In the midst of Covid Lockdown 3.0 and Easter celebrations, was World Autism Awareness Day! The 2nd of April is dedicated to educating and bringing light to Autism, also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
ASD is characterised by a group of complex neurodevelopment disorders, consisting of repetitive and distinctive patterns of behaviour. People with ASD often have difficulties with social communication and interaction, including:
rarely making eye contact
low muscle tone
overly focused on certain objects
difficulty expressing their own and understanding other’s emotions
As the name suggests, there is a spectrum of symptoms that vary on an individual basis and impacts their ability to perform daily tasks differently. Whilst two people may both have ASD, the way they interact and behave can be completely different, which is why it is important to treat each person as an individual.
Autism is a neurological condition, hence those with ASD can experience delays or difficulties with both fine and gross motor skills. This is how Exercise Physiology support can assist with developing motor function to improve their ability to perform activities of daily living.
When prescribing exercises to patients with ASD, Exercise Physiologist’s ensure that they are goal specific, challenging and fun! When servicing the ASD population, there is a variety of areas to address:
balance
coordination
proprioception (body awareness)
motor control
sensory processing