Dr Pillai pursued her Doctorate primarily to increase awareness about the role of physical therapy in ASD which was reflected in her project “Perception and Experience of Physical Therapy Services in Educational Environments for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders(ASD): A Survey of NJ Education Professionals “. To support the profession in increasing this awareness, she became an active member of the “Autism Task Force” initiated by the American Physical Therapy Association. She also served as a member of the Autism subcommittee of the School Based Physical Therapy Special Interest Group, and co authored the Autism Spectrum Disorder Guide for parents on the Move Forward PT website, the APTA’s consumer webpage.

In addition she has co authored several fact sheets which can be downloaded or accessed at the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Web site- www.pediatricapta.org.

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Physical Therapy Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorder

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have delays in the development of basic skills. These delays occur in specific areas. They may struggle to talk to and connect with others. They also may have limited and repeated behavior patterns. Often, there is a delay in forming motor (movement) skills.

Coordination and posture control are areas where children with ASD may struggle. Copying the actions of others is also hard for them. Symptoms of ASD vary from mild to severe. ASD occurs in about 1 in every 59 births in the United States. It is about 4 times more likely to occur in boys than girls.

Physical therapists (PTs) are movement specialists. They are in a unique position to help children with ASD. PTs help children with ASD develop their gross motor skills and basic movement skills. These skills help children with ASD play games, sports, and take part in physical education with their peers. PT's help children with ASD gain their full potential.

What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability. It results in social, communication, and behavior challenges. Signs of ASD begin in late infancy or early childhood. Sometimes it takes until the child is older to spot them. The signs of ASD continue throughout the life span. Before 2013, many terms described autism disorders. In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association merged all autism disorders into 1 umbrella diagnosis of ASD. They published the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). DSM-5 is used to assign diagnoses, including ASD.

The term "spectrum" allows for variations in the symptoms and behaviors found among children with ASD.

All the causes of ASD are not yet known. Environmental, genetic, and biological factors may make a person more likely to develop ASD. The number of children diagnosed with ASD is growing. This rise in cases may be related to better efforts to diagnose it. It may also be due to an increase in the causes of ASD that are not yet understood.

People with ASD have impaired motor (movement) skills. Research shows that those with ASD have limited coordination and postural control. They also have difficulty learning skills through imitation. Planning and completing certain movement skills are difficult for many children with ASD. These delays may make it hard for them to form social skills. As a result, they often do not participate with peers.

Research also shows that intervention programs, including physical therapy, can help children with ASD. These programs help them learn skills and improve their development. Early diagnosis can help them reach their full potential. Physical therapists are members of teams that provide services to children with ASD and their families. They work with people from early childhood through the school years and into adulthood.

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) vary widely. ASD is a "spectrum" disorder because the symptoms displayed vary. People with mild symptoms are at one end of the spectrum. Those with more severe symptoms are at the other end.

Symptoms begin in early childhood and last throughout a lifetime. With intervention, symptoms can improve over time. Some parents notice symptoms of ASD before their child’s first birthday. By age 2, between 80% to 90% of parents see symptoms that interfere with their child's functions.

The 2 core signs that indicate a person may have ASD are:

Challenges in social communication and interaction
A tendency to restrict and repeat patterns of behavior

Signs and symptoms related to social communication and interaction may include:

Avoids eye contact
Prefers playing alone and not engaging in creative play
Little interest in peers
Lacks engagement in social interactions
Shuns or resists physical contact
Trouble understanding other people’s feelings, body language, and tone of voice
Poor sense of personal space boundaries
Delayed speech and language skills
Lack of pointing or responding to pointing
Repeats speech on a preferred topic or repetition of words or phrases

Signs and symptoms related to restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior may include:

Self-stimulation through repeated activities (flaps hands/arms, spins, rocks)
Becomes upset by minor changes, or needs to keep routines
Obsessive interests, such as lines up toys or other objects
Short attention span, except for preferred topics or activities
Aggression, self-injury, or temper tantrums
Lacks safety awareness
Unusual reactions to sound, smell, taste, sight, touch, or movement

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In addition she has co authored several fact sheets which can be downloaded below or accessed at the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Web
site- www.pediatricapta.org.

Strategies for Physical Therapist Collaboration with School-based Teams for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Selected Assessment Tools for Evaluation of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder in School-Based Practice.

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Practice Recommendations for the School Based Physical Therapy Evaluation of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

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FAQs on Response to Intervention (Rtl) for School-based Physical Therapists

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Physical Therapy Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorder

What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms related to social communication and interaction may include:

Signs and symptoms related to restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior may include:

In addition she has co authored several fact sheets which can be downloaded below or accessed at the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Web site- www.pediatricapta.org.

In addition she has co authored several fact sheets which can be downloaded below or accessed at the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Web
site- www.pediatricapta.org.