Massage Therapy
Children with autism often have sensory disorders; they can be either insensitive or oversensitive to stimuli. Especially the sense of touch is disturbed. Most young children with autism have abnormal reactions to touches from their parents or caregivers.
Herbal Therapy
Herbal therapy, or phytotherapy—the use of herbs, plants, and plant extracts—can also be a valuable addition for alleviating various complaints associated with autism.
Specific herbs can be used to improve digestion and gut flora, to reduce allergies, to lower blood sugar levels, to decrease inflammation and free radicals, to improve blood circulation in the brain, to enhance communication between brain cells, to calm overstimulated brains, and more.
Music Therapy
Music and sound therapy influence the connections between brain cells and have a powerful effect on brain activity. It is a wonderful tool for improving brain functions, communication, social interaction, balance and motor skills, emotions, and behavior (Sharda M, 2018; Mayer-Benarous H, 2021; Shahrudin FA, 2022).
Animal Therapy
People with autism often find it easier to interact with animals than with people. Research shows that their brains respond better to the 'face' of an animal than to that of humans. In most cases, animals have a calming effect (unless one is truly afraid of animals); they can boost self-confidence and improve social skills. People with autism often find others more likable, trustworthy, and approachable when accompanied by an animal (O’Haire M, 2017).
Reference
- Mayer-Benarous H, Benarous X, Vonthron F, et al. Music Therapy for Children With Autistic Spectrum Disorder and/or Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Systematic Review. Front Psychiatry. 2021 Apr 9;12:643234. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.643234. PMID: 33897497; PM- CID: PMC8062803.
- Shahrudin FA, Dzulkarnain AAA, Hanafi AM, et al. Music and Sound-Based Intervention in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Scoping Review. Psychiatry Investig. 2022 Aug;19(8):626-636. doi: 10.30773/pi.2021.0382. Epub 2022 Aug 24. PMID: 36059051; PMCID: PMC9441466.
- Sharda M, Tuerk C, Chowdhury R, et al. Music improves social communication and auditory-motor connectivity in children with autism. Transl Psychiatry. 2018 Oct 23;8(1):231. doi: 10.1038/s41398-018-0287-3. PMID: 30352997; PMCID: PMC6199253.
- O’Haire M. Research on animal-assisted intervention and autism spectrum disorder, 2012-2015. Appl Dev Sci. 2017;21(3):200-216. doi: 10.1080/10888691.2016.1243988. Epub 2017 Feb 23. PMID: 31080343; PMCID: PMC6510492.
