Susan Hamre – Could Early Intervention Reverse Symptoms of Autism? An In-Depth Look at Current Sensory, Communication, Relationship, & Behavioral Treatments

Description

Handouts

Outline

OVERVIEW

• Updated definition/clarification of ASD according to the DSM-5^®
• Early intervention and bio-markers of ASD
• Latest research on possible causes of ASD
• Impact on families
• Case studies

STAYING CALM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM

• Distinguishing between a meltdown and temper tantrum
• Functions of behavior
• Differential management of meltdowns vs. temper tantrums
• Understanding the trajectory of the storm
• Identify meltdown pre-cursors
• Noting triggers from impacted sensory system or communication challenges
• Calming strategies
• The repair period – post-escalation
• Managing YOU!
• Case studies

THE POWER OF SENSORY INTEGRATION

• Sensory systems impacted
• Neurological processing of input
• Seeking/avoiding sensory stimuli
• Sensory management strategies
  • Sensory breaks
  • Sensory diets
  • Examples of supports
• Case studies

WHERE IS MY VOICE? – COMMUNICATION

• Communication challenges
  • Apraxia
  • Auditory processing
  • Literal translations – black and white interpretations
  • Spontaneous (social) language
• Augmentative/alternative communication strategies and cognitive development
  • Picture communication system (PECS)
  • AAC (iPads, apps, etc.)
  • Gestural/ASL
  • Scripts
  • Choice boards
  • Straight talk
• Case studies

ASPECTS OF SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Relationship of social-emotional development on cognition
• 5 features of social-emotional development
• Development of empathy, emotional regulation, and impulse control
• What happens when these skills are delayed or missing?
• How to help?
  • Interacting at their level
  • Video modeling
  • Rules/expectations
  • Social stories
  • Pictures/sequences
  • Engaging with their interests
• Case studies

DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPACT OF THE ENVIRONMENT

• Challenges (videos)
  • Lights – “too busy”/over stimulating/distracting/too bright/“can’t see”
• Sounds – hallway noise/kids voices/ humming from technology/lights buzzing/pencils scratching
• Olfactory sensitivity
  • Case study
• Kinesthetic – too crowded/kids touching/bumping in lines/too hot or cold
• Supports
  • Organizing spaces
  • Lighting adjustments
  • Managing temperatures
• What to avoid

CURRENT INTERVENTIONS

• Early intervention
  • Treatment strategies for infants and toddlers
  • Case studies
• Relationship interventions
• Communication-based interventions
• Behavioral interventions
• Alternative interventions

VISUAL SUPPORTS – NOT JUST ANOTHER GIMMICK

• Who needs them?
• Benefits of using visual supports
• Examples of visual supports
• Case studies

DON’T FORGET MOTIVATION!

• Incorporating interests/fascinations vs. resisting them
• Building a bridge vs. dangling a carrot
• Intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation
• Don’t allow motivation to rule, but rather to guide

Faculty

Susan Hamre, MA, CCC-SLP Related seminars and products: 7

---

Susan Hamre, MA, CCC-SLP, is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist with over 40 years of clinical, teaching and research experience with autism in the home, school, hospital and community settings. She owns and manages a private practice in Santa Fe, New Mexico that serves individuals from infancy to adulthood, with an emphasis on Early Intervention, autism and various other challenging conditions. A clinician at heart, Susan has personally provided treatment for children as young as nine months, on up. She has had the pleasure of working with some individuals and their families for over 20 years.

Susan is a national presenter teaching treatment strategies for autism to rehab professionals, mental health clinicians and educators. She provides autism trainings to First Responders (Crisis Intervention Teams, firefighters and EMT. Susan was the Director of the Autism Training Center at Giant Steps in Illinois, where trained first responders, transportation systems, park districts, small and large venues, nursing colleges, medical centers, parent groups and public school systems. Years of professional experience backs up her ability to speak on this subject with conviction and passion.

Susan has made five Operation Smile mission trips; four to the Philippines and one to Africa. While those trips were medical in nature (cleft lip and palate), on every one of those trips, she was privy to identify the existence of probable autism, then steering the families in the right direction. Those situations underscore her belief that with trained eyes, the unique set of characteristics that cloak autism can be spotted at a very young age, in all sorts of environments and even when the same language is not being spoken.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Susan Hamre maintains a private practice. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.

Non-Financial: Susan Hamre has no relevant non-financial relationship to disclose.