Entering Their Imaginative World

In dealing with children with autism spectrum disorders, its all about relationship. These children are within a realm where they feel and respond much differently than others. There has been much focus on trying to eliminate certain behaviors or to evoke particular responses in children which actually become rote and repetitive for them without context. One of the goals in aiding these children should be in helping them find meaning. In order to do this we must be willing to not look at the child as broken, unable to respond, or even unable to communicate. These children DO communicate, however they are not always able to manipulate their senses to communicate in the typical ways of other children. As a result, they can become easily frustrated and trapped. The therapist must enter their imaginative world and learn to communicate in their language.

Dr. Stanley Greenspan gives an example of a child who initially went to a psychologist who engaged the child in repetitively placing pegs in a board or trying to find beads hidden under various cups. This was supposed to be a measure of the child’s intelligence and abilities but it proved ineffective. The child constantly hurled the pegs to the floor. A different psychologist took a unique approach in having the mother participate with the child in a series of interactions. First, the child began grabbing the nose of the mother. Rather than redirecting the child and seeking to have her refrain from the grabbing, the mother responded with a ‘toot toot’ noise and then allowed her to do it again responding with a new noise. The mother then gently touched the nose of the child and the child to the amazement of the mother smiled and let out a noise, “mo mo”. The child had indeed communicated but in her own language. The mother and child had made a real connection. This showed to the psychologist that this child’s cognitive development was within a normal range and here was a child who wanted to exert some control over her surroundings. Over time, the communication increased, and the mother was able to have ‘pleasurable’ discussions with her child that prior had never existed (Greenspan, The Growth of the Mind, 1997, pg. 8-9)The key to furthering development lied in relationship.

Children with language difficulties need to have emotional and social supports. Unless these are more fully developed, the language will be fragmented and lack meaning (Greenspan, pg. 32). Before language development can come, improving the understanding of non-literal and non-verbal communications need to be worked upon. There are 6 main milestones for children: self regulation and interest in their surrounding world; intimacy; two way communication; complex communication; emotional ideas; and emotional thinking. In Greenspan’s floor time model the first goal is to encourage attention and intimacy which helps in the further development of the first two milestones. The parent will actively participate in a period of play therapy engaging their child in creative play allowing the child some direction over the course of the session and taking interest in their activities as well as providing encouraging feedback. Self-regulation becomes difficult for some children because sensory stimulation can be so overwhelming or their attention may wander (Greenspan, Essential Partnership, pg. 8). Difficulties in intimacy occur because the child is not able to effectively read the cues being given. Often times the children will have an easier time with adult relationships because adults are more able to adjust their cues to the level of understanding of the child whereas this does not always occur with peers. A part of reaching out to these children and guiding them in the intimacy milestone is to provide them opportunities to interact with peers and to have them be able to relate back what the other person is stating and feeling. Making use of social stories and role plays can be helpful in aiding the child in understanding the feelings of others as well as their own feelings. A social story is a device used where a make believe dialogue is constructed and the child is asked to fill in the gaps. “A social story is a story written to specific guidelines to describe a situation in terms of relevant cues and common responses (Gray & Granard, 1993). The use of comic strip conversations can also be employed. “A comic strip conversation is the genuine ‘art of conversation’. This approach incorporates the use of simple drawings and color to illustrate an ongoing communication. This provides additional support to (children) who struggle to understand the quick exchange of information in a conversation (Gray, 1994). An advanced form of the social story is what is termed the ‘thinking story’. “Thinking stories demonstrate the variety of possibilities as to what people may be thinking when they make certain statements, or when they display certain behaviors…Thinking stories follow a specific, structured format, using picture symbols from Comic Strip Conversations to define and illustrate the abstract concepts covered in the story (Baron-Cohen, 1990, Dawson &Fernald, 1987). The person or therapist using the social story can help guide the child through and the use of feelings charts can also be a beneficial aid. To reach the milestones of two way communication and complex communication, it is important within the sessions that the parents have that they utilize a dialogue with the child, help guide them to use their face, emotions, hands, to convey their needs and desires. Encouraging the child’s imagination and creativity will help in the development of the complex communication as they begin to move towards problem solving. Lastly, it is important to work on logical thought, being able to take the things they have learned from the parent’s coaching and to actually be able to convey some insight and understanding of the world.

In the play therapy sessions, it is important for the parent and/or therapist to actively participate. The purpose should not be to entertain the child, but to interact with the child. Seek to draw near to the child, but this should not be forced, allow the child to express themselves at their particular pace. Use lots of gesturing and cueing and become a part of their imaginative play, allow them to show and teach you something about their world. It is important to not just tolerate their feelings and certainly not be dismissive of them, but allow the child to express their feelings openly being able to distinguish feelings from behavior. Don’t be afraid to challenge the child in new skills, they will be eager to learn as long as the challenge is not forced. From time to time, you will notice that these children will become obsessed with routines or repetition, so in the play do something to break the routine or repetition. If a child is repeating a certain topic or action, do something entirely different that will focus their attention elsewhere. Do not be repetitive in your directives and follow a plan of rote learning, allow the child to explore and display what they do know. It is important to ask open ended questions, let the children explain to you. Find out what these children find meaning in, and seek to have them tell you why. Don’t judge or evaluate their answers, but be a listener. Help the child to brainstorm new ideas, and particularly when conflict arises, let them be able to perform some self assessment, sit as a partner as they develop adaptive responses and utilize them. Don’t be afraid to allow the child to fail from time to time, they will learn and gain insight from their trial and error. When the child is expressing certain thoughts and feelings, help them to be able to label what it is they are expressing (Greenspan, Essential Partnership, pg. 20)

There are key social behaviors as they relate to relationship building that should be addressed with the child who has been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. The first is entry skills. This refers to how the child joins a group of children and whether or not they seek to include other children into their play. The therapist can help serve as a coach for entry skills and encourage scenarios where the child will have opportunities to exercise the skill (Atwood, 1999) Next is assistance, whether the child recognizes when to seek help from others or to provide help to others. Social stories can certainly be utilized in this situation. An example of a social story as given by Dr. Tony Attwood (1999) that applies to this skill is as follows: Sometimes children help me. They do this to be friendly. Yesterday, I missed three math problems. Amy put her arm around me and said, “Okay, Juanita” She was trying to help me feel better. On my first day of school, Billy showed me my desk. That was helpful. Children have helped me in other ways. Here is my list: I will try to say, Thank you! when children help me. Another example of a social story is: My name is Fred. Sometimes, children help me. Being helpful is a friendly thing to do. Many children like to be helped. I can learn to help other children. Sometimes, children will ask for help. Someone may ask, ‘Do you what day it is today?’ or ‘Which page are we on?’ or maybe something else. Answering that question is helpful. If I know the answer, I can answer their question. If I do not know the answer, I may try to help that child find the answer. Sometimes, a child will move and look all around, either under their desk, in their desk, around their desk. They may be looking for something. I may help. I may say, “Can I help you find something?” There are other ways I can help. This is my list of ways I can help other children: Children like to be helpful (Atwood, 1999). For younger children the use of the Mr. Men stories (such as Mr. Nosy, Mr. Grumpy) by Roger Hargreaves can prove useful.

The other skills which need development include receiving and accepting compliments, accepting and receiving criticism, accepting suggestions, reciprocity and sharing, conflict resolution, monitoring and listening, empathy, and learning to ending meaning how to provide closure to an interaction. For conflict resolution skills I recommend the use of Weeks’s 8 fold model. In this model one first provides and effective atmosphere for the discussion and resolution of the conflict, clarify perceptions, focus on needs, build shared positive power, look to the future and learn from the past, generate options, develop doables, and make mutual benefit agreements (Weeks, 1992). The child diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome will need particular coaching and support in going through these steps.

Within the education system is a great misunderstanding of those who are high functioning within the autism spectrum. These children cannot be placed in an autism classroom as they are too high functioning. These children can be challenging and some teachers and school administrators are afraid of taking the necessary steps to insure these children’s success. Partial hospitalization becomes an easy out for the school districts. Teachers need to be able to build a relationship with the child and recognize their strengths, being respectful of the child’s personal space and boundaries and always speaking to the child in a calm and collected manner. “Teachers need to have a calm disposition, be predictable in their emotional reactions, flexible with their curriculum, and see the positive side of the child (Atwood, pg. 173) Some teachers see that these children will rock in their seats or move their hands or feet and look at these children as being disruptive in the class. The rocking behavior is a way that the child ‘grounds’ themselves, it is comforting for them, and is not a behavior to condemn the child for nor one that can or should be eradicated. If it appears to be a disruption, the teacher can provide a place for the child to be able to have a break until they feel they are more calm. School administration must understand that for the some of these children that sensory stimuli can be very frustrating, and sometimes these children may need brief periods away from school that allow them to regain some emotional stability. Such absences should be written as allowable in the IEP and should not be treated as truancy situations. The size of the classroom is paramount for these children. “Open plan and noisy classrooms are best avoided. The children respond well to a quiet, well-ordered class with an atmosphere of encouragement rather than criticism. Parents find that with some teachers the child thrives, while with others the year was a disaster for both parties. If the teacher and child are compatible, then this will be reflected in the attitude of other children in the class. If the teacher is supportive then the other children will amplify this approach. If they are critical and would prefer the child were excluded, other children will adopt and express this attitude (Atwood, pg. 174). Once a child is in an appropriate environment with the necessary resources, this environment should be maintained. “Once parents have located a school that provides the necessary resources, then it is important to maintain consistency. Going to a new school means changing friends and the school not being aware of the child’s abilities and history of successful and unsuccessful strategies.” Parents have an important role in these children's lives. It is necessary for parents to insure that calm and collected communication occurs with their child, that they are taking the time through positive relationship to build on skill development. The parents must develop an attitude of understanding the differences within their child but not looking upon these differences as their child being defective or unable to have growth. The parents should focus on the strengths that their child does possess and develop ways to capitalize on these strengths and to cope with whatever weaknesses may be present. To sustain a positive and encouraging environment is a crucial component towards the furtherance of the skills of these children. Without this, these children are far more liklely to become overwhelmed and display aggressive and other difficult behaviors. Therefore, whereas there are other factors that may be behind the causation of problematic behaviors with children diagnosed with autism, parents have an important role in being there for their children and creating a stable environment that is conducive to their emotional needs and progression in development. Children with developmental challenges may display an unsual gait and difficulties with motor skills and coordination. They may also have difficulty with sensory stimuli so it is important for the therapist to take note of distressing stimuli and help to limit these things within their environment as much as possible. Activities designed to work on motor skills and coordination can prove beneficial but consideration should be taken as to not force a child or cause undue frustration if the child’s abilities are impaired. Emotional coaching can prove effective for parents of these children. Emotional coaching involves seeking to see the expression of emotions as a time for intimacy and teaching, providing validation to the child’s emotions, and helping the child to be able to label their emotions. The parent who is an emotion coach values the child’s negative emotions as opportunities for intimacy; can be patient with the child when they are sad, angry or fearful; can identify triggers; does not tell the child how to feel; does not expect to have all the answers (Gottman, 1999). There has been some discussion of a link between gastrointestinal disorders and children with autism spectrum disorders (Wakefield, 1997) Some children with autism spectrum disorders may exhibit encopresis. The child should be regularly seen by a physician if any problem arises. The child should not be punished for occasions of encopresis or be made to feel embarrassed. As pediatric neurologist Fred A. Baughman has stated, autism is a blanket term as is cerebral palsy identifying a developmental condition rather than a psychiatric issue. While those considered within the autism spectrum may display similar traits, there are diverse etiologies (Baughman, 2001). Some children with traumatic brain injury or epilepsy may display autistic traits. However, there can also be psychosocial reasons for the development of autistic behaviors. The term itself is very loosely used and at present the exact etiology is not fully known. I tend to look at autism as a variation in perception, yet a normal variation. These children are not defective. As individuals may be left handed or right handed, this is a variation, but does not state that a left handed individual who is in the minority is somehow defective or 'abnormal'. Rather, because children with autism have a variance in their perception, this causes them to come into conflict with the general functoning and perceptions of society as a whole. They have unique strengths but may need dome extra assistance in being able to navigate through what the rest of society typically perceives and how it interacts. It is important for us to respect the dignity and the ability of these children. Such programs as Applied Behavioral Analysis have gained in popularity, but few are aware of the unethical and aversive methods that were a part of the formation of this program. The situations of so-called success with the use of ABA have been overly inflated and the research conducted by those who are to directly a part of the implementation of ABA and are to gain financially and by other means by its implementation. In addition, such a program is based upon a concept of repetitiveness and does not provide children a context for the skills that are being taught. This is why a relationship based model is effective and important in conveying skills and is more dignified and respectful towards the child.

There are no medications that will cure autism and developmental challenges. Some individuals have used various medications in an attempt to control behaviors, however it must be realized that this is all that the medications are capable of doing is controlling a certain aspect of behavior by blunting certain brain functions. These medications all have serious risks. “Neuroleptics have their main impact by blunting the highest functions of the brain in the frontal lobes and the closely connected basal ganglia. They can also impair the reticular activating or energizing system of the brain. These impairments result in relative degrees of apathy, indifference, emotional blandness, conformity, and submissiveness, as well as a reduction in all verbalizations, including complaints or protests. It is no exaggeration to call this effect a chemical lobotomy…contrary to claims, neuroleptics have no specific effects on irrational ideas (delusions) or perceptions (hallucinations)." (Breggin, 1999) These medications also carry the risk of causing tardive dyskinesia or neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Tardive dyskinesia is permanent abnormal movements of the voluntary muscles. “NMS is characterized by severe abnormal movements, fever, sweating, unstable blood pressure and pulse, and impaired mental functioning. Delirium and coma can develop. NMS can be fatal…(Breggin, 1999) Common side effects of neuroleptic medications as reported by the Physicians Desk Reference are abdominal pain, abnormal walk, agitation, aggression, anxiety, chest pain, constipation, coughing, decreased activity, diarrhea, dizziness, fever, headache, inability to sleep, increased dreaming, indigestion, involuntary movements, joint pain, lack of coordination, nasal inflammation, nausea, overactivity, rapid heartbeat, rash, reduced salivation, respiratory infection, sore throat, tremor, vomiting. The SSRI antidepressants’ are also a common prescribed medication. These drugs can produce akathisia, mania, worsening of depression, obsessive compulsive like behaviors, and severe anxiety and agitation (International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology Newsletter, Summer 2002, pg. 15) The use of responsible psychosocial and relationship based approaches are far better than any short term benefit that neuroleptics may provide.

Social skills: The use of visual demonstration rather than giving verbal instruction benefits children with developmental challenges. Rather than giving verbal instruction, it is better to guide through the use of actual demonstration. At times, using such devices as Carol Gray's social stories or designing pictorials where the child participates and is able to reflect on the picture and describe to you the scenarios that are challenging to them and to discuss means to address the core issues can be extremely useful. These pictorials can be simple drawings. An example would be if a child becomes frustrated in the store and has a tantrum, one can draw out what took place in the store and have the child identify this, and then draw out the same scenarios with an adaptive and more appropriate response.

Communication skills: The development of communication skills needs to be individualized and paced at the child's each unique level. Utilizing time with the child that is relationship based to foster communication is paramount. Parents and others should spend a significant time each day in reading and demonstrating to the child and in participating in play scenarios with them where the child takes the lead and the parents react to and participate in the imaginative play while guiding and coaching.

repetitive action/ hyper-focusing: using a social reinforcement plan where the child is not given tangible reinforcers but an activity where they can build relationship is beneficial. If a child is hyper-focused on a special interest, this special interest can be turned into the reinforcer, so therefore they are able to maintain their special interest, however be able to channel it towards more appropriate times. In situations of repetitive action, sometimes simply joining in can be an effective means to gain a better understanding of it, or if it is a problematic behavior of curbing it. An example I can give is that I had a client who when frustrated would lie under the table and hit his head on the bottom of the table. I crawled under the table and began doing the same action, gently tapping my head to the table. The child stared and asked me why I was doing that action, in which I responded, "Why are you?", and from that moment forward the behavior ceased.

addressing meltdowns/tantrums and sensory issues: There needs to be a differentiation between meltdowns caused by sensory issues and tantrums that are related to defiance or avoidance. In meltdowns, relaxation exercises can be incorporated or gentle massage. In more serious instances, the parent can gently hold and cradle the child, gently grasping the hands and legs. There should be no communication at this point other than to let the child know that it is not your desire to restrict their freedom, and that you will give back the freedom of movement one step at a time (by letting go of one hand at a time and then the legs) as they begin to de-escalate. Dietary issues: the maintenance of a healthful diet for children is crucial to all children's healthful functioning. Parents should consider if their child has allergies or other concerns and limit certain things from the diet that may be problematic. Some parents have opted to utilize the gluten/casein free diet. There has been some reported improvements in the use of this, however it is an expensive program and not always effective for all children thus parents should seeking to implement such a diet should examine with their physician whether such a diet would be worth the cost and effort and would evoke any positive benefit.

Real Life Rehearsals: Designing actual rehearsals of various social/peer interactional scenarios can be useful. An example would be having a child go to the grocery and make a purchase, picking out specific items, interacting with the clerk, etc. The real life rehearsals should be designed based on each child's individual level of functioning and ability. The real life rehearsal can provide children with a context and opportunities to demonstrate actual skills they have learned or to show areas where they may need some further guidance and direction.

Peer interaction: Some children with developmental challenges exhibit parallel play, by using relationship-based interactions on a daily basis, the parent can engage with their child and begin to break this cycle of parallel play. From this, the child can move onward to peer dyads, where frequent scenarios are encouraged of interaction with a peer, and this be gradually moved based on progression to more frequent group interaction. Social skills groups may be beneficial for the accomplishment of this objective.

Mind maps: the creation of a daily 'mind map' where the events of the school day or other ativities are recorded is important as it presents an opportunity for the parent to work on the child's ability to dialogue and reciprocate and be able to respond to 'wh' questions which can be a challenge for children with developmental challenges.

Motor skills/ equine therapy: The utilization of equine facilitated therapy can be useful. In addition, equine therapy has provided an opportunity for children to be able to boost their self-esteem and confidence. It has given children a feeling of accomplishment and responsibility. It has helped further communication skills as many of the children have reflected on their experiences and had the opportunity to interact with other children, volunteers, and their equine friend. Balance and coordination skills as well as sensory integration have been fostered through the therapeutic benefits of muscle stimulation through riding exercises. Equine therapy has helped children to increase in patience, self-control and self-discipline and provided them with a locus of control and increased interest in the outside world.

Occupational therapy: For some children, OT may be a useful in assisting them with sensory integration.

Dietary intevention: Some children, though not all, may benefit from dietary interventions, particularly if they have gastrointestinal difficulties or serious allergies. In addition, Omega 3- found in fish oil has been shown to be advantageous towards aiding concentration and in mood regulation.