Children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) often have sensory processing difficulties. They may be very sensitive to particular sounds or materials, or unresponsive to injuries most children would find painful. This practical book offers a six-step approach to developing a successful programme to help children cope with sensory input they find overwhelming, and to identify activities they may find relaxing or rewarding. Sue Larkey draws on her experience of working with children with autism to offer more than 30 activities using touch, sound, taste, vision and movement, and gives advice on how to use these activities as opportunities to improve children's communication skills. She provides detailed photocopiable checklists to assess children's sensory reactions, sleep patterns, sense of movement and use of eye contact. Parents, occupational therapists and educational professionals will find this workbook to be a rich source of fun ideas for improving sensory processing in autism, and easily adaptable for children with other special needs.

This book offers a six-step approach to developing a programme to help children cope with sensory input they find overwhelming, and to identify activities they find relaxing or rewarding. Larkey gives over 30 activities using touch, sound, taste, vision and movement, and gives advice on how to use them to improve children's communication skills.

Teaching Autistic Children through Play Skills

Many children, especially those with autism-related problems, struggle with sensory integration - problems in the detection and/or processing of environmental or bodily events. Christian is a 12-year-old who has suffered from both aspects of sensory integration problems since birth. Following his experiences as a young child, Chara and Chara relate Christian's painful reactions to touch and extreme sensitivity to temperature, noise, taste and texture. Through detection, diagnosis, therapy and treatment, this book looks at the battles, frustrations and triumphs familiar to those with (or caring for those with) sensory integration problems. Sensory Smarts offers real solutions, such as a sensory sensitivity scale, a behavioral rating chart, and a list of helpful organizations, as well as genuine hope of overcoming sensory integration problems. With much of it written from the perspective of a child, this richly illustrated book encourages children to work with adults in overcoming their sensory difficulties. Based on mainstream psychological theories, this book will be indispensable to those grappling with, or trying to raise awareness of, sensory problems in childhood.

Createan appropriate learning environment to help children with ASD develop...