What Is Developmental Therapy for Autism?
Many experts agree that people with autism, while they're very different from one another, share "core deficits." These include difficulties with social and communication skills and emotional engagement. Of course, many autistic people also have other difficulties ranging from sensory disorders to motor issues, but because these difficulties are not shared across the spectrum, they are not considered core deficits.
Traditional therapies, such as speech, physical and occupational therapy, address specific areas of need which are generally NOT considered core concerns. Behavioral therapy, such as ABA, is intended to address outward behaviors and to teach concrete skills. Pharmaceutical and/or biomedical intervention treats physical differences which may underlie core deficits.
Developmental therapies are intended to directly addresses autism's core deficits. To achieve this goal, it is recommended that therapists and parents work with the child's own interests or actions to slowly build engagement, interaction, communication, affection, and then tackle specific skills such as logical reasoning, symbolic thinking and more. [Note: Developmental therapy is generally first recommended for very young children, but the techniques are applicable through adulthood.]
Most practitioners of developmental therapy recommend that treatment for autism should also include additional therapies as necessary, including speech, PT and OT. Some are also advocates of biomedical interventions while others, generally those from more traditional medical backgrounds, recommend against biomedical therapies.