dylanHi all,

The times that have guided treatment interventions for children with ASD are certainly changing.’ But why has it been so difficult for folks to embrace this change and incorporate these new findings and discoveries into their work? Do I dare say that politics and funding play a role? Or  even dare say that special interests groups/folks in the world of ASD have certain “power sources” to steer agendas? Or, how-about the thought that folks choose certain research studies to support an agenda? Whatever the case is, the ones getting hurt are children and their families. They are the ones that are not being given a choice, and in turn, are not fully made aware of alternatives and truths.

Why are families of children with ASD rarely informed of alternative treatment options outside of only one way of working? Is prochoice not permitted in the world of ASD? Why is it that on a weekly basis, and sometimes times daily, I meet with parents of newly diagnosed children, who come into my office expressing that they have never heard of any developmental approach being effective. In addition, I would say that 95% of them say that they have never heard of the DIR/Floortime Model? This is generally followed by them saying, “oh yes, I have heard of music therapy, but what exactly is music therapy? What does a music therapist do? Oh, are you going to teach him songs? He just loves the Beatles!” It’s disheartening.

The purpose of this post is not to preach that developmental approaches  (or that developmentally-based music therapy) are better then behavioral. I’m simply saying that parents should be better informed and given the option of treatment interventions. A part of the issue is that we, developmentally-based therapists and organizations, have to do a much better job of advocating and educating folks on developmental ways of working and thinking. Then, there are the bigger issues that get in the way of effective advocacy  (and that political stuff  I’ll save for another time). What can we do now? We simply  would like for families to be made aware of alternative treatment options that ARE actually based on theories of child and brain development.

There have been many new discoveries on child and brain development. In the last 10-20 years we have learned a great deal about how children develop healthy foundations for thinking, relating, and communicating. We have extensive research on brain development, as well as now know how important it is for children to be nourished with affect and relationship-based interventions that cater to their individual-differences in order to foster their ability to self-regulate, engage, and reciprocate. For some reason, however, we seem to be stuck in the old the ways of thinking, and in turn, are not implementing new and robust scientific data into clinical practice.

Join me in NOT preaching what is better or worse, but for advocating that families should be given treatment options for their children. Let’s keep in mind that this IS about the children. The agenda should be based on helping to serve families while respecting the fact that every child, every person is different, and that there is NEVER only one way to do something.

In this video (see below), you will hear Drs. Stanley Greenspan and Serena Weider discuss how these new scientific discoveries have found their way into “new” ways of thinking and working with children with developmental challenges such as ASD, ADHD, etc.

Here are the 3 main points that are discussed as being newly discovered areas of development

  • 1) affect and learning through relationships
  • 2) the importance of individual-differences, including motor planning and sequencing (children who have difficulty with planing and sequencing will simply just repeat, i.e., self-perseverative behaviors)
  • 3) can not teach isolated cognitive skills

 

The Times They are A Changin’: New Discoveries Leading to NEW Ways of Working with Children w/ASD

4 thoughts on “The Times They are A Changin’: New Discoveries Leading to NEW Ways of Working with Children w/ASD

  • May 18, 2014 at 10:32 pm
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    Couldn’t agree more! I share your frustration with the lack of awareness of developmental approaches and DIR more specifically. The barriers that I encounter in my work are lack of awareness of parents about treatment options and also agencies and systems that have purposely created roadblocks to all but the “approved” approaches. I have started having conversations with some other folks including parents about ways to begin to advocate for choice. We’ll see where it goes 🙂

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  • May 19, 2014 at 4:39 am
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    Hi Sandy,
    Thanks for your reply. I do feel that things are changing and will change. And of course this will not come without a ton of resistance…If you can share any of your strategies regarding speaking with families about advocating for choice, that would be greatly appreciated!
    Best,
    John

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  • May 19, 2014 at 12:12 pm
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    Dr. Carpente,
    Love this post, I share these thoughts! Parents are trying anything, but it is all basically the same (this is reported by parents) due to what is funded. What I am hearing is that even some other professionals working with these kids see these limitations and are frustrated and looking for new ways to incorporate other approaches . In my own practice, I have tried to connect parents to one another. Kids that are abke to be in a group go to therapy, while the parents stay together in the waiting room. This has had a wonderful effect. Parents support one another, have play-dates and find out valuable info. The children have friends , families are supported and so is the Music Therapy. Movement in getting the word out that there are other approaches is slow, but families and children are stronger . Hopefully, over time,things will change. At least, if I can’t change the system, I can change my tiny little corner . I always say, anything good, that lasts takes time. Maybe if we all can find and help support one another, we can quicken the process. Posts like yours, keep us motivated and keep us moving in the right direction!
    Antoinette

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    • May 20, 2014 at 3:21 am
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      hi Antoinette,
      Thank you for your reply and your work. Yes, i agree, if we can continue to change our own little corners things will move (and things are moving). Let’s continue to keep it moving!
      Best,
      John

      Reply

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