Sensory integration therapy works using the assumption that by doing tasks that require a lot of sensory processing, sensory systems and the brain will form a stronger connection. Having a stronger sensory system – brain connection will help children learn how to respond to different types of sensory stimulation in less extreme ways.
Over the years, doctors and researchers have devised different ways of describing the support needs of autistic people. For a variety of reasons, some of those systems have fallen out of common use and others have found their way into popular culture. These days, doctors usually describe autism using levels of severity
In the past, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Asperger Syndrome were considered to be two separate diagnoses. With the release of the Diagnostic & Statistical Manuel-5, or DSM-5 in 2013, Asperger Syndrome has been grouped into ASD. However, many autistic people feel that Asperger Syndrome is the best description for their autism and identify with the Asperger label.
Many autistic individuals have behaviors that may benefit from behavior modification. When used in a psychological sense, reinforcement and punishment are not meant to be upsetting. Simply, the purpose of reinforcement is to increase desired behaviors, while punishment hopes to decrease maladaptive behaviors.
Just as each autistic person is unique, each relationship that they form will also be one of a kind. Autistic people bring their own unique perspectives and qualities to their friendships, which might be a little different than those of typically developing people. If you become friends with an autistic person, your friendship can be made even stronger if you understand some of the differences in how autistic people communicate and relate to people socially.