Sensory therapy is provided by an occupational therapist, who helps children cope when they are overwhelmed by the textures, sights, sounds, smells and tastes in their environment (e.g. the 5 senses). This is only a portion of an occupational therapist's job, which is to help an individual gain skills to function in his daily life. To find an occupational therapist in the United States, click here. To find a therapist in Canada, click here. All occupational therapists require a minimum of a bachelor's degree to practice, and many states and provinces require a minimum number of continuing education hours each year in order to maintain certification.
A Speech-language pathologist helps a child communicate in a way that decreases his frustration and the frustration of those around him. This may include training in verbal language, signed language, picture boards, voice output devices or any combination of the three.
An example of some common manual signs from Mayer Johnson site.
An example of a picture communication board from Different Roads to Learning.
An example of a voice output device by Dynavox.
To find a speech-language pathologist in the United States, click here. To find one in Canada, click here. All speech-language pathologists hold master's degrees to practice, and many states and provinces require a minimum number of continuing education hours each year in order to maintain certification.
A physical therapist (physiotherapist) helps your child develop the motor skills necessary to reach important milestones in his life, such as crawling and walking, and later maintaining the flexibility and stamina to perform academic, athletic and social activities. To find a physical therapist in the United States, click here. To find a physiotherapist in Canada, click here. All physical therapists require a minimum of a bachelor's degree to practice, and many states and provinces require a minimum number of continuing education hours each year in order to maintain certification.
A behavior therapist works with your child to analyze the functions of his behaviors--which may at times be aggressive, destructive or just confusing--and teach him more socially accepted ways to achieve his goals. The most popular behavior therapies prescribed by doctors is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). One of their basic tenets is that we all behave for one of three purposes:
1. To receive something: tangible (e.g. a cookie) or attention (positive or negative)
2. To delay or escape something, e.g. having a bath, being in an overcrowded store
3. Because it feels good or attenuates pain, e.g. swinging, bouncing, grinding teeth
ABA is believed to be effective only when it is consistently applied to all of a child's environments, so that he can anticipate what is expected of him in a situation, regardless of the person interacting with him. Proper ABA therapy focuses on rewards, rather than punishments. It is important that those looking for ABA therapists find those that have academic training. There are many wonderful therapists who have received graduate training in behavior therapy and require a minimum number of continuing education hours each year in order to maintain certification.
If you are looking for a therapist, your local university's psychology department is a good resource, as many have training programs supervised by professors. If you are in the United States, another option is to find a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. For a list of therapists in your area, you can go to the BACB website and click on "Certificant Registry".
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