Is Peter Eastgate Autistic?
08-10-2009
, 09:22 PM
Quote:
I thank you for the clarfication. You are right. There are individuals across the spectrum that do smile regularly. However, there are some inviduals on the spectrum that have a very low affect, and show little to no emotion through facial and bodily gestures.
"The fact is that ABA techniques are FAR more effective in producing change than all other therapies combined."
I now understand your support for ABA and respect your profession. However, I have a problem with the word change here. It's too vague. I completely understand that treatment planning is specific and based on the needs of the individual. But, what "change" are we looking for? I do not doubt the research supporting the efficacy of ABA in treating individuals with autism. However, although I am not a behavioral therapist, I feel ABA is a bit too narrow and rigid.
IMHO "Sensory Integration" is often misunderstood and undervalued when treating individuals with autism. As there are always exceptions, not all individuals with autism will benefit from SI treatment, as they may not have a sensory processing disorder. I will highlight some points of the SI theory.
Sensory Integration Perspective/Theory:
In my own words, occupational thearpists and other professionals, use a SI approach for children who appear to have an sensory processing disorder (SPD). Basically, sensory processing disorders manifests itself either as a modulation, or praxis/motor planning, problem.
1) Modulation: children who are either over responsive or under responsive to sensory input (e.g. a kid might become very agitated to light stroking provided by their care taker/or a child who constantly leans on others, has no sense of personal space-basically poor body awareness-where you might be able to predict that this child will have difficulty maintaining and sustaining social relationships).
2) Praxis: these children really have a hard time with either ideation (have a hard time coming with ideas), or sequencing steps (following essential sequential steps in order to achieve a goal). Many of these children may just stand there, and need to be told what to do step by step. Or, the child may have an abundance of ideas, but might not have the organizational skills to achieve/execute their goal.
Beyond the basic senses (i.e. vision, hearing, taste, olfactory), SI theory highlights the sensory processing of proprioceptive system (information given from our muscles and joints), the vestibular system (gives us our sense of our body in relation to time/space), and the tactile system (touch).
A therapist with SI training can help identify and develop a treatment plan to help remediate the underlying issues of functional outcomes such as 1) attending, and completing and activity (self regulation, organization of behavior) 2) fine motor skills: writing, scissoring, tool use, 3) self care skills: grooming, dressing, feeding, 4) social emotional development: communication, development a sense of self, relationship building skills. A therapist with SI training will carefully activiate or inhibit sensory systems during treatment, to promote learning.
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Everybody has sensory needs and issues. Here are some common SI issues that you might able to relate to:
1) What, How, and When do you provide yourself with sensory input, to help you focus more? For example, when you get tired at work, you might: 1) chew gum (oral input), 2) take a walk around (activation of vestibular, and prop system), 3) play with a sticky texture like tape, or fiddle with your keys (tactile input), 4) play some music (auditory)
You already have a developed sensory system, and have learned strategies to help yourself get in the optimal state of focus to learn and to carry out various work responsibilities. A child who has sensory processsing difficulties may benefit from a "sensory diet": a list of identified activities that help him/her focus, and attend during learning opportunities, and throughout various daily occupations.
2) What sensory input throws and disrupts you? Do you get annoyed by: 1) loud noises, a crying baby, a buzz that doesn't seem to go away, 2) visual distractions such as flashing lights, moving objects, 3) touch such as wool, vinyl, grainy, semi-wet textures 4) going on roller coasters, skydiving, pushing 100 mphs on the high way?
Some of these examples listed may be extreme. But, a child who has a modulation difficulty may react negatively to the same, seemingly harmless, input from someone who has a normal, intact sensory system.
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There are many clinical applications of SI. It is too complex and detailed for me to get into here. If you are interested in SI, I highly recommend the writings of Dr. A. Jean Ayres, PhD, OTR, FAOTA. She has a background in occupational therapy, and psychology. Unfortunately she passed on many years ago due to cancer. However, there are many dedicated researchers, who continue to work in refining her theory and the clinical applications of Sensory Integration.
"The fact is that ABA techniques are FAR more effective in producing change than all other therapies combined."
I now understand your support for ABA and respect your profession. However, I have a problem with the word change here. It's too vague. I completely understand that treatment planning is specific and based on the needs of the individual. But, what "change" are we looking for? I do not doubt the research supporting the efficacy of ABA in treating individuals with autism. However, although I am not a behavioral therapist, I feel ABA is a bit too narrow and rigid.
IMHO "Sensory Integration" is often misunderstood and undervalued when treating individuals with autism. As there are always exceptions, not all individuals with autism will benefit from SI treatment, as they may not have a sensory processing disorder. I will highlight some points of the SI theory.
Sensory Integration Perspective/Theory:
In my own words, occupational thearpists and other professionals, use a SI approach for children who appear to have an sensory processing disorder (SPD). Basically, sensory processing disorders manifests itself either as a modulation, or praxis/motor planning, problem.
1) Modulation: children who are either over responsive or under responsive to sensory input (e.g. a kid might become very agitated to light stroking provided by their care taker/or a child who constantly leans on others, has no sense of personal space-basically poor body awareness-where you might be able to predict that this child will have difficulty maintaining and sustaining social relationships).
2) Praxis: these children really have a hard time with either ideation (have a hard time coming with ideas), or sequencing steps (following essential sequential steps in order to achieve a goal). Many of these children may just stand there, and need to be told what to do step by step. Or, the child may have an abundance of ideas, but might not have the organizational skills to achieve/execute their goal.
Beyond the basic senses (i.e. vision, hearing, taste, olfactory), SI theory highlights the sensory processing of proprioceptive system (information given from our muscles and joints), the vestibular system (gives us our sense of our body in relation to time/space), and the tactile system (touch).
A therapist with SI training can help identify and develop a treatment plan to help remediate the underlying issues of functional outcomes such as 1) attending, and completing and activity (self regulation, organization of behavior) 2) fine motor skills: writing, scissoring, tool use, 3) self care skills: grooming, dressing, feeding, 4) social emotional development: communication, development a sense of self, relationship building skills. A therapist with SI training will carefully activiate or inhibit sensory systems during treatment, to promote learning.
-----------
Everybody has sensory needs and issues. Here are some common SI issues that you might able to relate to:
1) What, How, and When do you provide yourself with sensory input, to help you focus more? For example, when you get tired at work, you might: 1) chew gum (oral input), 2) take a walk around (activation of vestibular, and prop system), 3) play with a sticky texture like tape, or fiddle with your keys (tactile input), 4) play some music (auditory)
You already have a developed sensory system, and have learned strategies to help yourself get in the optimal state of focus to learn and to carry out various work responsibilities. A child who has sensory processsing difficulties may benefit from a "sensory diet": a list of identified activities that help him/her focus, and attend during learning opportunities, and throughout various daily occupations.
2) What sensory input throws and disrupts you? Do you get annoyed by: 1) loud noises, a crying baby, a buzz that doesn't seem to go away, 2) visual distractions such as flashing lights, moving objects, 3) touch such as wool, vinyl, grainy, semi-wet textures 4) going on roller coasters, skydiving, pushing 100 mphs on the high way?
Some of these examples listed may be extreme. But, a child who has a modulation difficulty may react negatively to the same, seemingly harmless, input from someone who has a normal, intact sensory system.
-----------
There are many clinical applications of SI. It is too complex and detailed for me to get into here. If you are interested in SI, I highly recommend the writings of Dr. A. Jean Ayres, PhD, OTR, FAOTA. She has a background in occupational therapy, and psychology. Unfortunately she passed on many years ago due to cancer. However, there are many dedicated researchers, who continue to work in refining her theory and the clinical applications of Sensory Integration.
I think you might have a misunderstanding of what ABA is and how it is practiced. There is a lot of bad ABA going on out there. There are a ton of garbage clinicians that contributes very little other than to hurt it's reputation. I know here in Jersey there are many great schools that have visitors days where guests are given a tour of the program and shown how ABA practices should be conducted.
If your ever in the New Jersey/New York are I'd be happy to give you a list of recommendations.
I was intentionally vauge with "change" because ABA encompassess such a wide range of behaviors. By change I mean teaching a learner, to ride a bike, play a video game, read, make a chicken parm sandwich, clean their room, wash the dishes, saying "I love you" to mom, playing appropriately w peers/siblings, sit through church or a siblings graduation, run on a tredmill, or have a conversation.
By "change" I also meant decreasing problem behaivors such as tanturming, aggressing, towards self or others, decreasing sterotypic responses, non-contextual laughter, non-compliance with parental instruction, or bolting out the house.
There are literally hundreds of articles confirming it's effectiveness at all these behaviors in the scientific literature. So i'm not sure how you can say it's "narrow and rigid". To put it in poker terms (we are on 2+2 after all), ABA is by far the most +ev intervention method in terms of change, time, and money compared to alternative options. DUCY
Here is where I agree with you:
Autism at it's core is definately a disorder of the how the brain processes what it's senses. ABA doesn't address the core problem and that is why we are in desperate need of a better intervention method.
I also agree that SI techniques can be effective at temporarily activating or surpressing sesory systems.
Here is where we differ:
I've worked with well over a hundred individuals with autism and PDD-NOS, many of whom recieved regular "sensory diet" packages. Not one of them has ever displayed a sigificant decrease in stereotopy (which are repetitive or ritual movements for anyone reading this) or increased attending as a result. The worst of which is the tactile stuff such as the weighted vest or that wierd cusion seat with the bumps on it. These tools do nothing but add stigma to an individual whose life is already filled with too much.
Sensory Intergration techniques combined with ABA:
I've seen some speech pathologists. do some pretty cool things with SI. They use SI techniques to "warm up" the learners mouth and vocal area before starting a speech session. The qualitative improvements in articulation, motor movements in the mouth, and reduction in facial tensing are quite remarkable. The problem is that the effects wear off in about 15 minutes (not exactly a socially significant change).
In my original reply you might recall my claim that alternative therapies MUST be used as a compliment to ABA intervention to be effective. I firmly believe this because the functional outcomes you mentioned above are simply not likely using the strategies you listed in your original reply. It's the poker equivalent of calling a gut shot with 10bb left and 10bb in the pot.
That all said I'm very interested in learning about things related to sensation and perception. What of Dr. Ayres writings do you find most relevant? I'd also like to read the clinical applications related to autism that you wrote about. If you can post a link too that would be helpful.
Thanks for the response crowdrocka, and an advanced apology to anyone who read this and found it dreadfully boring
. Also, if anyone has any questions, I'll be happy to answer them the best I can.
Last edited by savant111; 08-10-2009 at 09:34 PM.
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