Occupational therapy helps people with autism learn the necessary skills in order to lead a more independent lifestyle. People on the autism spectrum may struggle with sensory modulation difficulties, which can cause them to struggle in their life. Since occupational therapy focuses on motor, social, physical, and cognitive skills, it can help autistic people improve their quality of life. 

Depending on where they are on the spectrum, an autistic person may be fully capable of living an independent lifestyle or they may be nonverbal and need a lot of help in their life. Here’s what you need to know about how occupational therapy can help those with autism.

What Is Autism?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability. It is caused by differences in the brain, not by vaccines. It is a lifelong condition that results in challenges with social interaction, repetitive behavior, and restrictive interests. Autistic people may pay attention, learn, and move in different ways than others. 

The Spectrum

As the name implies, ASD is a spectrum. It can be classified in three levels, which range from least to most severe. These are not inclusive of all autistic people and their symptoms and needs, but it is helpful in diagnosing the severity of the condition. 

Level 1

Some autistic people are very high-functioning. They may not say the right thing at the right time, have organizational issues, and may have trouble making friends. While they may have difficulty with social interactions and struggle to move from one activity to another, they can live independently and benefit from support.

Level 2

People with moderate autism have more obvious issues than those on the mild end on the spectrum. They tend to struggle with nonverbal communication and speak in more simple sentences. They usually have narrow interests and have difficulty moving from one activity to the next. They can engage in repetitive behaviors, such as saying the same time over and over. 

People on the moderate part of the spectrum need substantial support.

Level 3

This is the most severe form of ASD. Like people with Level 1 or Level 2 ASD, they struggle with social interactions, hyper-fixations, and repetitive behaviors, but to the most extreme degree. They tend to struggle to speak clearly and rarely interact with others. They can find it very hard to function on their own and need a significant amount of support. 

The type of support an autistic person needs very much depends on their specific circumstances and can change with time, as their skills either improve or their symptoms worsen. 

What Is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy helps people improve their everyday skills with the goal of increasing independence. Occupational therapists help people with their physical, cognitive, and sensory abilities. They can help those recovering from injuries and those with disorders, such as Parkinson’s or ASD. 

This is a very individualized treatment plan. Occupational therapists evaluate the needs of the individual in order to best determine how to help them. This can range from working on key skills so that one can dress oneself or being able to regulate emotions and participate in social interactions.

How Can Occupational Therapy Help Those With Autism?

Occupational therapists use screening tools and diagnostic criteria in order to evaluate an autistic person’s needs. They’ll look at social, communication, sensory, cognitive, and motor skills. Once they know the person’s developmental needs, they’ll be able to come up with a treatment plan to address them. 

Occupational therapy helps both children and adults with ASD. Early treatment can help autistic people live a more independent lifestyle by helping them become more organized and regulated. They can help with issues such as sensory overload and social interactions. 

Occupational therapy works on developing skills needed for daily living, as well as removing barriers to learning by targeting sensory processing differences. This helps autistic people become more focused and calm. 

Occupational therapists can help people successfully participate in their communities and are suitable for any stage of life.

Types Of Therapies For ASD

Some of the interventions occupational therapists use include:

• Motor development
• Sensory integration
• Self-regulation strategies
• Social participation activities
• Cognitive-behavioral approach
• Visual supports
• Strategies for personal responsibility
• And more

Given that autistic people’s needs vary a great deal, it’s helpful to have a type of therapy that is so individualized. 

Occupational Therapists In Layton

Wasatch Peak Physical Therapy provides occupational therapy services in Layton. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you and your loved ones improve your quality of life.

Occupational therapy helps people to learn and regain the abilities that they need in order to go about their daily lives, such as eating, getting dressed, and more. Both inpatient and outpatient occupational therapy work to help you regain your independence so that you can live a healthier and safer life. Some people may be unsure whether they would benefit more from inpatient or outpatient occupational therapy. Both inpatient and outpatient occupational therapy can enable you to recover the abilities needed to live independently, but there are some key differences between the two.

Here is what you need to know about the differences between inpatient and outpatient occupational therapy so that you can know more about which option might be best for you or one of your loved ones. 

The Goals Of Occupational Therapy

Both inpatient and outpatient occupational therapy work to help you adapt to your condition and develop strength so that everyday tasks are easier to conduct. Occupational therapy can greatly improve both your quality of life and your mental health, as it grants you the independence that you may have lost as a result of your condition. 

Some of the things that occupational therapy can help you do include:

• How you perform daily tasks, such as brushing your teeth, feeding yourself, walking, getting dressed, and more.
• Improved confidence in how you carry out day-to-day activities.
• Endurance for carrying out movements.
• Improved self-esteem through gaining more confidence and independence. 
• Increased safety and comfort in your day-to-day life. 

Occupational therapy does this by focusing on:

• Fine-motor skills
• Hand-eye coordination
• Focus and attention
• Social skills
• Self-care tasks

Both inpatient and outpatient occupational therapy improve how you perform your daily tasks. Injury, illness, and the development of certain conditions can impact your ability to live independently. Occupational therapy works to help you recover said abilities. If you need assistive devices in order to do so, your occupational therapist will recommend some to you.

What Is Inpatient Occupational Therapy?

Inpatient occupational therapy is for those who have been hospitalized, have chronic conditions, or have severe illnesses. When you are in an inpatient setting, your occupational therapist is there to help you adapt and develop strength while forming long-term goals. 

People who obtain inpatient occupational therapy typically have one or more of the following conditions:

• Recovering from surgery
• Having difficulty completing daily tasks as they used to
• Are receiving care for a traumatic injury or illness
• Are at risk for developmental delay due to prolonged hospitalization (as can happen with children)
• Are experiencing changes in functional ability
• Are undergoing treatment for acute, chronic, or complex medical conditions

What Is Outpatient Occupational Therapy?

Outpatient occupational therapy is for more manageable conditions and smaller injuries. You will go see your occupational therapist in their clinic however often you need according to your specific condition. Your occupational therapy treatment plan will be customized to your specific needs and may be adjusted in order to better suit you.

People who obtain outpatient occupational therapy typically have one or more of the following conditions:

• Having suffered an injury, illness, or other condition that limits their physical abilities
• Having a chronic health condition that impacts your functionality, such as Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, and more

If you are able to get transportation to your clinic and can live outside of an inpatient setting, outpatient occupational therapy can help you regain the abilities needed to go about your day-to-day life.

Should You Get Inpatient Or Outpatient Occupational Therapy?

Both inpatient and outpatient occupational therapy can greatly improve your ability to participate in the normal activities of your daily therapy. There are some key differences between inpatient and outpatient occupational therapy that can impact which is right for you.

Inpatient occupational therapy is good for those who have more intensive conditions. As your occupational therapist is around more often, people often progress quicker in inpatient settings.

Outpatient occupational therapy is good for those with less intensive conditions who can live at home. People can progress slower in outpatient occupational therapy, as you need to do exercises at home in order to improve.

Whether you get inpatient or outpatient occupational therapy depends on your specific condition and your needs. 

Do You Need Occupational Therapy?

Wasatch Peak Physical Therapy provides outpatient occupational therapy services. In addition to helping you regain the abilities needed to gain independence, we can also help your family, employers, and teachers learn how to support you. Contact us today to learn more about our occupational therapy services.