Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental condition characterised by difficulties in social interaction, and communication, restricted and repetitive interests and behaviours, and sensory sensitivities. Autism spectrum disorders are estimated to affect around one in 100 individuals in Australia. Physiotherapy can play a very important role in both early childhood intervention and ongoing therapeutic intervention for people with Autism and other developmental delays and challenges.

What are the functional and movement signs and symptoms of Autism?

Children with autism may show a wide variety of functional signs and symptoms including:

• Hypotonia (low muscle tone): Some studies have shown that over 50% of children with Autism experience hypotonia. Muscle tone helps hold a person’s body hold their bodies upright while sitting or standing (posture) and also contributes to the control, speed and amount of movement a person achieves. Hypotonia can cause movements to look “clumsy”, posture to be poor, increased fatigue and cause increased flexibility in some joints.

• Toe walking: Studies have shown that between 9%-20% of children with Autism walk on their toes.

• Tight calves/tendons: In the same study looking at toe walking, 12% of children were found to have "tight heel cords". Some studies have also shown that children with Autism may exhibit greater stiffness during walking which can cause inefficient movement due to sensory and processing dysfunctions.

• Hypermobile joints: Studies have shown that children with Autism have greater mobility of their joints and other studies have found that pain is more common in people with hypermobile joints.

• Abnormal and inefficient walking mechanics: Studies have shown that children with Autism have abnormal walking patterns due to muscle weakness, decreased range of motion and poor coordination.

• Delays in motor development and milestones: Some studies have found that very young children with Autism were about six months behind in gross motor skills, such as running and jumping, and nearly a year behind their typical peers in fine motor skills. Other studies have found that 83% of children with autism spectrum disorder were below average in motor skills.

• Global Developmental Delay (GDD). While GDD encompasses more than just motor issues, two of the domains of GDD are gross/fine motor skills (drawing/walking etc.) and activities of daily living (getting dressed, buttoning up shirts etc.). Some studies have found that 62.3% of children with Autism have GDD.

• Dyspraxia

Note: all these functional signs and symptoms may occur or be linked to co-occurring conditions.

An in-depth look at Dyspraxia and Autism

Dyspraxia (also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder) is a disorder in which children do not develop the motor skills they are expected for their age. Up to 87% of children with Autism are at risk of having movement impairments which can impact their ability to function and participate in everyday activities.

What are the types of dyspraxia?

There are three main types of dyspraxia include Motor Dyspraxia, Verbal Dyspraxia and Oral Dyspraxia.

What are the symptoms of Motor Dyspraxia?

Motor dyspraxia involves trouble with coordinating physical movements, for example, walking up or down stairs, kicking balls and hopping.

Some signs a child may have motor dyspraxia include:

• Issues with fine motor skills such as writing, buttoning, tying shoelaces, or physical activities like running and jumping

• Struggling to learn a new skill, e.g. riding a bike

• Difficulties with daily activities like getting dressed

• They often collide with people or objects while moving

• They fatigue or get tired quickly

• They tend to have "clumsy" movements

• They tend to be messy while eating

How can Physio help with Autism?

Physiotherapists can work with adults and children who have Autism to help improve physical endurance and motor skills. This, in turn, will help an individual's emotional and social development and participation in everyday activities.

What will Physiotherapy involve?

• Enhancing fine motor skills such as writing, using cutlery, and shoelace tying

• Developing gross motor skills such as walking, running, hopping, jumping and stair climbing

• Hand-eye coordination improvement exercises

• Posture and balance improvement exercises

• Coordination-focused activities

• Strength and endurance-building exercises

How can parents best collaborate with physiotherapists when their child with autism is receiving NDIS-funded physiotherapy?

Working with a physiotherapist to support your child with autism can be a rewarding experience, but it can also be challenging. Collaboration with the physiotherapist is key to ensuring your child receives the best treatment and support. Here are a few ideas on how parents can work with their physiotherapist when their child is receiving NDIS-funded physiotherapy.

1. Communicate - Make sure that you are regularly communicating with the physiotherapist. This could include having regular check-ins or progress reports. This will help the physiotherapist better understand your child's needs and adjust the treatment accordingly.

2. Establish a Plan - Work together with the physiotherapist to create a treatment plan for your child. This plan should include goals for your child and any activities that can help meet these goals.

3. Get Involved - Get involved in the sessions as much as possible. This could include helping your child with activities or simply observing and providing feedback to the physiotherapist.

4. Encourage Participation - Encourage your child to participate in the sessions. This can help ensure that your child gets the most out of the treatment.

By following these tips, parents can best collaborate with physiotherapists when their child with autism is receiving NDIS-funded physiotherapy. Doing so will help ensure that your child gets the best care and support.

What makes Realisation Healthcare's physiotherapy different?

Realisation Healthcare is an NDIS registered Physiotherapy provider. Realisation Healthcare’s physiotherapists specialise in providing physiotherapy to people with a variety of intellectual disabilities, neurological disabilities and mental health conditions. At Realisation Healthcare, we get to know you as an individual and how your disability impacts your quality of life, function and well-being. We use the Realisation Healthcare approach to understand everything about you, what is important to you, and your goals and aspirations. We combine this information with our tailored and individualised physiotherapy services to enable you to live life to the fullest. Our goal is to allow you to realise your true potential.

We respond to all queries and questions within 24 hours, and bookings can be made within a week. Contact us today through phone, email or for a casual chat over messenger to see how we can help you. You can also fill out the referral form by clicking on the button below.

Frequently asked questions

What are the early signs of Autism?

If parents or relatives observe any of the subsequent developmental delays or behavioural issues in their infant or toddler, they should express their concerns to their child's pediatrician and acquire appropriate referrals for evaluation:

• Absence of spoken language development or delayed speech

• Repetitive use of language or motor mannerisms, such as hand-flapping or twirling objects

• Little or no eye contact

• Disinterest in developing peer relationships

• Inability to engage in spontaneous or imaginative play

• Persistent fixation on particular parts of objects.

What is early intervention, and how can it help a child with Autism?

Early intervention is a term that means starting therapeutic interventions as soon as possible. For Autism, early intervention means specialised support for young children. This early intervention aims to promote the development of the child by helping them have access to quality interventions and therapies and to learn the skills they need to improve their function and quality of life. Some children may show signs of Autism as early as 12 months, while others may start showing signs of Autism at five years of age. The key is to begin as soon as developmental difficulties are noticed.

What do the autism severity levels mean?

The Autism levels are primarily based on the amount of support an individual with Autism needs. ASD Level 1 is the mildest form of Autism and requires the least amount of support. ASD Level 2 requires substantial support, and ASD Level 3 requires very significant support.

What is the leading cause of Autism?

The exact cause of Autism is not yet fully understood, but research suggests that a combination of genetic and environmental factors may cause it.

There is evidence to suggest that Autism may have a genetic component, as the condition tends to run in families. However, it is not caused by a single gene or a specific set of genes. Rather, there are likely many genes that contribute to the development of Autism.

In addition to genetic factors, there is also evidence to suggest that environmental factors may play a role in the development of Autism. Some studies have indicated that factors such as prenatal exposure to certain chemicals or viruses, as well as complications during pregnancy or birth, may increase the risk of developing Autism.

What is high-functioning Autism?

High-functioning Autism is a term used to describe individuals who have Autism but who do not have significant intellectual or language impairments. This term is generally used to describe individuals with Autism who have average or above-average intelligence and who may be able to function relatively independently in daily life.

High-functioning Autism is sometimes referred to as "level 1" autism, according to the current diagnostic criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). This category includes individuals with Autism who require some support to function in daily life but who do not have significant language or intellectual impairments.

Some common features of high functioning Autism may include difficulties with social communication and interaction, restricted and repetitive behaviours or interests, and sensory sensitivities. However, these features may be less severe or more easily managed in individuals with high-functioning Autism compared to those with more significant impairments.

It's important to note that the term "high-functioning autism" is not an official clinical diagnosis but rather a descriptive term that is sometimes used to refer to individuals with Autism who are able to function relatively independently.

What types of treatments are available for people with Autism who have NDIS-funded physiotherapy?

People with Autism who have NDIS-funded physiotherapy can access a range of treatments to help improve their physical health and quality of life. These treatments can include exercises for muscle strength and coordination, joint mobilisation, functional and positional taping, balance drills, and sensory integration. Depending on the individual's needs and goals, other treatments may include hydrotherapy, Kinesio taping, assistive devices, or activities that incorporate play and leisure. All of these treatments are designed to help improve a person's physical functioning and ability to participate in activities of daily living.

What is stimming?

Stimming is a term used to describe self-stimulatory behaviours that are common in people with Autism or other developmental disorders. Stimming can take many different forms, but it typically involves repetitive or stereotyped behaviours, movements, or sounds.

Some common examples of stimming behaviours include hand-flapping, rocking back and forth, spinning in circles, pacing, tapping, or making repetitive noises such as humming or vocalizing. Stimming behaviours can serve a variety of purposes for people with Autism, such as providing sensory stimulation, regulating emotions or anxiety, or simply as a way of expressing excitement or happiness.

While stimming behaviours can be a normal and healthy part of development for individuals with Autism, excessive or disruptive stimming can sometimes interfere with daily activities or social interactions. In these cases, individuals may benefit from support and guidance from healthcare professionals or behaviour therapists to help manage their stimming behaviours.