Recreation Therapist

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A Recreation Therapist use many different facilitation techniques. One technique that is commonly used is Sensory Training. Sensory training attempts to maintain and improve the functioning of patients through a program of stimulation directed toward all five senses. The goal is to help a patient with their perception and alertness when responding to the environment. Sensory processing is the ability to take in information through sense ( Austin 2013) . A Recreation therapist tries to improve the ability to manage sensory input (touch , smell, taste , vision and hearing). We receive all input through our senses, such as seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching. All senses act individually and together to send us information about …show more content…

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges (“Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.”) People with Autism may have difficultly managing their sensory input. They over-or under-react-to visual, tactile, and audio input. They may not be able to participate in typical life activities. They may be unable to movies, sit through concerts, or otherwise take part in social activities because the sound, light or sensations (“Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Children with ASD may often respond ‘appropriately’ to situations and be seen as having challenging behaviors or obsessions. Basically they have problems with their input and output of their senses. They may become overloaded and may have sensory processing dysfunctions or difficulties. Visually they may have extremely organized or unorganized rooms. They may have auditory problems which may result in covering their ears for a fire drill or when class is loud and runs from loud areas (Indiana University Bloomington). Patient with Autism may have difficulties with tactile input. They could want the touch everything in sight or may over react when approached from behind. They also have issues with taste and smell which may cause they not to eat certain foods because of the texture or taste. Autism patients many react negatively to certain smells in the environment as well. This man cause them to object to farms, petting zoos, and fish stores. (edu) As a result of all of these problems Autistic patients are considered to be behavior issues. These behaviors are the result of sensory processing challenges that can be addressed through sensory training. . These may not be behavior issues, but sensory processing challenges that can be addressed through sensory activities. Visual training can be addressed by hanging pictures

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