Home The Spectrum Center, Bethesda, New York, Chicago. Bethesda, MD. 4715 Cordell Avenue, 4th Floor, Bethesda, Maryland 20814 New York, NY. 307 East 53 St., NY, NY 10022 E-Mail: info@spectrumcenter.com Phone: (301) 657-0988

As the body’s balance mechanism, the ear has influence on all the muscles of the body. The ear’s vestibular system receives sensory information from the entire body and reflects this on an internal body map that allows us to organize, sequence and coordinate all our purposeful movements. Children with Autism frequently have difficulty with activities that have multiple steps such as using utensils, tools, and dressing themselves. They can’t learn from the world around them by watching and imitating, as other typical children are able to. They often play with toys in a repetitive or non-purposeful manner because they can’t use toys symbolically for make believe.

As children undergo treatment their parents report more purposefulness in their behavior, children who never played with toys seem to better understand how they work. They are learning more readily through imitation and start to play symbolically for the first time - making the toy car go to the store, for example. As children start to develop a sense of control and mastery over their bodies, they start to feel more confident and their self-esteem improves. With more internal control they develop a greater sense of autonomy and independence. Overall they are happier children.
For more information please see Dyspraxia in children with Autism and PDD , Before Words-The Link between Praxis and Language Development and What is Sensory Integration?

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