The Benefits of Teletherapy for Autism
- John Carmody
- 0
- on Nov 16, 2021
As the world we live in seems to be heading in a more remote direction in many ways, more therapeutic treatments seem to be embracing a distant care model in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. While some of these shifts may simply be borne out of convenience, in some therapeutic areas, remote therapy models may hold promise over in-person treatments. A particular example is teletherapy for autism.
For children with Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD), the flexibility, ease of treatment, and greater parental involvement offered by teletherapy may be a beneficial combination that can help children with ASD develop skills that will assist them later in life.
In this article, we cover how teletherapy can be used as a treatment option or an effective adjunctive therapy option for children with ASD.
Flexibility
With teletherapy for autism, there is no 9-5 schedule. If a child needs to be seen earlier or later, arrangements can be made. In addition, with therapy taking place in the home environment, not only will the child feel more comfortable, but it can assist a child with ASD to develop important skills such as how to request from parents what they would like to eat for dinner as well as other types of crucial interactions essential to daily life. With a child with ASD’s therapist closeby on a laptop, ipad, or other device, they can directly assist in targeting those communicative opportunities.
Parent-Involvement
When it comes to teaching a parent the intricate and profound differences a child with ASD experiences the world, the training is highly-individualized and based on the child’s specific needs as well as the dynamics of the household. Part of any well-rounded teletherapy program consists of having the parent an indirect participant in the training program. This allows the parent to assist in developing goals and achieving the desired outcomes.
Record Instances Where Therapeutic Focus Is Necessary
It’s impossible for a therapist to be with a child with ASD at all times. Sometimes, the best way to capture instances where a child is struggling with communication is to record the incident on a smartphone or tablet. This way, the child’s therapist can review it at a later date and offer suggestions for behavioral management coping mechanisms.
Individuals With ASD Respond Better To Computer-Module Learning
In many cases for children suffering from ASD, interacting with a computer may be less intimidating than dealing with another person face-to-face, so there is often a possibility for greater strides of progress to be made for children with ASD using computer-module therapy.
No Commute
For many children with autism, changes and disruptions to daily routines can be upsetting. By hosting teletherapy sessions within your home, you’re reducing unnecessary stress for your child which can help them retain information that they learn during their therapy sessions.
Beam’s Balanced Approach
At Beam, we understand the unique needs of individuals with ASD. If you’re an ASD specialist who is considering the advantages offered by a teletherapy program, we encourage you to reach out to our highly-rated specialists. We can work with you to develop a personalized program tailored around your unique treatment approach. There are no downloads required, our platform is completely HIPAA-compliant, and our renowned customer experience team is always available to answer any questions or concerns you may have. To speak with one of these specialists and to learn more about Beam, click here.
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