Autism Treatments
Therapy & Assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorders
Equilibria’s autism treatment center includes early childhood specialists in Philadelphia ready to help support you and your child with treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Autism treatment focuses on aiding a child’s development of skills and coping mechanisms. Parents are also part of the entire process.
In addition to developing skills and coping mechanisms, our child specialists work with parents to locate appropriate community resources and support networks.
Autism treatments at Equilibria includes:
- Parent training to manage behaviors, foster independence, promote skills and language development at home
- Social skills groups for children
- Parenting groups attended by other parents of autistic children. In these groups you will explore issues related to raising children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Please note that some diagnostic and treatment services by child psychologists are reimbursable by state law.
The Autism Treatment Process
Equilibria values a multidisciplinary approach towards diagnosis and treatment of autistic spectrum disorders. Following diagnosis of autism, Equilibria’s autism treatment center takes care of building an autism treatment team, creating an assessment plan, and planning the post-assessment follow ups.
Building an Autism Treatment Team
Depending on your child’s presentation, the psychologist will facilitate the development of an autism treatment team of outside specialists, which may include one or more of the following:
- A neurodevelopmental pediatrician
- A pediatric neurologist
- A speech therapist
- An occupational therapist
- A physical therapist
- Other educational professionals
Despite the fact that children can be reliably diagnosed with ASD as early as 2 years of age, the average age at which children are diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder is 4 ½ years. These children will have missed out on years of critical early intervention services, known to improve outcomes for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
The sooner you have a diagnosis, the sooner you can begin autism treatments to obtain the help your child needs.
Autism Assessment
At Equilibria a child psychologist specializing in Autistic Spectrum Disorders will assess your child using an appropriate combination of the following:
The Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) to gather:
- The child’s history, including family, education, previous diagnoses, and medications
- Overview of the child’s behavior
- Early development and developmental milestones
- Language acquisition and loss of language or other skills
- Current functioning in regard to language and communication
- Social development and play
- Interests and behaviors
- Clinically relevant behaviors, such as aggression, self-injury, and possible epileptic features
The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS)
A play-based, interactive assessment tool, which consists of semi-structured activities that allow the psychologist to observe social and communication behaviors related to the diagnosis of ASD.
Intelligence Testing
A test of cognitive ability to determine your child’s level of cognitive functioning (this can be done with both verbal and non-verbal children).
Developmental Behavior Assessment
An assessment of developmentally appropriate behaviors, maladaptive behaviors and adaptive functioning.
Academic Assessment
- (For school-age children) an instrument assessing current academic levels
- (For school-age children) an observation in a classroom environment
Autism Treatment Team Observation Reports
Incorporation of reports/data from relevant team members.
Following Autism Assesment
Equilibria’s child psychologist will meet with family members to share the report and convey the results in plain language. The report will contain detailed recommendations and resources, ensuring the following:
- Your family understands the diagnosis and the degree of severity of the disorder
- Your family has concrete recommendations for how to address the individual needs of your child
- There is a clear plan for autism treatments to engage the behavioral, academic, speech and language and medical resources in your area
Schedule An Appointment
If you would like to meet or talk with one of our child psychologists or therapists in the Philadelphia area about Equilibria’s autism treatment center, please call us at (267) 861-3685, option 1; or fill out our online form.
