What is Autism?
Autism is not a single disorder but a group of symptoms that give rise to a spectrum of diagnoses, referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorders. Autism impacts the way an individual perceives the world, which affects their ability to communicate and interact socially, and often gives rise to repetitive behaviors. The impact can range from relatively mild to severe. A variety of other disorders affecting sleep, eating, and other aspects of life may also be experienced by individuals with autism.
There is no cure for autism, but there are a variety of treatments that have been shown to improve the ability of people with autism to function effectively. Most of these treatments involve intensive therapy involving family and clinical experts. While autism is not a learning disorder per se, many individuals with autism have learning disabilities, and perceptual processing and sensory integration issues common in autism can also create barriers to learning.
How BrainWare SAFARI Builds Perceptual and Integrative Cognitive Skills
The ability to combine and interpret from simultaneous pieces of information.
The ability to combine and get meaning from pieces of information that are received sequentially, as in reading.
The ability of the perceptual processing system to send auditory information to the brain in the same order it was received.
The ability to use the eyes and hands together efficiently, as in writing, drawing, typing, catching a ball, etc.
The integration of auditory and motor skills. Example: tapping to a beat.
The ability to process information at an adequate or consistent speed.
The ability to match auditory and visual stimuli and coordinate them into a meaningful product.
BrainWare SAFARI works by providing a series of increasing challenges, by offering the kind of repetition that is necessary to make the skills automatic, and by integrating them with other skills to ensure that they don’t just function on their own, but in concert with other brain processes.
The response of individuals with autism to BrainWare SAFARI is as individual as their diagnoses. Some children benefit from the program. Others find it too challenging or become frustrated. For those who have been able to persist in the program, parents and professionals working with them in a small study reported improvements in one or more of the following areas:
- Perceptual processing
- Ability to persist in challenging tasks, less frustration.
- Concentration and memory
- Confidence
- Eye contact and interaction with others
