- [Voiceover] So in this video we're gonna talk about
how we manage autism spectrum disorder.
And in order for us to figure out
how we might go about doing that,
let's actually pull up the criteria here
that we use to diagnose autism spectrum disorder.
So if we look at this, the two main sort of signs
that we need to see in someone
in order to diagnose autism spectrum disorder
are trouble with communication and interaction
and restrictive, repetitive behaviors.
And we can see here that there are a few different ways
that these problems could manifest,
so this is what we would look for
if we were trying to figure out
if someone has autism spectrum disorder.
And, since these are the main sort of problems
that someone with autism spectrum disorder
can experience, well, it's these
that we also want to focus on when we're
thinking about managing autism spectrum disorder.
Now something that we need to keep in mind
when we're thinking about managing
autism spectrum disorder is that
someone with autism spectrum disorder,
they follow along a spectrum, right?
So how much trouble they have with communication
and interaction and restricted and repetitive behaviors,
how much trouble they have in these domains
really varies a lot between different people
with autism spectrum disorder.
So that means that we really want
individualized management plans
for different people with autism spectrum disorder
to make sure that the plans really address
each person's strengths and their symptoms,
because this can really vary depending on where
along the autism spectrum the person falls.
So you might have picked up on the fact
that I'm using the word manage here,
rather than the word treat, and that's because
there isn't really a cure for these troubles
that someone with autism spectrum disorder can experience.
So instead what we want to focus on
is managing these troubles by trying to minimize
how much they interfere with the person's day to day life.
And a big part of how we do that,
especially when a child is younger,
is we get the parents, and other family members,
and teachers involved in creating
an ideal environment for the kid
with autism spectrum disorder.
And this ideal environment, what it is,
is it's an environment that addresses
these different troubles that someone
with autism spectrum disorder can have.
So let's take a look at what this might look like.
So in order to help a child with autism spectrum disorder
work on their communication and interaction skills
parents or teachers might make sure
that the child has lots of interactive playtime every day.
So the teacher might make sure that the child
has time to interact with his or her peers,
maybe by working on classroom activities together.
These sorts of social activities
are made a priority every day
so that the child has lots of opportunities
to work on his or her communication
and interaction skills in different ways.
And at home, maybe the parents would
really focus on making communication
and interaction an important priority.
Maybe they would practice using nonverbal gestures
and making sure that the child is able
to use and understand these skills
when they interact with the parents or other family members.
Now part of making sure that a kid
with autism spectrum disorder is able to thrive
and work on their communication
is making sure that they're
comfortable in their environment.
And since we know that kids with autism spectrum disorder
can be really set on routines and have trouble with change
what we often focus on in managing autism spectrum disorder
is making sure that the child
has a really structured environment.
So this might mean that parents and teachers
make sure that their routines, like getting ready for school
and after school activities and bedtimes
and meals are always the same.
Maybe this means that the child
is in a smaller classroom so that they're
able to get some more one on one time with the teacher
who can make sure that the day
really follows a nice routine.
And if the child has an activity that they're really into,
maybe something like playing with cars,
well this might be implemented into the daily schedule
to make sure that the child has a routine
that includes the activity that they really enjoy.
And parents and teachers would also
likely identify any environmental stimuli,
like lights, or sounds, or smells,
that really overstimulate and bother
the child with autism spectrum disorder,
and to make sure that these are avoided.
So all of these measures to create a structured environment,
this is done so that the child is able
to function their best and be able
to work on their communication and interaction skills
in an environment that they're comfortable in.
Now sometimes managing autism spectrum disorder
involves a few other measures to help deal
with other disorders and problems that can occur
in kids with autism spectrum disorder.
So, for example, sometimes kids
with autism spectrum disorder have trouble
with attention and hyperactivity.
This might happen because they
also have another disorder called
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,
or maybe this inattention and hyperactivity
occurs because they are struggling with anxiety,
which is actually another common problem
for kids with autism spectrum disorder.
Kids with autism spectrum disorder are also
at a higher risk of having a few other conditions,
like seizures, and sleep trouble, and depression.
So sometimes medications that help target
and manage these other symptoms and conditions
can become a part of a management plan
for autism spectrum disorder.