Autism Spectrum Disorder
Children on the autism spectrum may face difficulties in various areas, including sensory processing, verbal communication/understanding, language expression, play, symbolism, society, perception, and cognition. The disorder can appear from a young age and at an early stage of development. It’s important to mention that ASD is expressed differently for each child on the spectrum.
The spectrum is wide and contains a diversity of capability levels, within which each of the symptoms can appear at a varying level of severity. The struggles of the child may become more evident with the growing expectations of the child as they age.
The main characteristics of ASD include:
- Difficulty in interpersonal communication such as a lack of empathy, nonverbal communicative behaviors, and relationships with peers
- Difficulty with changes and engaging in restricted, repetitive behaviors – these include repetitive motions, rigidity, adherence to routines, and a narrow field of interests. These behaviors are often reflected in the child’s adjustment challenges, including hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity in response to sensory stimulation. Examples include overreaction or lack of reaction to sound, pain, touch, smell, or other sensory stimuli, such as light or repetitive motion. Multiple studies have proven that early, intensive intervention by a comprehensive team of experts can lead to significant progress and considerable developmental accomplishments.
ASD at the Simaney-Kesher Clinic
The treatment of children on the autism spectrum often includes many care professionals and various therapies that require vast expertise. The clinic team is certified, specialized, and experienced in working with the full range of the ASD population. At the clinic, we believe in working according to the DIR model that emphasize that each child is different. Each child brings with them a unique emotional-sensory profile, with their strengths alongside their limitations.
At the clinic, we provide various services, with the distinct advantage that all services in the treatment program are provided under one roof, in full coordination between the care providers and under the supervision of Dr. Alisa Vig. Services provided at the clinic include case management, guidance for parents, individualized treatments, and social skills.