that don’t fit into your average cardboard box. They’ll make what they need, they’ll make their own boxes.” – Dr. Temple Grandin

“Autism is like a rainbow. It has a bright side and a darker side. But every shade is important and beautiful.” – Rosie Tennant Doran

“I am autistic and I am proud” – Sez Francis, Autism Advocate

“Autism is really more of a difference that needs to be worked with rather than a monolithic enemy that needs to be slain or destroyed.” – Dr. Stephen Shore

“Autism doesn’t have to define a person. Artists with autism are like everyone else: They define themselves through hard work and individuality.” – Adrienne Bailon

“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” – Dr. Seuss

“Autism makes you listen louder. It makes you pay attention to an emotional level as well as an intellectual level.” – Jace King

“Children with autism develop all kinds of enthusiasms… perhaps focusing on one topic gives the child a sense of control, of predictability and security in a world that can be unpredictable and feel scary.” – Barry M. Prizant

“I’ve learned that every human being, with or without disabilities, needs to strive to do their best, and by striving for happiness you will arrive at happiness. For us, you see, having autism is normal — so we can’t know for sure what your ‘normal’ is even like. But so long as we can learn to love ourselves, I’m not sure how much it matters, whether we’re normal or autistic.” – Naoki Higashida

“When enough people care about autism or diabetes or global warming, it helps everyone, even if only a tiny fraction actively participate.” – Seth Godin

“When a family focuses on ability instead of the disability, all things are possible… Love and acceptance is key. We need to interact with those with autism by taking an interest in their interests.” – Amanda Rae Ross

“We cry, we scream, we hit out and break things. But still, we don’t want you to give up on us. Please, keep battling alongside us.” – Naoki Higashida

“Why should I cry for not being an apple, when I was born an orange? I’d be crying for an illusion, I may as well cry out for not being a horse.” – Donna Williams

“Autism: Where the ‘randomness of life’ collides and clashes with an individual’s need for sameness.” – Eileen Miller

“What would happen if the autism gene was eliminated from the gene pool? You would have a bunch of people standing around in a cave, chatting and socializing and not getting anything done.” – Temple Grandin

“The difference between high-functioning and low-functioning is that high-functioning means your deficits are ignored, and low-functioning means your assets are ignored.” – Laura Tisoncik

“Autism is as much a part of humanity as is the capacity to dream.” – Kathleen Seidel

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” – Albert Einstein

“What I like to tell parents is that raising a child with autism is running a marathon. It’s not a sprint.” – Dr. Brian Bowman

“Get to know someone on the spectrum and your life will truly be blessed.” – Stephanie L. Parker

“Disability is a matter of perception. If you can do just one thing well, you’re needed by someone.” – Martina Navratilova

“If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.” – Maya Angelou

“Our duty in autism is not to cure but to relieve suffering and to maximize each person’s potential.” – John Elder Robison

“Disability doesn’t make you exceptional, but questioning what you think you know about it does.” – Stella Young

“Those without obsessive focus have to take classes to cultivate it.” – Rudy Simone

“I might hit developmental and social milestones in a different order than my peers, but I am able to accomplish these small victories on my own time.” – Haley Moss

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed this list of inspiring autism quotes. 

If you are ready to work with the best ABA therapy provider in New York, New Jersey or Indiana, give us a call at (732) 402-0297. Our dedicated team is ready to help and we will treat you like family.

Pets and Animal Therapy for Children with Autism

Animal-assisted and pet therapies are among many different types of therapies available for children with autism. 

They are a great option because they are risk-free and can be effectively combined with other forms of autism treatment. 

Here’s everything you need to know about choosing animal therapy for your autistic child. 

How Can a Pet Help a Child with Autism?

Numerous studies have shown that owning and interacting with pets is highly beneficial for children with autism. Pets can help children cope with anxiety, build communication skills, and socialize with others. Even children who spend only short amounts of time in the presence of an animal can see temporary improvement of some symptoms of autism. 

Pets can benefit autistic children in several different ways, such as: 

Combat loneliness

Looking after a pet can help children with autism combat loneliness. Pets are easy to interact with, they provide companionship, as well as unconditional love and affection. 

Increase social behavior 

Many kids with autism experience difficulties in connecting with others. Owning a pet brings about many socializing opportunities. What’s more, taking care of a pet can teach your child about treating others kindly, displaying gentle behavior, and compassion. 

Improve communication skills

Many autistic kids with impaired communication skills speak more frequently when playing with their pets. Pets are also great companions for children who communicate non-verbally, as they will find other ways to interact and create a strong bond with the animal.

Help deal with stress and anxiety

The presence of a pet offers a sense of security to autistic kids. A pet may help lower stress and anxiety, improving the child’s self esteem and overall well-being. 

Improve cognitive and emotional skills

Having a pet promotes positive feelings of care, love, and empathy in children with autism. Studies show that the longer they own a pet, the more their cognitive and emotional skills increase. 

Offer sensory support

Pets offer invaluable support for autistic children with sensory needs. For example, the reassuring pressure of a dog’s head on a child’s lap can help them remain calm in a stressful situation. 

Teach responsibility

Involving your child with autism in the training and daily care of a pet teaches responsibility, effective task management, and helps boost the child’s self-esteem.

Strengthen family bonds

Research has demonstrated that having a pet may reduce stress and create stronger bonds between parents and children with autism.

What Is the Best Pet for an Autistic Child?

When considering a pet for a child on the autism spectrum, the first animal that comes to mind is often a dog. However, dogs are not a suitable choice for all autistic kids. The good news is, almost any kind of animal can provide the emotional, physical, or social support that your child needs. 

There are a few things to consider before you choose a pet for your child, including how severe their autism is, what type of support they need, and most importantly, what kind of animal they prefer. 

You should keep in mind that reptiles, birds, and fish are somewhat less suitable for children with autism since they can’t provide the type of interactions that build skills. Hamsters are also not ideal pets for autistic kids, as they move fast and can get angry and aggressive when disturbed.

Dogs

Dogs are wonderful pets for children with autism. They provide invaluable companionship and can help your child build confidence and social skills.

However, dogs are expensive to care for and demand significant time commitment. Some autistic children find dogs intimidating and unpredictable, and highly active breeds might trigger sensory overload.

Cats

Contrary to dogs who have an intense stare, cats tend to quickly avert their gaze, which may feel more comfortable for autistic children who struggle with eye contact. Cats have a soothing presence, are quiet, and are well suited for children with sensory issues. On the other hand, some cats may show aggression toward children with autism.

Rabbits

If your child is afraid of dogs, a rabbit may be a great alternative. Rabbits are safe, non-threatening, and soothing to watch and pet. Unlike dogs, they don’t require extensive care or treatment.  

At the same time, it’s important to keep in mind that rabbits are social animals and prefer to have other rabbits as companions in addition to human interaction. 

Guinea pigs

Just like rabbits, guinea pigs are gentle and low-maintenance pets. Children with autism often become more cheerful and talkative when they are in the presence of guinea pigs, they make eye contact more frequently, and interact better with others. In addition, guinea pigs have a longer lifespan than other small pets and can live for up to seven years. 

Rats

Rats are extremely social and intelligent pets. They are curious and playful and love interacting with children. On the downside, they like to stay close to their owners for hours on end and require a great commitment of time and attention. 

Animal Therapies Available for Autistic Children

Animal-assisted therapies are supplemental treatments often used in combination with applied behavior analysis (ABA) and other therapies for children with autism. Animal therapies use emotional support animals, service animals, and specialized therapy animals. These animals receive formal training and are certified by licensed professional trainers and therapists. 

Service animals

A service animal, usually a dog, offers emotional support to a child with autism. For example, dogs can be trained to apply weighted pressure when a child is distressed, use their body as a blocker to prevent the child from hurting themselves, and help them deal with other stressful situations. 

Because service animals are considered to be a form of medical support, you may be able to get a prescription from your child’s physician or therapist. Service dogs are allowed in most public places.

Therapy animals

Therapy animals, such as cats, dogs, guinea pigs, parrots, horses, and many other animals can help your child with autism build social communication skills and manage their emotions. Therapy animals are also used to improve play skills and support positive social interactions with peers.

Emotional support animals

Emotional support animals are often pets, such as a dog, a cat, a potbelly pig, or a miniature pony. They make it easier for children with autism to manage stressful situations at school, during medical interventions, or travel. Unlike service animals, they are not trained to perform specific tasks.

Hippotherapy

Even if your child with autism enjoys being around animals, they may not be suited for having a pet that demands attention and care. In this case, you may consider animal-assisted therapy, such as hippotherapy. 

Hippotherapy or equestrian therapy is therapeutic horseback riding and horse care. Some children with autism may find horses intimidating, but those who enjoy the experience will largely benefit from this type of therapy. Here are some ways in which hippotherapy may help your child:

• Many children with autism have low muscle tone and sitting on horseback can improve their physical strength. 
• Guiding and talking to a horse can enhance your child’s social communication skills. In addition, hippotherapy is shown to have a positive impact on the understanding of spoken language and social cognition. 
• Equestrian therapy can reduce irritability in children with autism.

If you are ready to work with the best ABA therapy provider in New York, New Jersey or Indiana, give us a call at (732) 402-0297. Our dedicated team is ready to help and we will treat you like family.

Bipolar disorder is a relatively common form of mental illness in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Although the two disorders share certain symptoms and genetic causes, they are not the same. 

In this article, we shed light on the co-occurrence of autism and bipolar disorder, their overlapping symptoms, and available treatments.

Understanding Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a common psychiatric mood disorder, in the past known as “manic depressive illness.” Approximately 2.3 million Americans are currently diagnosed with bipolar disorder, out of which 1%-3% are adolescents. This disorder is not common in children. 

Individuals with bipolar disorder alternate between two extreme emotional states: manic and depressive. Manic and depressive episodes can happen over several days, weeks, or months. Some people have fast and frequent mood swings, called rapid cycling, although this condition is rare. 

The dramatic mood shifts typical for bipolar disorder can affect every aspect of a person’s daily life, including behavior, energy levels, judgment ability, sleep, and performing everyday tasks. This is a chronic condition that requires life-long treatment.

Manic episodes

Manic episodes are periods of excited behavior that last for a week or more. A milder version, hypomania, lasts for a few days. People who experience manic episodes feel euphoric and full of energy or are extremely irritable. 

Symptoms of a manic episode may include:

• Acting unusually upbeat and happy
• High levels of energy
• Inflated self-esteem
• Fast and loud talking
• Excessive pacing
• Repetitive behaviors
• Impulsivity and risk-taking behaviors
• Aggression 
• Sleep disturbances.

Depressive episodes

Depressive episodes are characterized by extreme sadness and the feeling of hopelessness. Most bipolar people experience episodes of mania and depression, but some may have very few depression episodes or none at all.

Symptoms of a depressive episode may include:

• Feeling sad and without hope
• Fatigue and low energy
• Loss of interest in everyday activities
• Dramatic changes in appetite
• Sudden weight loss or weight gain
• Insomnia or excessive sleeping
• Inability to concentrate
• Suicidal thoughts.

Are Autism and Bipolar Disorder Related?

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by socialization and communication difficulties, in addition to repetitive and obsessive behaviors. Bipolar symptoms involve mood swings and significant variations in energy levels. Both disorders can interfere with normal daily functioning.

An estimated 27% of individuals with autism also have symptoms of bipolar disorder, compared to only 4% of the general population. Research shows that individuals with autism are at increased risk for bipolar disorder and vice versa.

The connection between the two disorders is not well understood, however, some studies have suggested that autism and bipolar disorder may share underlying genetic risk factors. People who have a close family member with bipolar disorder are at a greater risk of developing autism. 

The difference between autism and bipolar disorder is not always clear, as individuals affected by these two conditions may behave in similar ways. Here are some aspects to consider:

• Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder, while bipolar disorder is a psychiatric illness.
• The main symptoms of bipolar disorder are mood-related issues, while autism is unrelated to mood. Individuals with autism typically don’t experience manic and depressive episodes.
• Most people with autism have difficulties with language, social communication, and sensory processing. People with bipolar disorder who don’t have autism are very unlikely to show these symptoms.
• Stimming or repetitive actions that occur consistently over longer periods of time, such as rocking and hand flapping, are typical of autism. These symptoms are not related to bipolar disorder.
• The first signs of autism are often noticed before the age of 3. However, symptoms of bipolar disorder tend to emerge much later, usually around the age of 25.

Although bipolar disorder and autism are two distinct diagnoses, they have many similarities and overlapping symptoms. Here are the most common ones. 

Overlapping Symptoms of Autism and Bipolar Disorder

Overlapping symptoms for autism and bipolar disorder may include:

• Irritability
• Sleep problems
• Difficulty concentrating
• Being prone to accidents
• Behavior issues and tantrums.

Some symptoms of bipolar disorder may appear in individuals with severe autism, for example, hyperactivity, agitation, disturbed sleep, impulsivity, and irritability. However, people with ASD who show these symptoms, don’t necessarily have bipolar disorder. In fact, the symptoms of bipolar disorder in people with autism will usually not appear in the same way that they would in a non-autistic person. 

Individuals who are diagnosed with both conditions are likely to present the following symptoms: 

• Loud and fast talking
• Constant pacing
• Increased impulsivity 
• Aggressive behavior
• Sudden sleep disturbances.

Treatment

Bipolar disorder is one of the most severe comorbid psychiatric disorders in people with autism. Managing co-occurring autism and bipolar disorder involves a combination of behavioral interventions and medications. It is essential to have an accurate diagnosis for comorbid autism and bipolar disorder, since treatment for each of the disorders may not be effective when they overlap.

Autism

Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy is the most successful intervention for treating autism. It focuses on teaching communication and social skills, coping with sensory issues, and performing daily tasks through positive reinforcement of desired behaviors.

With intensive early intervention, close to 50% of autistic children who go through ABA therapy see significant improvement in their symptoms and reach a development level where they are indistinguishable from their neurotypical peers. Young children should receive at least 25 hours of ABA therapy per week for maximum effect. 

Depending on their level of functioning, individuals with autism may also require supplementary treatments, such as developmental and play therapy, speech therapy, sensory integration therapy, social skills training, and dietary intervention. When medications are used, they include anti-anxiety drugs and second-generation antipsychotics.

Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is treated with a combination of lifestyle changes, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and medications to help control symptoms of manic and depressive episodes. Medications may include antipsychotic drugs, mood stabilizers such as lithium, as well as some anti-seizure drugs. With adequate treatment, most people with bipolar disorder are able to live normal, productive lives and control their illness.

If you are ready to work with the best ABA therapy provider in New York, New Jersey or Indiana, give us a call at (732) 402-0297. Our dedicated team is ready to help and we will treat you like family.

All children may occasionally have trouble falling and staying asleep, but kids with autism often deal with significant sleep problems. 

Read this article to learn more about autism-related sleep disorders, what causes them, and how lifestyle changes and medication can improve your child’s sleep.

Sleep Disorders and Autistic Children

Sleep disorders are common among children with autism. Research shows that up to 80% of autistic children have some type of sleep issues, for example:

• Resistance to bedtime
• Trouble falling asleep (sleep-onset insomnia)
• Restlessness and discomfort while sleeping
• Poor sleep quality
• Sleep apnea or breathing interruptions during sleep
• Sleeping much less than recommended for their age
• Waking through the night and staying awake for more than an hour
• Waking too early and daytime sleepiness.

Researchers aren’t sure why sleep issues occur more commonly in children with autism than in their neurotypical peers. Some theories include sensitivities to stimuli, biological brain differences, high rates of anxiety, and other factors. Read on to learn more.

What Causes Sleep Disorders in Autistic Children?

Sleep problems in children with autism can be related to their daytime and bedtime habits, as well as a range of other environmental and biological factors. Once you understand what’s causing your child’s sleep problems, it will be easier to find the appropriate solution.

Bedtime habits

• If your child does not have a consistent bedtime routine, there are no predictable cues indicating that it’s time to sleep.
• Your child’s sleep environment may be too hot, cold, or noisy. These conditions can make it challenging to fall asleep, and even more so if your child has sensory sensitivities.
• If your child is very active in the evening, it will be harder to feel calm and sleepy before bed.

Daytime habits

• Unhealthy eating habits, such as eating foods low in fiber and high in saturated fat and sugar can lead to lighter and less restorative sleep.
• Lack of physical activity and exercise during the day may cause sleep-related problems.
• Long or late daytime naps can negatively impact sleep quality and the duration of sleep at night.

Social communication difficulties

Sleep problems in autistic children may be a result of their social communication difficulties. Many children with autism have difficulty reading social cues and may not understand that it’s time to get ready for bed. 

Heightened sensitivity

Children with autism who have heightened sensitivity can find it challenging to calm down and fall asleep. They are also more prone to be awakened by noise during the night. 

Health conditions and medications

Children with comorbid medical conditions, such as asthma, epilepsy, gastrointestinal disorders, and anxiety may develop sleep problems. Some medications like ADHD drugs may also affect sleep and lead to insomnia. 

Abnormal melatonin production

Many autistic children have abnormal levels of tryptophan, an amino acid involved in the production of the sleep-regulating hormone melatonin. They also tend to have atypical circadian rhythms that cause them to produce more melatonin during the day than at night.

Genetic factors

Researchers have identified a gene associated with sleep latency and poor sleep quality that is often missing in people with autism. 

Sleep Disorder Effects on Autistic Children

Studies show that children with autism who have sleep problems display more severe behavioral and learning issues, for example: 

• Increased social communication challenges
• More compulsive rituals and obsessive behaviors
• More frequent occurrences of challenging behavior
• More instances of hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder
• Higher levels of irritability and aggression
• Higher rates of behavioral issues, depression, and anxiety
• More frequent concentration problems
• More frequent instances of obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Decreased learning and cognitive performance
• Decreased ability to develop peer relationships.

Many parents believe that there’s nothing they can do about the sleep issues of their children with autism. However, it is possible to improve your child’s sleep quality by making some lifestyle adjustments. 

Ways to Help a Child with Autism Sleep Better

All children need good quality sleep to grow and stay healthy and children with autism are no exception. Here’s what you can do to help your child sleep better:

• Establish a nighttime routine to make it easier for your child to understand that it’s bedtime. 
• Add bedtime to your child’s daily schedule to help them know when it’s time to go to bed.
• Remind your child it’s bedtime a few minutes in advance by using a cue, like a clock or a picture.
• You can use social stories to explain the importance of sleep to your child.
• Help your child relax before bed. Give them a bath and a back massage, read a story together, and turn on relaxing music.
• Avoid giving your child stimulants, such as caffeinated drinks and sugar before bed.
• Make sure your child is physically active during the day.
• Use stress-relieving techniques and breathing exercises throughout the day to help your child relax.
• Switch off the television and electronic devices at least an hour before bedtime.
• Keep your child’s bedroom dark, quiet, and cool in order to minimize any sensory issues. 

• Consider purchasing products designed for children with sensory issues, for example, weighted blankets, soothing pillows, sensory sheets, and white noise machines.

With enough practice and consistency, many children with autism will highly benefit from these steps and start sleeping better, however, others will still need a bit more help. In the following section, we take a look at sleep medication for autistic children. 

Sleep Medication for Children with Autism

Your child’s doctor may prescribe medication to improve sleep quality. The most commonly prescribed sleep medication for children with autism include: 

Clonidine

Clonidine is a prescription medication used to treat a variety of conditions from high blood pressure to anxiety. It has also been found to induce sleepiness and reduce nighttime waking in children with autism. Clonidine may help your child fall asleep and have fewer awakenings at night. 

Antidepressants

Antidepressants like Mirtazapine are sometimes prescribed for sleep problems in children with autism due to their sedative properties. However, like all medications, antidepressants come with side effects, including sleepiness, dizziness, headaches, and increased appetite.

Antihistamines

Benadryl and other antihistamines have sleep-inducing side effects, but can cause daytime drowsiness which might affect your child’s ability to learn during the day. Antihistamines can also cause some children to become hyperactive, which can make their sleep problems even worse.

Z-drugs

Some children with autism are given hypnotic sleep aids such as zolpidem, zopiclone, and zaleplon—commonly referred to as the z-drugs—that work by slowing activity in the brain. These medications are generally well tolerated, but they may have adverse effects in some children, including drowsiness and gastrointestinal issues. 

Risperidone and clonazepam

Risperidone and anti-seizure medication like clonazepam are usually given to older children and teenagers with autism when other medications are not effective.

Melatonin supplements

Melatonin is a dietary supplement commonly used to treat sleep disorders. Melatonin might help some autistic children fall asleep faster, sleep for longer, and wake up less frequently during the night. It has relatively few and mild side effects, but keep in mind that taking too much melatonin can make your child’s insomnia worse. 

If you are ready to work with the best ABA therapy provider in New York, New Jersey or Indiana, give us a call at (732) 402-0297. Our dedicated team is ready to help and we will treat you like family.

Most children with autism experience some type of sleep problems due to sensory overload and other issues. 

They often find sleeping on the floor more comforting than laying in bed. Read this article to find out why and learn more about products that can help your child sleep better. 

Autistic Children and Sleeping Disorders

Sleeping disorders are much more common in children with autism spectrum disorder than in neurotypical children and those with other developmental disabilities. It is estimated that between 40% and 80% of all children on the spectrum experience sleep problems, including:

• Difficulties falling asleep
• Poor sleep quality
• Restlessness during night
• Waking frequently at night
• Sleepwalking and night terrors
• Sleep apnea
• Sleeping less than typical for the child’s age
• Waking up too early
• Daytime sleepiness. 

It is unclear what causes such a high prevalence of sleep challenges among children with autism, but researchers believe that many issues come from sensory sensibilities typical for autism, in addition to several other factors, such as:  

• Children with autism often have difficulties with social language and are not able to pick up on social cues that indicate when it’s bedtime.
• Some children on the autism spectrum have atypical circadian rhythms. They produce lower amounts of sleep-related hormone melatonin at night than neurotypical children.
• Gastrointestinal problems, asthma, epilepsy, and other commonly co-occurring conditions in children with autism may disrupt sleep.
• Increased levels of stress and anxiety, inability to relax, and ADHD can also cause insomnia in children on the spectrum.

Why Do Children With Autism Sleep on the Floor?

Some autistic children prefer to sleep on the floor instead of in their beds. This can be due to a number of factors: 

Sensory processing disorder

Many children with autism have a sensory processing disorder (SPD). This means that they experience extreme sensitivities to external stimuli, including light, sounds, smell, and touch. If your child becomes overwhelmed by sensory stimuli, they won’t be able to get the sleep they need. 

Your child may find bedding itchy or scratchy, which makes laying in bed extremely uncomfortable. The bed may also trigger sensory overload in your child because it feels too soft, too squishy, or not smooth enough. They may simply prefer how the floor feels against their skin. 

The bed is too warm

The wrong temperature at bedtime can also disrupt your child’s sleep. If the bed gets too warm at night, your child may seek out the coldness of the floor for more comfort. 

The floor just feels better

Your child may choose to sleep on the floor because it offers the sense of security that their bed can’t. A smooth, cool, and hard floor can be easier to deal with than a very soft bed. Laying on the floor can also help them feel more connected and grounded.

If your child struggles with sleep, there are many products that can help them fall asleep more easily and feel at ease in their bed. 

8 Products That Help Autistic Children Sleep in Their Beds

Children on the autism spectrum meet many challenges and it’s essential that they get the right amount of quality sleep so that they can develop and grow. Here are some products that can improve your child’s sleep. Most of them are designed specifically for children with autism and other special needs.

Dreampad products

Dreampad offers a wide range of products to help your child fall asleep, from weighted blankets and support pillows to white noise machines. These products can help relieve anxiety and dysfunctions that may be preventing your child from getting a good night’s sleep.

Fidget toys

Fidget toys like this one provide the right amount of sensory input to help your child relax. This fidget pillow has lots of texture and easy tasks that your child can focus on before falling asleep.

Weighted blankets

Weighted blankets provide an even pressure across the child’s lap, chest, and shoulders to help them find calm. If your child’s anxiety gets worse around bedtime, a weighted blanket can offer the much-needed reassurance. This natural sleep aid will help your little one relax before bed, fall asleep faster, and stay asleep longer. 

Sensory sheets

Sensory sheets are an alternative to weighted blankets, suitable for autistic kids of all ages who struggle with sleeping. The sheets provide adjustable compression and stress relieving support, while preventing the child from tossing and turning in the bed at night. Sensory sheets are comfortable, breathable, stretchy, easy to put on, and adjustable to suit your child’s comfort.

Sleepy Time pillow

The natural fragrance of these soothing pillows will provide relief from stress and anxiety and help your child relax. The pillows are filled with natural lavender flowers and flax seeds and come with a small bottle of lavender essential oil for re-scenting. You can also place them inside your child’s pillowcase for restful sleep. 

Naturepedic Verse organic children’s mattress

This Naturepedic Verse mattress is one of the best mattresses for autistic children. It is made from organic materials that help eliminate toxins and reduce smells, which makes them suitable even for the most sensitive children. The individually encased coils minimize sounds, while the upper layer reduces pressure points that your child may find uncomfortable. These mattresses can be used both by younger and older autistic children.

Rohm portable white noise sound machine

Rohm compact portable white noise machine makes a soothing, consistent sound similar to that of a fan. It effectively masks disturbing noises, allowing your child to sleep better. This noise machine is suitable for everyday use as well as for traveling. 

ZPod Autism Bed

ZPod beds are enclosed capsule beds specifically designed to create ideal sleeping conditions for children with autism. The beds feature intelligent lighting control, a white noise generator, air filters, room temperature and light control, and many other smart functions that will help your child sleep soundly through the night.

If you are ready to work with the best ABA therapy provider in New York or New Jersey, give us a call at (732) 402-0297. Our dedicated team is ready to help and we will treat you like family.