Research for Therapy

[ErieStudent]

Hi, everyone. I am in the midst of gathering research information. It's partly a school project, but more than that, a future career goal. I am a psychology/physical therapy student looking to work with children with disabilities that can be "treated" (I use the term loosely, as "treated" suggests "total healing") with a mixture of psychology and therapy. Recently, autism spectrum disorders have caught my attention, particularly the treatments made available to the family and the professional support offered. I am in the beginning stages of developing a program idea that involves physical/speech therapy mixed with neurofeedback.

For anyone who does not mind helping me out, if you could let me know

1) The options, if any, presented to you when your child was diagnosed (NOT ones you had to research on your own-I want to know what the professionals out there are suggesting)

2) Any treatment you actually tried, and the results (you don't have to be too detailed, but if it seemed to help at all, or was the worst idea ever, etc., including how it worked for the family as a whole-stressful, time consuming, etc. Just a couple sentences will be fine.)

3) Please specify exactly what your child was diagnosed with- asperger's syndrome, etc.

4) Please give me a general location. State will be fine. If you're not comfortable with that, "East coast, West coast", etc, will work.

Thanks so much for your help!

[jack'smom]

1) We live in a town of 416, approximately 15 miles from an Early Intervention Center, and 110 miles from the hospital where Jack was diagnosed. At the time of the diagnosis (July 2004) there were no additional resources presented to us. Our son was already in the Early Intervention program in our area.

2) The first therapy we tried was "brushing", using a surgical scrub brush to stimulate the nerve endings. We did this in conjunction with joint compressions, both suggested by the occupational therapist at EI. We did see positive results in his sleeping habits, but that was about it. His pre-school currently uses the brushing technique when they sense he needs it. By far the most effective therapy or treatment we have discovered is the gluten free, casein free diet. This has made a world of difference with Jack. He will now look when you say his name, and his receptive communication has greatly increased. I can't say enough about the positive effects of the diet!

3) Jack was medically diagnosed with Autism in July 2004, and the educational diagnosis came in August 2004.

4) We live in Oregon.

If there is any way I can help you further please let me know. I am new to this site, and really excited about the information highway. Good luck!



[QUOTE=ErieStudent]Hi, everyone. I am in the midst of gathering research information. It's partly a school project, but more than that, a future career goal. I am a psychology/physical therapy student looking to work with children with disabilities that can be "treated" (I use the term loosely, as "treated" suggests "total healing") with a mixture of psychology and therapy. Recently, autism spectrum disorders have caught my attention, particularly the treatments made available to the family and the professional support offered. I am in the beginning stages of developing a program idea that involves physical/speech therapy mixed with neurofeedback.

For anyone who does not mind helping me out, if you could let me know

1) The options, if any, presented to you when your child was diagnosed (NOT ones you had to research on your own-I want to know what the professionals out there are suggesting)

2) Any treatment you actually tried, and the results (you don't have to be too detailed, but if it seemed to help at all, or was the worst idea ever, etc., including how it worked for the family as a whole-stressful, time consuming, etc. Just a couple sentences will be fine.)

3) Please specify exactly what your child was diagnosed with- asperger's syndrome, etc.

4) Please give me a general location. State will be fine. If you're not comfortable with that, "East coast, West coast", etc, will work.

Thanks so much for your help![/QUOTE]