What Is Autism?
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how a person perceives their environment. Autism has an impact on how a person thinks, feels, perceives their surroundings, interacts with others, and communicates with them. At Triumph Behavioral Health, a Maryland wellness center, we offer autism therapy services and medication management to support those who are affected by this condition.
As a result of their differences in perception, individuals with autism exhibit difficulties in their social interactions and communication, as well as repetitive or intensely concentrated behavior. Additionally, people with autism frequently encounter sensory impairments that might change how they perceive and react to their environment.
Autism affects everyone differently. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is another name for autism. The term "spectrum" describes the diverse set of traits, aptitudes, and skills that individuals with autism have.
The Maryland autism therapy center run by Triumph Behavioral Health is an outstanding example of our dedication to changing lives. Autism therapy services can make a huge difference in the quality of life for those living with autism. Our nurse practitioner therapists work with people with autism of many different ages.
What Are the 3 Main Symptoms of Autism?
The three main symptoms of autism occur in the areas of communication, behavior, and learning. Different autism therapy techniques can help address these symptoms. People of any age can be diagnosed with autism. While it is commonly diagnosed in children, there is also autism therapy for adults that can help with managing symptoms.
Communication Symptoms of Autism
Receptive Communication: Receptive communication refers to understanding what others are trying to say by their body language, facial expressions, verbal language, and other non-verbal indicators is referred to as receptive communication. All or more of these aspects of receptive communication may be difficult for people with autism.
Expressive Communication: This is the process through which we convey to others our needs, wants, ideas, and feelings. While some people with autism have major language impairments, others may have a very large vocabulary and be able to speak in-depth about a variety of topics. Others with autism may communicate through nonverbal means.
Repetitive and Regulated Patterns of Behavior
Repetitive and regulated patterns of behavior include repetitive actions, strong interests, and sensory processing.
Repeated Action: Repeated actions or speech are referred to as repetitive actions. These repeated actions might involve gestures, sounds, routines, and rituals, and they can vary greatly depending on the individual.
Strong Interests: Autism is frequently correlated with strong interests. The terms “intense” or “restricted” interests are occasionally used. Every person has hobbies and passions, including things we adore, pastimes we relish, and subjects we adore discussing and learning more about. This is crucial for our psychological well-being and for enhancing our sense of purpose.
Sensory Processing: When we talk about sensory processing, we are talking about how the nervous system acquires, comprehends, organizes, and uses information from our senses (such as sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell, balance, and body awareness) and then transforms it into a response. It is now generally acknowledged that individuals with autism perceive sensory information differently than non-autistic individuals.
Thinking and Learning in People With Autism
People with autism tend to think and learn differently than their neurotypical counterparts. Use of community resources to provide support for individuals with autism is essential. Triumph Behavioral Health is an excellent choice, as we work with partners in our community providing ABA therapy for autism, psychotherapy, and medication management.
Theory of Mind: “Theory of mind” is a phrase used to describe the understanding that other people think differently from us or the capacity to consider situations from the perspective of another person. It entails being able to identify and comprehend the ideas, ideals, aspirations, and intentions of other people as well as how they connect to us.
Central Coherence: Putting information together and interpreting it in light of the event or circumstance is central coherence. Instead of getting distracted by the "nitty gritty" or minute details, it means having the ability to search for the "big picture" and ultimate meaning. The ability to determine how much information to focus on and which aspects are most pertinent depending on the scenario we are in is another important aspect of striking a balance between the "big picture" and the specifics.
Skills in Executive Function: Our ability to organize, concentrate, remember, and effectively respond to numerous internal and external messages as well as change our plans in order to accomplish our objectives is aided by our executive function skills. To get things done, we use this set of mental abilities to control our thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. Planning and prioritizing, organization, initiating (or getting started), focus, shifting attention, time management, sequencing, and self-monitoring are all examples of executive function skills. In essence, executive functions resemble a personal management system.
Autism Therapy Techniques
There are many different techniques and strategies for autism therapy services. At Triumph Behavioral Health, our licensed Maryland behavioral health practitioners works with community partners to offer support and assistance for children with autism as well as autism therapy for adults. Wondering what therapy is most effective for autism? It all depends on the unique considerations for every individual.
Many people wonder what is the most successful treatment for autism or what type of therapy is best for autistic adults, but the answer is not always simple. Every person with autism experiences a different combination of symptoms, so the best treatment for one person may differ from the best treatment for the next person.
Here are some common autism therapy techniques that may be used:
Applied behavioral analysis (ABA)
Occupational therapy (OT)
Relationship development intervention (RDI)
Speech therapy
Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)
And more.
At Triumph Behavioral Health, our team of mental health providers in Maryland provides empathetic care that is customized to meet the individual needs of each patient. We are a central location for autism support in Maryland, and we are here to help.
Autism Treatment FAQs
What services are needed for autism?
People with autism may need a variety of different services. Remember, autism does not look the same in any two people, so the services that one person needs will differ from what the next person needs. When considering what therapy is best for autism, it is important to look critically at the needs of the specific individual rather than the population of autistic people as a whole. At Triumph Behavioral Health, we can set up a therapy appointment this week to help begin working toward a more fulfilling life.
What therapy is best for autism?
The best therapy for autism depends on the unique needs of each patient. As you look for a therapist in Baltimore County to help with autism, it is important to choose an expert nurse practitioner therapist who has experience in this area. At Triumph Behavioral Health, our team is composed of the best therapists in Maryland who are well-versed in autism therapy techniques.
What does high-functioning autism look like in adults?
High-functioning autism in adults can include symptoms like struggling with social interaction and reading social cues, experiencing sensory overload, anxiety or mood disorders, difficulty controlling emotions, and more. Many people wonder, is there any treatment for autism in adults or what do autistic adults struggle with? Autism cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be addressed to make life easier for those who are living with autism. At Triumph Behavioral Health, a Baltimore County therapy group, we can assist in determining the best autism therapy techniques for your unique situation.
What is the rage cycle of autism?
The rage cycle of autism is the three stages of a meltdown that people with autism can experience. These stages are rumbling, rage, and recovery. Rumbling refers to signs of distress such as rocking and pacing that precede the meltdown. If the anger is not de-escalated, this can turn into rage, at which point the person may become aggressive. The recovery stage typically is accompanied by withdrawal and, in some cases, contrite feelings. At Triumph Behavioral Health, our behavioral health practitioners can help patients with autism experience the benefits of psychotherapy and autism therapy techniques to reduce the effects of this cycle.