Month: March 2021

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy consists of breathing an increased level of oxygen in a pressurized air chamber. This type of therapy may be effective in alleviating some of the symptoms of autism and can potentially improve communication, cognitive abilities, and behavior issues in autistic children. 

Read on to find out more about hyperbaric oxygen therapy and how it can benefit your child with autism spectrum disorder.  

What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a non-invasive medical treatment that uses increased amounts of oxygen to enhance the body’s natural healing process. 

Patients are placed in pressurized hyperbaric oxygen chambers where they inhale 24%-100% times the normal level of oxygen. The ambient pressure of HBOT chambers is up to three times higher than the air we breathe.

This type of environment helps raise oxygen solubility in the blood and accelerates oxygen-dependent body functions, from heartbeat to thinking and moving. HBOT allows oxygen molecules to reach 400% deeper into tissues and organs in comparison with the typical blood supply. 

What conditions are treated with HBOT?

Hyperbaric chambers with pressurized oxygen were initially used to treat deep-sea divers who suffered from decompression sickness. Since 2004, HBOT has been used to alleviate symptoms in patients diagnosed with autism, in addition to treating a wide variety of medical conditions, such as:

• Arterial gas embolism
• Severe carbon monoxide poisoning
• Smoke inhalation
• Wound healing
• Treatment of gangrene
• Cerebral palsy
• Multiple sclerosis
• Neuropathy
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Traumatic inadequate blood flow
• Bone infections
• Delayed radiation injury
• Athletic injuries
• Alzheimer’s and other mental conditions
• Strokes.

How does an HBOT therapy session work?

During HBOT sessions, your child will sit or lie in a hyperbaric chamber and breathe oxygen while the pressure inside the chamber is slowly increased. 

Each clinic has a slightly different way to deliver HBOT therapy, and you should talk to several providers before you make a selection. Ask about any details, such as whether you can enter the chamber with your child, whether your child can watch a movie, or play games on an iPad during treatment, and whether the clinic has experience in working with autistic children. 

Types of hyperbaric oxygen chambers

Monoplace hyperbaric chambers are long, plastic tubes built for one person. Multiplace chambers are larger and can fit two or more people at the same time. The treatment is largely the same, the only difference being that in a multiplace chamber, patients breathe pure oxygen through a mask or a hood.

HBOT clinics use hard medical-grade hyperbaric oxygen chambers with 100% oxygen, while mild (mHBOT) chambers that can be used at home have ambient air with 21% oxygen and lower pressure. Your treating physician will make recommendations as to which version is best for your child. A prescription is required for any type of HBOT treatment. 

How can HBOT help in the treatment of ASD?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may play an important role in the treatment of children with autism spectrum disorder. It can have the following benefits: 

Reduce neuroinflammation

Neuroinflammation, an inflammatory response within the brain or spinal cord, is one of the major underlying causes of autism spectrum disorder. 

One of the direct consequences of neuroinflammation is cerebral hypoperfusion, the inadequate blood flow to the brain, which can result in limited cognitive abilities, problems with focus and attention, communication, and social interactions in children with autism. 

Several studies have confirmed that increasing oxygen content in the blood through HBOT may significantly reduce cerebral inflammation.

Improve behavior

Research indicates that oxygen therapy may lead to improved cognition and movement in children with autism, including better skill acquisition, reduced problem behavior, and enhanced spontaneous communication. 

Improve mitochondrial dysfunction

Many children with autism spectrum disorder suffer from mitochondrial weakness, which results in low energy that slows down thinking and other body functions. Studies have found that oxygen therapy can enhance mitochondrial function, hence improving symptoms of autism such as fine motor skills and balance.

Reduce oxidative stress

Oxidative stress, an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the human body, may lead to inflammation that damages brain tissue and drastically reduces metabolism, causing many clinical symptoms of autism. Research suggests that HBOT may improve the production of antioxidant enzymes that protect the brain cells from oxidative stress, leading to better social interactions, in addition to memory and mood improvements.

Other benefits of HBOT

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides a host of benefits in many conditions that occur simultaneously with autism spectrum disorder. HBOT treatments can: 

• Reduce gut inflammation and bloating
• Heal intestinal lining to improve leaky gut
• Impair anaerobic gut microbe colonies in the body
• Enhance the production of glutathione
• Increase detoxification rate of heavy metals
• Decrease seizure activity
• Strengthen the immune system.

Does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Work for Autism?

Many clinical trials have attempted to establish the usefulness of HBOT in treating individuals with autism spectrum disorder. However, the results of these studies have been mixed and medical specialists are still considering the effectiveness of HBOT treatment for autism. 

On the one hand, several studies have shown promising results of using HBOT for reducing inflammations in the brain and gastrointestinal system that are often associated with autism. Both parents and doctors of autistic children have reported benefits of HBOT in autism therapies including:

• Improved sleep
• Enhanced focus and attention
• Fewer sensory issues
• Improved bowel function
• Improved cognition
• Better communication skills
• Children becoming more affectionate and calmer
• Stronger connection to family.

On the other hand, many researchers still believe that there is little empirical evidence of the effectiveness of HBOT therapy on autism. They point to several limitations when it comes to establishing a clear relationship between the use of HBOT and significant improvement in autistic symptoms:

• There is a lack of rigorous experimental control and good scientific practice.
• Studies are often not being duplicated across the autistic population and therefore not considered to be accurate.
• Some studies examining this type of treatment have described improvements that could have been partly due to a placebo effect.
• In some cases, participants’ conditions might have improved over time due to concurrent treatments rather than the effects of HBOT.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved HBOT for the treatment of several conditions. However, the therapy has not been cleared as safe and approved for treating autism because its effectiveness has not been clinically proven. 

Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Safe for Autistic Children? 

Hyperbaric treatment for autistic children is generally regarded as safe and well-tolerated at pressures up to 1.5 atm and 100% oxygen for two hours per day. However, like any other treatment, HBOT has been shown to have several undesirable side effects.

Sinus damage

Sinus damage can occur during oxygen therapy in patients with upper respiratory infections. Significant changes in pressure may result in compression in the sinus cavities, inflammation of sinuses’ mucosal tissues, congestion, and edema. Your child may also feel facial pain that decreases as the air volume in the chamber expands. The use of decongestant nasal spray before the therapy significantly reduces this undesirable side effect.

Fluid buildup in the middle ear

One of the common side effects of oxygen therapy is feeling the pressure, ear pain, or discomfort during the treatment. In some cases, the pressure can cause swelling in the middle ear and rupture of the inner membrane leading to hearing loss. Children with autism who have recently undergone ear surgery should not receive HBOT unless instructed otherwise by their doctor.

Lung damage

During and after the HBOT therapy, patients suffering from emphysema and asthma may sustain lung tissue damage due to pressure change. This may result in air leaking from the lungs into the chest and a collapsed lung. Anyone with lung disease should not undergo this type of therapy.

Oxygen poisoning 

In rare cases, elevated oxygen concentrations during sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy can lead to chest pain, breathing difficulties, and potentially, the risk of respiratory failure. To prevent tissues in the body from taking in too much oxygen, which may lead to oxygen poisoning, your child may have to take short breaks during the therapy and breathe normal air.

Reversible myopia

The use of HBOT can briefly change the state of the lens in the eye which worsens myopia. However, this and other vision issues are reversible within six months after the cessation of therapy. Your child may also briefly experience symptoms such as eyelid twitching, blurry vision, and visual-field disturbances. 

Claustrophobia

Claustrophobia is a common concern when it comes to HBOT due to the enclosed nature of the hyperbaric chamber. In some cases, a larger multiplace chamber may be a better option. If claustrophobic symptoms become severe, your child’s doctor can prescribe pre-treatment sedation.

The best way to avoid the side effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy is to make sure treatment is done by certified and trained medical staff. In the US, there are not many healthcare providers who are board-certified in the field. That’s why you should always confirm that the healthcare provider offering your therapy has special training from the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS). 

How Long Does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Sessions Last?

An HBOT session for autistic children typically lasts for 90 minutes. In some cases, the treatment may take up to 2 hours. 

How Many HBOT Sessions Are Needed for Autistic Children?

There are no standard therapeutic guidelines as to the number of sessions needed for the HBOT autism treatment to work. The number and frequency of sessions required will vary from child to child. You may want to start with a series of 10 sessions, after which your doctor can evaluate the progress and advise on whether your child should continue with the treatment. In most cases, the therapy will require between 20 and 40 treatments.

Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Covered by Insurance?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an expensive treatment. One therapy session can cost up to $250, which amounts to $10,000 for 40 sessions. 

HBOT can be covered by Medicare and commercial insurances, although most insurances will require prior authorization to cover this type of treatment. Several commercial insurance companies, including BlueCross BlueShield, United Healthcare, Cigna, and Humana, will approve HBOT for off-label conditions such as autism if the treatment is medically necessary. However, companies reserve the right to deny HBOT coverage regardless of the medical condition. The amount you need to pay out-of-pocket will depend on your insurance plan. 

HBOT is usually not covered by private health insurance or Medicaid as it is considered being an experimental treatment. HBOT using soft/mild chambers are not reimbursed by insurance companies. 

Other Therapy Options for Autistic Children

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an adjunctive treatment for autism and is usually combined with another type of therapy. As part of multidisciplinary treatment for your child, you may also want to consider speech therapy, occupational therapy, restrictive diet, applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy, and verbal behavior analysis (VBA) therapy. 

Children with autism often experience delays in motor skill development. When combined with their communication and behavioral issues, physical difficulties can make it very challenging for autistic children to thrive. 

Physical therapy is a successful means of improving motor functions in autistic children and teaching them to be confident and comfortable in their bodies. 

Here’s a closer look at how physical therapy can help children with autism learn, grow, and enjoy their life to the fullest. 

What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder characterized by a range of social, communication, and behavior challenges. Autism affects an estimated 1 in 54 children in the United States. This condition is three to four times more common in boys than in girls, and boys often exhibit more obvious signs of autism than girls. 

The effects of autism and the severity of symptoms vary from child to child. While some children with autism spectrum disorder require significant support in their daily activities, others may go on to live independent, productive, and fulfilling lives.

When is autism diagnosed?

Autism spectrum disorder is usually diagnosed in early childhood. The signs of autism often appear already around the age of two, when between 80% to 90% of parents start noticing symptoms that disrupt their child’s daily functioning. However, some children develop normally until toddlerhood, when they start losing previously gained skills and stop acquiring new ones. This condition is known as regressive autism.

What are the symptoms of autism?

The core signs of autism spectrum disorder are repetitive behaviors and challenges in communication and social interactions.

Other symptoms include:

• Avoiding eye contact
• Preference for playing alone
• Little or no interest in peers
• Not engaging in creative play
• Rejection of physical contact
• Trouble understanding other people’s feelings and body language
• Delayed speech and language skills
• Repeating the same words or phrases

• Becoming upset by minor changes
• A need to keep routines
• Obsessive interests in objects or parts of objects
• Short attention span, except for favorite activities or topics
• Repeating movements, for example, hand flapping, spinning, and rocking
• Aggression, self-injury, and temper tantrums
• Unusual reactions to sound, smell, taste, sight, or touch.

The Physical Difficulties That Children With Autism Face

In addition to challenges related to communication and social interactions, children with autism spectrum disorder often experience delays in physical development. In most cases, both gross and fine motor skills are affected by autism. 

Gross motor skills are large movements done using the arms, legs, and feet such as jumping and running. Children usually master these skills by watching and imitating others. 

Due to their lack of interest in other people, decreased attention span, tactile sensitivities, and aversions, many children with autism are delayed in their gross motor skills development. 

They are on average 6 months behind their neurotypical peers with regard to their gross motor skills. 

Fine motor skills, on the other hand, consist of intricate hand and finger movements that are required for everyday tasks like scribbling, grasping toys, tying knots, and self-feeding. Coordination difficulties as well as lack of core strength and stability can make fine motor skills challenging for children with autism spectrum disorder. Even after having mastered these skills, autistic children may have difficulty executing them smoothly. 

Physical issues that frequently accompany autism include: 

• Delays in walking, jumping, skipping, and running
• Trouble copying movements of other people
• Slow or unpredictable movements
• Limited coordination
• Poor balance 
• Problems with planning and repeating movements
• Difficulty performing movements in a specific order
• Delays in fine motor activities such as writing and drawing
• Poor eye-hand coordination
• Low muscle tone that may cause clumsiness and falls
• Difficulty controlling posture
• Unstable walking or running
• Toe walking
• Difficulty going up or down steps 
• Issues using sensory information for movement.

The more severe the disorder, the slower your child’s progress will be in these areas. Early identification and treatment of motor skill issues in autistic children are essential in helping them catch up with their neurotypical peers.

How Can a Physical Therapist Help an Autistic Child?

A physical therapist is a trained medical professional who diagnoses and treats patients with conditions that affect their movement and prevent them from performing everyday activities.

Working closely with multidisciplinary teams of speech therapists, occupational therapists, and psychologists, physical therapists help develop, maintain, and restore optimal physical functioning in children and adults with autism.

The therapist will start by evaluating your child’s motor functional performance and delays. Based on this assessment, the therapist will develop goals that will allow your child to participate as fully as possible in daily routines at home and in school. There is no standard treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder and your physical therapists will personalize a program to meet the strengths and needs of your child. 

In addition to teaching new motor skills and improving the existing ones, a physical therapist will work with your child on acquiring the movement patterns necessary for taking part in activities with peers. Treatment strategies will be gradually adjusted as your child learns new skills and starts functioning more independently.

Physical therapists always take the autism diagnosis into consideration when designing treatment sessions. Although all physical therapists are educated to treat children and adults with autism spectrum disorder, you may want to look specifically for a pediatric physical therapist with experience in treating autistic children. 

Physical therapists may also offer other types of therapies suitable for children with autism spectrum disorder, such as hippotherapy, dance and movement therapy, music therapy, recreational therapy, and even play therapy.

What does a physical therapy session look like? 

Sessions with a physical therapist are designed to be safe, friendly, and encouraging for children of all ages. Although physiotherapy sessions are structured, they may still look a lot like play. 

Typically, a pediatric physical therapy gym will have balls, swings, and slides. Exercise-based physiotherapy treatments include a variety of activities such as jumping, clapping hands, skipping, throwing, kicking, or catching a ball, to help your child improve balance, posture, and strength. 

For younger children, physical therapy sessions usually last between 20 and 30 minutes. As your child gets older, sessions can be extended up to an hour. Besides weekly training, your child’s therapist will often provide you with a home exercise program and activities to help your child progress.

Physical therapy in the early years: birth to age 3

Physical therapists work with the youngest children on their basic motor skills such as rolling, sitting, standing, and running. A therapist will devise fun and engaging activities to help your child learn age-appropriate physical skills and use both free and structured play to improve strength and coordination. 

Physical therapy in the school years: ages 3 to 18

For school-age children, physical therapists focus on more advanced skills such as skipping, kicking, throwing, and catching a ball. These skills are necessary not only for physical development, but also for social interaction and participation in activities with peers. Your child will also learn to move as independently as possible throughout the home, school, and other settings. 

A physical therapist may work with your child either one-on-one in the classroom or in groups that include neurotypical and autistic children to work on the social aspects of physical skills. During physical therapy sessions, your child will learn how to:

• Copy the movements of other children
• Understand concepts of direction, body, and spatial awareness
• Develop better coordination and more stable posture
• Take part in physical education and other activities
• Enhance play skills, and
• Increase fitness and stamina.

What’s more, your child’s physical therapist will help promote skills such as self-control, listening, and taking turns, and teach you how to use physical therapy activities to encourage your child to participate in home and school routines. 

Physical therapy during adulthood: age 18+

Physical therapists can help adults with autism spectrum disorder increase their independence when it comes to the activities of daily living. Besides, they develop personalized exercise routines that promote physical fitness, body coordination, and recreation skills. These skills allow adults with autism to have a healthy lifestyle and enjoy a variety of activities with friends and family.

Where Does The Physical Therapy Treatment Occur? 

Physical therapy for children on the autism spectrum may occur in a variety of places including the home, school, or outpatient clinic setting. 

Children under the age of three who are eligible for physical therapy through the Early Intervention programs will receive therapy in their natural environment, that is, their home, daycare, or another place where they spend most of their days. If your child’s physical therapy is provided as an educational service, it will take place at school. 

How Often Should a Physical Therapy Treatment Occur for a Child with ASD? 

If your child receives services through the education system, the frequency of therapy sessions will be determined by the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) or Individualized Education Program (IEP) team based on your child’s needs. The same team will also establish the length of sessions and the goals of treatment. As a parent, you will have a say in any decisions regarding different aspects of your child’s physical therapy.

In a clinic setting, the treatment details are determined by the referring physician, parent or caretaker, and therapist. The number of hours of therapy provided by your child’s health insurance can also affect the frequency of sessions.

The Best Physical Therapists for Autistic Children in the Atlanta Area

If you live in the Atlanta area, you can choose among many top-rated physical therapy services for your child. Here are only a few: 

Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers 

Hopebridge centers use innovative therapy approaches to help children with autism improve their motor skills. They have several locations in the Atlanta area. 

Atlanta Children’s Therapy Associates

A team of pediatric physical therapists focuses on improving gross motor skills in children with developmental delays.

All About Kids

This service specializes in home-based physical therapy for children of all ages.

Atlanta Pediatric Therapy

Experienced physical therapists provide evaluation, intervention, and consultation in everything from muscle tone and posture control to increasing strength and endurance.

Building Blocks Pediatrics

The Building Blocks Pediatrics therapists develop treatment plans to enhance motor functions in addition to devising extensive home programs for families. 

Premier Children’s Therapy Center

A team of physical therapists with experience in working with autism spectrum disorder will help your child restore essential motor functions and achieve independence through play and exercise.

Kid’s Creek Therapy

This service provides physical therapy for children with autism and other disabilities. They also offer free online Growth Ability Patterns (GAP) assessments and free first consultations. 

Therapyland

Through a collaborative relationship between parents and therapists, Therapyland is dedicated to providing physical therapy to help children with autism and other conditions reach their highest potential.

Hippotherapy is a treatment in which horses are used to help individuals with developmental and cognitive disabilities improve their communication, social, and motor skills. 

Autistic children can highly benefit from this type of therapy due to the emotional and sensory experiences that come with riding and taking care of horses. 

Keep reading to find out more about hippotherapy and the ways it can support your child with autism in achieving developmental goals. 

What Is Hippotherapy?

Hippotherapy is a horse-aided therapy. Horse movements provide motor and sensory inputs that are used in the treatment of conditions ranging from autism spectrum disorder and cerebral palsy to attention deficit disorder and developmental delays. 

The term hippotherapy comes from the Greek word “hippos” meaning horse. In ancient Greece, therapeutic horse riding was used for treating neurological conditions as well as improving joint movement, posture, and balance. 

Equine therapy was introduced in Scandinavia after an outbreak of polio in 1946, and it was formally developed in the United States and Canada two decades later.

How does hippotherapy work?

Hippotherapy is a multimodal form of intervention. In other words, it includes many different types of activities based around horses: 

• Changing positions on a moving horse
• Sitting sideways or backward on a horse
• Holding balance when the horse suddenly stops
• Playing games while sitting on a horse
• Engaging in situational role plays
• Listening to the therapist and following the instructions
• Communicating while on the horse or off the horse
• Taking on and removing the helmet 
• Grooming and feeding the horse
• Helping tidy the barn. 

During a typical hippotherapy session, the child sits on a horse while the therapist guides the horse’s movement. Those movements stimulate the development of neural connections in the child’s brain that help with motor and language development. Adjusting to the horse’s movements helps facilitate a range of abilities from muscular coordination to respiratory control and attentional skills. What’s more, during this form of therapy, children with autism often create an emotional bond with the horse that encourages them to perform various skill-building tasks.

By combining different types of activities, the therapist will provide the optimal sensory and neurological input for your child. The therapist will then analyze the child’s responses and adjust the treatment along the way. 

What types of horses are used for hippotherapy?

Therapy horses are carefully selected for their temperament and the type of movement they produce. Among the most frequently used horses for hippotherapy are calm, gentle, and even-tempered American quarter horses. They must have good walking gaits and symmetrical motion to exercise the child’s muscles evenly during sessions. Hippotherapy horses are specially trained for therapy sessions with autistic children.

Hippotherapy vs. therapeutic riding

Hippotherapy is a form of equine-assisted therapy. Equine-assisted therapies encompass a range of treatments involving horses and other equine animals and can be classified as: 

• Therapeutic horseback riding
• Equine-assisted learning
• Equine-assisted psychotherapy
• Interactive vaulting where children perform movements on and around a horse
• Therapeutic carriage driving for anyone who is not able or willing to ride
• Equine-assisted activities like horse grooming and stable management. 

Hippotherapy is not to be confused with therapeutic riding which consists of recreational horseback riding lessons adapted to individuals with disabilities. Hippotherapy, on the contrary, focuses on the rhythmic and repetitive walk of the horse which serves as a foundation for improving the sensory processing and skills of a child with autism. 

What professionals provide hippotherapy?

Hippotherapy is a medically prescribed treatment provided by occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech-language pathology professionals.

It is important to keep in mind that hippotherapy is not a separate program. It is combined with other standard therapy tools and strategies devised in your child’s intervention plan. Hippotherapy is often used in cases where traditional treatments have not been successful. Adding horse-assisted therapy to an existent treatment routine has been proven to significantly increase the well-being of autistic children. 

Is Hippotherapy Effective for Children With Autism?

Research suggests that hippotherapy has a positive impact on communication and social skills among children with autism spectrum disorder. A study on the effect of equine-assisted therapy on social functioning found that autistic children who rode horses as part of therapy showed improvements in social skills after only twelve weeks. The results of another study on the impact of hippotherapy on children with autism confirm that the equine interaction is highly effective when it comes to enhancing social and communication skills.

In addition to improvements in social and communication competencies, hippotherapy is beneficial in many other areas. It has been shown to significantly improve balance, sensory responsiveness, motor skills, and adaptive behaviors of autistic children in the home and school settings. 

Creating emotional bond

Children with autism often have difficulties creating an emotional bond with others. They may find it hard to make eye contact, communicate their feelings, and connect to those they care about. 

Autistic children who participate in hippotherapy benefit from the special connection they develop with the horse. Communication with a horse is physical rather than verbal—the child can brush, hug and pat it. This unique emotional bond encourages the child to form an attachment to others, something that they may otherwise find challenging. When caring for their horse, children associate the care they provide with feelings, a connection that they can apply to their interaction with family and friends.

Sensory benefits

Many children on the autism spectrum are unable to integrate their senses and understand how their bodies relate to the external world. Hippotherapy is a great way to help them gain a sense of body-awareness while improving sensory integration.

Because being on a horse or in the horse environment is a sensation-rich experience, autistic children can largely benefit from the integration of their motor, visual, auditory, olfactory, and tactile senses. Riding provides strong sensory stimulation to muscles and joints, hugging and patting the horse offers a tactile experience, while hearing the horse’s neigh and smelling the barn impact other senses.

Cognitive and language skills development

Autistic children may find it challenging to follow directions. During hippotherapy, however, they are often motivated to communicate both with the therapist and the horse. They learn to follow directions through fun activities that make instructions easier to grasp and remember. At the same time, giving the horse direction provides another opportunity to communicate. 

Other benefits of hippotherapy

Hippotherapy may help children with autism learn a variety of skills that they can apply in their daily life, and encourage them to start participating in activities they used to avoid.

Some of the numerous physical and psychological benefits hippotherapy has for autistic children include:

• Develop balance and coordination
• Improve posture and flexibility 
• Gain new sensory skills 
• Improve memory, concentration, and attention to tasks
• Improve motor planning
• Relax tight muscles 
• Build muscle strength
• Increase respiratory control
• Improve fine motor coordination 
• Refine hand-eye coordination 
• Gain self-control and self-confidence
• Get a better sense of body-awareness
• Improve socialization skills
• Build resilience to change
• Improve listening skills
• Learn more appropriate ways to interact with peers.

Encouraging Your Autistic Child Through Hippotherapy 

There are several ways in which you can encourage your autistic child through a hippotherapy program:

• Be prepared. Let your child know exactly what to expect from the new therapy. You may want to use social stories—individualized short stories that depict a social situation that your child may encounter, in this case, hippotherapy—and other visual aids to facilitate the transition to a new activity. 
• Be consistent. Children with autism spectrum disorder tend to do best when they have a highly-structured schedule or routine. Try to keep any disruptions to the new routine to a minimum. If there is an unavoidable schedule change, prepare your child well in advance.
• Be positive. Hippotherapy should be a pleasant experience and something your child looks forward to every time.
• Be mindful of your child’s needs. Take into account any sensory issues your child might have, such as sensitivities to light, sound, touch, taste, and smell, for example. Try to avoid any sensory inputs that may trigger your child’s disruptive behaviors until the new routine is well established. 

Hippotherapy Programs for Autistic Children in Atlanta 

There is no shortage of top-rated hippotherapy programs to choose from in the Atlanta area. Here are just a few:

• Beyond Limits Therapeutic Riding
• Chastain Horse Park Therapeutic Program
• McKenna Farms
• MyHeroes Therapy
• Parkwood Farms Therapy Center
• Stride Ahead

Other useful resources: 

• American Hippotherapy Association 
• Atlanta Parent Therapy and Medical Services

Children with autism are often interested in and emotionally responsive to music. Music provides powerful multi-sensory experiences that can help them develop verbal and social skills, in addition to creating ample opportunities to relate to others. 

Let’s take a closer look at how music therapy is used to treat children with autism spectrum disorder. 

What Is Music Therapy?

Music therapy is a clinical, evidence-based technique for using musical interactions to help improve functioning skills in children and adults with cognitive and emotional difficulties. 

Music therapy was first used for the clinical treatment of children with special needs in the early to mid-1900s. It was originally developed as a way to help children improve social interaction and communication. Today, music therapy addresses both the communication, social, physical, cognitive, and emotional needs of children on the autism spectrum. 

Music therapy is not to be confused with musical instruction. It is not a performance-based but rather a process-oriented intervention, where children actively participate in activities such as singing, moving along with, listening to and creating music.

This type of therapy is offered by Board Certified Music Therapists (MT-BC) who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) approved college or university program. In addition, to obtain the credentials required for professional practice, candidates have to pass a national examination administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT).

Is Music Therapy Effective for Children With Autism? 

Research shows that various aspects of music such as melody, pitch, and rhythm are all processed by different areas in the brain. Since music stimulates both hemispheres of the brain, it can be effective in improving cognitive functioning in a child with autism. Several studies have also shown that music therapy works to rewire the brains of children with autism, helping them to reduce undesirable behaviors and improve social interactions with family and friends. 

The benefits of music therapy for autistic children

There are several ways in which music therapy is proven to be beneficial to children with autism spectrum disorder.

Facilitate communication

Most autistic children experience challenges with at least some aspects of verbal and non-verbal communication. For children who have very limited verbal skills or who find it difficult to express themselves using words, music therapy can provide a valuable alternative means of communication. 

Motivate social interactions

Research shows that children with autism become more socially engaged when they are exposed to music therapy. During their therapy sessions, autistic children display a wider range of emotional expressions and social engagement behaviors than in classroom settings and other environments where there is no music involved. 

What’s more, many group therapy sessions include playing games, sharing instruments, and creating together. This type of intervention is a great practice for children with autism as it promotes social skills like making eye contact, sharing attention, and taking turns.

Increase attention to tasks

Weekly music therapy sessions for autism can improve the ability to focus and help reduce restlessness and aggressive behaviors. Interestingly, autistic children often find it easier to focus on sung information than the one that is spoken.

Teach new skills

Music may be used as a natural reinforcer for obtaining desired responses in autistic children. A therapist can teach new skills through musical activities, for example, pairing those skills with musical cues. The cues are gradually phased out until the child has fully acquired the skill and does not need any further reinforcements.

Improve confidence levels

Music therapy fosters a sense of achievement and, consequently, the development of self-confidence and self-determination in autistic children.

Other benefits 

Listening to and creating music as part of therapy can also help autistic children to: 

• Increase vocalization and verbalization 
• Enhance auditory processing
• Facilitate vocabulary comprehension
• Help develop sensory-motor and perceptual-motor skills
• Positively influence the development of gross and fine motor skills
• Enhance body awareness and coordination
• Reduce sensory aversions
• Decrease anxiety and stress
• Help identify and appropriately express emotions
• Establish stronger family bonds.

What Will a Music Therapy Session Look Like? 

Music therapy sessions are delivered by certified music therapists who work with individuals or small groups in a safe environment, using a variety of music genres and techniques. Therapists will usually consult and collaborate with your child’s pediatrician or other therapists. In addition, they will develop strategies that you can successfully implement at home. 

Music therapy typically involves the following stages:

• Assessment. The therapist assesses your child to determine his or her specific needs. 
• Goal-setting. Based on the initial assessment, the therapist develops an individualized music therapy program for your child.
• Activities. Music therapy sessions may include activities such as songwriting, movement, singing, playing instruments, listening to music, working in groups, and improvisation. The therapist will either choose a couple of tasks as part of the treatment plan or implement various approaches across different therapy sessions. 
• Evaluation. The music therapy program is regularly evaluated to make sure it is working as intended and that your child is making progress.

The duration of the therapy will depend on your child’s individual needs. You can expect to have one weekly session of music therapy that lasts for anywhere from 20 to 50 minutes. 

Music therapy for autistic children is often incorporated into other forms of treatment such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy. 

Encouraging Your Autistic Child Through Music Therapy 

There are many different ways in which you can motivate your autistic child with the help of music therapy programs and activities. Here are just a few:

Build social skills

You can ask your child to share or pass you a musical instrument as a way to increase interaction with others. Another way to encourage interaction is to sing or play instruments together.

Encourage communication

One of the simplest ways to help your child with autism improve communication skills is through music. You can, for instance, engage your child in a musical conversation where you sing a question and your child responds by singing. 

Enhance memory and focus

A fun way to improve your child’s memory and focus is clapping to the beat of the music and asking your child to imitate your gestures. You may want to start with a simple pattern and then gradually increase its complexity.

Develop vocabulary

An effective way to help your child learn new words and develop vocabulary is to select a simple song that focuses on one topic, such as animals, for example. While singing the song, make sure to emphasize the particular words you want your child to learn. 

Music Therapy Program for Autistic Children in Atlanta 

When looking for music therapy for your child, it is essential to find a professional who will take into consideration your child’s unique needs and interests, focus on providing a positive learning experience, and effectively communicate with you throughout the process. 

If you live in the Atlanta area, you may want to consider one of the following top-rated music therapy programs for autistic children: 

• Atlanta Music Therapy
• Metro Music Makers 
• Metro Music Therapy
• Music Therapy for Autism
• Music Together Metro Atlanta 
• Therabeat. 

Other useful resources:

• American Music Therapy Association 
• Learning Disability Association of Georgia 
• Autism Speaks Music Therapy Finder
• Music Therapy Autism Activity Ideas.