Autism (ASD) Assessment Services & Multisensory Learning Support in Belmore
Strategies for Learning with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Who Does Autism (ASD) Affect?
According to The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, one to two in every 100 Australians is on the autism spectrum. Autism often runs in families, and family members may have similar traits.
Those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) typically experience difficulties in social interaction and repetitive behaviours, which can present differently depending on the individual’s age. While the assessment for Autism is centered around the presence of distinct behavioural symptoms, a significant number of people with Autism might attempt to mitigate or camouflage these behaviours to align more closely with their peers. Although Autism is commonly diagnosed during primary or even preschool, for some, the condition may not be considered until much later, during adolescence or adulthood. Furthermore, it’s noted that girls with ASD often receive their diagnosis later than boys.
Understanding Autism
Autism is a developmental disorder that affects the processing of information particularly around social situations. It may affect people’s educational progress in many different ways regardless of how intelligent someone with ASD may be. It often comes together with ADHD, dyslexia, epilepsy, and so can be difficult to isolate in assessment and diagnosis while frequently being missed for many years. The educational system may provide extra help, but because of how varied people with autism present and because of the various other issues they may have, it is often not sufficiently fine-tuned for the individuals concerned. This is where targeted educational therapy may make a big difference.
Enhancing Learning for Individuals with Autism/ASD Through a Multisensory Approach
Our experience has shown that the multisensory approach yields results for individuals with autism. This approach is gaining significant recognition and research focus worldwide, particularly in its implementation for students with autism.
There is a growing body of research into the usefulness of employing multisensory methods for people with autism, including Jaclyn Smith (“Multisensory Learning and its Effect on Students with Autism” (2019). Education Masters. Paper 367) and Amaal Mustafa (“Investigating the Effect of Multisensory Approach on Improving Emergent Literacy Skills in Children with Autism Disorder.” International Journal of Psycho-Educational Sciences Vol. 7, Issue (1), April –2018).
The following link is an example of how multisensory education is becoming increasingly recognised and implemented for students with Autism.
https://www.structural-learning.com/post/multisensory-learning-in-the-classroom-a-teachers-guide
Multisensory Therapy/Tutoring for People with Autism/ASD
Mainstream education is primarily focused on meeting the needs of the majority and may not effectively engage students with autism and related conditions. At Neurosensory, our therapists and teachers employ a personalised approach that embraces the unique interests of these students, considering them as opportunities for enhanced engagement and growth. Our approach is characterised by its organic, creative, and structured nature.
When we demonstrate our support for their interests, we witness the development of self-esteem, confidence, and self-expression in our students.
Supporting Students with Autism: The role of our MSL Therapists and Tutors
We encourage them to:
- Establish a routine for each lesson
- Blend the student’s interests into the lessons and promote imaginative thinking
- Stay away from sarcasm and commonly used phrases
- Foresee scenarios where subtle social hints may complicate the understanding of fictional stories
- Allow the students to make choices within the lesson
- Foster a safe and trusting environment for the student to ask any question, regardless of its apparent simplicity
- Motivate the student to take a break when feeling overwhelmed-maybe engage in a 5-minute table tennis game, a quick run around the garden, or a mini basketball game
Available Therapy and Tutoring Options for Individuals with Autism/ASD
At Neurosensory, we provide two options to assist individuals with autism, ensuring that support is accessible to primary, secondary, TAFE, university students, and beyond.
The Benefits of In-Person Therapy/Tutoring and Learning Support
In-person tutoring encompasses the establishment of a warm and inviting learning environment that offers a greater level of relaxation compared to a traditional school classroom. Our therapists acknowledge the significance of routine for individuals with autism, as well as the challenges they face in breaking deeply ingrained but less effective habits.
Our rooms have many engaging hands-on materials which go beyond paper and pen learning. Schooling is stressful for students with learning difficulties and disabilities. The Neurosensory approach takes away the stigma of failure and replaces it with a can-do attitude. It recognises concentration limits and the need for short breaks with movement to refresh the mind. Our approach allows for more interactivity and creativity in the lesson, which can help students to better retain skills and information.
Convenient Online Options for Therapy/Tutoring and Learning Support
We understand that not everyone is able to attend in-person tutoring and therapy due to location, lack of transportation, and other commitments. Our therapists are skilled at providing structure and variety in their sessions. We appreciate that learning is not merely a mechanical process but is based on building personal relationships.
We treat everyone who comes to our services as a ‘whole person’, building social awareness and language development seamlessly into the sessions. Our online ASD option ensures that students with autism and other disorders can still access appropriate interventions from the comfort of their home.
In the event that you or a loved one require learning support following an autism diagnosis, our team of autism tutors is ready and enthusiastic about helping.
Assessing Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children and Adults
Diagnosing autism may present challenges as there is no specific medical test available. Instead, diagnosis is based on the observation of behavioural symptoms. Many individuals with autism mask their symptoms in order to conform to societal expectations. This is especially true for girls and women, who often go undiagnosed and untreated due to their adeptness at masking.
At Neurosensory, we offer screening assessments and facilitate referrals to psychologists, paediatricians, and psychiatrists if there is a possibility of an autism diagnosis. Some of the assessments we utilise as guidance include the Test of Pragmatic Language (TOPL2) and the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). Additionally, other professionals may employ assessments such as ADOS-2. It is worth noting that new assessments are being developed to address the limitations of older ones, as they may not effectively diagnose individuals who are ‘highly functioning’ but face significant challenges due to masking symptoms.
We stress that we cannot formally diagnose people, but we can refer them to someone who can if our assessment reveals a possible diagnosis.
Exploring Common Inquiries
If you have concerns about the development of a loved one or yourself, it is advisable to consult your GP for an initial assessment or seek guidance from a paediatrician or psychologist. They can refer you to a team of experts who focus on autism assessment, including paediatricians, speech pathologists, psychologists, and psychiatrists.
Alternatively, you can book a consultation with us at Neurosensory. We can discuss the issues that are causing concern, offer screening and a preliminary report, and refer you to the appropriate providers for diagnosis if required.
During an ASD assessment for a child or adult, you may be requested to undergo:
- Conversations (with yourself, your child, and/or with other main caregivers)
- Assessment of developmental timeline
- Monitoring your (or your child’s) communication with others
- Diagnostic tests (including TOPL-2 and SRS)
Indeed, the earlier autism is detected, the smoother the individual’s life journey may become. It may also contribute to a stronger sense of self-esteem and self-awareness, granting them an identity they may have previously lacked. Additionally, a diagnosis may facilitate access to financial assistance and support services for families.
Although autism can be detected in some children at 18 months of age or even younger, the average age for diagnosis is around three years old. Children who have a family history, such as a sibling or parent, with autism, tend to be assessed earlier rather than later.
Several signs may indicate the presence of autism, including: not responding to their name, not participating in imaginative play, avoiding eye contact, experiencing difficulties with understanding emotions, becoming upset by minor changes, developing intense and obsessive interests, avoiding or resisting physical contact, engaging in repetitive movements like hand flapping or body rocking, displaying hyperactivity and impulsivity, having a short attention span, exhibiting unusual sleep and eating patterns, and demonstrating minimal to no social skills.
It is worth noting that the signs of autism can differ greatly among individuals, with some presenting multiple signs and others displaying only a few.
Individuals with autism often excel in learning through rote memory, allowing them to memorise substantial amounts of information, including dialogues from movies. The implementation of a multisensory approach has shown remarkable effectiveness in supporting individuals with ASD.
The Orton-Gillingham multisensory approach helps those with: ADD/ADHD (although not a formal learning disorder), Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, Reading remediation (students without a learning disorder), Generalised learning disorders, Maths, and ESL.
Based in Campsie, we are just around the corner from Belfield, Belmore, Ashbury, Canterbury, Croydon Park, Clemton Park, Earlwood, Ashfield and Hurlstone Park.
Fostering Encouragement and Nurturing in Autism Learning Support
Extensive studies and research have highlighted that individuals with autism frequently exhibit characteristics such as strong long-term memory skills, meticulousness, adherence to rules, independent thinking, heightened focus (especially when engaged in their interests), and a propensity for visual thinking. At Neurosensory, our ASD-adapted tutoring endeavours to foster and celebrate these attributes, recognising them as integral components of your uniqueness and individuality.
How Can the NDIS Support Individuals with Autism?
Certain students with autism may qualify for NDIS funding. We have had numerous students who have successfully funded Neurosensory services through their NDIS plans. Additionally, we can provide assistance with the NDIS application process.
If there’s anything else you’d like to inquire about concerning this topic, feel free to reach out. I’m here to offer assistance and address any concerns you may have!
Are You Excited to Delve into the World of Multisensory Learning?
Neurosensory is dedicated to assisting students in tackling the challenges associated with education and schooling for individuals with ASD. We address issues such as organisation, breaks in routine, varying expectations, and comprehending teacher instructions. Through our multisensory approach, we establish meaningful connections between abstract concepts and tangible, visual models.
This aspect is particularly important for individuals who struggle with processing the intricacies of language, a common challenge among individuals with autism. At Neurosensory, our goal is to empower students of all ages to develop learning and study habits that extend beyond their academic life, as these habits can also contribute to the development of social skills.