How iPad Therapy Can Help Autistic Children?

Ipad TherapyChildren on the autism spectrum face a number of challenges. Depending on the severity of their autism, they may have speech difficulties, struggle with expressing themselves, suffer from co-ordination problems, or have sensory difficulties.

 

 

Technology and care:

There are a number of supported living organizations that are working on improving autism care services, and one of the most interesting developments in the supported living field in recent years is the use of mobile applications in autism care.

The iPad:

The iPad is a very versatile device, and it is being used to help with everything from hand-eye co-ordination to speech therapy, and even simple stress relief.
It may be hard to believe that a simple tablet device can make much of a difference to a child’s life, but there are a huge number of families that will vouch for the device, with some even going as far as to say that the use of iPad communication apps has “given us our family back”.
What is it that’s so magical about the device? Well, the big touch screen and the ease of use of the apps is a boon to young children. Instead of having to struggle with a small phone, or a clunky keyboard, children can simply touch the screen to communicate their needs. The simplicity and accessibility of the iPad make it ideal for use by children that find other devices confusing and cumbersome.

Apps for special needs:

There are apps for almost anything you can think of, too. For example, “Grace” allows children with special needs to communicate with complete sentences by linking together pictures – something ideal for a supported living environment. More specific to autism care, there’s an app called AutismExpress, which helps children with Autism to learn about facial expressions, and understand the emotions that other people are expressing.
There are also iPad apps that help with fine motor co-ordination, "Dexteria" provides thereputic hand exercises which can be of great benefit for developing motor skills. Not forgetting some of the games currently available, which are great for helping children to relax and let out the frustrations they feel as a result of their struggle to communicate their needs. The list of applications available for the iPad is huge, and many applications aimed at adults and children without special needs can also be used in a supported living context to improve the quality of education available to children with autism or other similar conditions.
As children get older, they can use other apps that will help them to integrate with society. Children with high functioning autism can often go on to join a mainstream school, and then lead a relatively normal life as an adult, with many achieving a high standard of education once they learn how to cope with their disabilities.
The chance of a child achieving his or her full potential depends greatly on the standard of autism care they get when they are young. If a child is able to develop communication skills, and gain a sense of identity and independence while they are still young, then this will serve them well for the rest of their life.

1 comments:

Yousaf Ayub said...

Amazing post friend .... It amazing news to here from you. Good work.

Post a Comment

Important - If you are asking a question click the 'Subscribe By Mail' link below the comment form to be notified of replies.

Note:If you add a link to your comment it will not be published.