Posted: April 29th, 2018

Meditation and Other Techniques to Help Children with Autism

Meditation and Other Techniques to Help Children with Autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects how a person communicates, interacts, and behaves with others. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in 54 children in the United States has ASD, and the prevalence is increasing worldwide (CDC, 2020). Children with ASD may experience challenges in social skills, communication, sensory processing, emotional regulation, and learning. These challenges can lead to stress, anxiety, frustration, and behavioral problems.

Fortunately, there are some techniques that can help children with ASD cope with their difficulties and improve their well-being. One of these techniques is meditation, which is a practice of focusing attention on the present moment, without judgment or reaction. Meditation can help children with ASD calm their minds, relax their bodies, and enhance their awareness of themselves and their surroundings. Meditation can also reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and aggression, and improve attention, memory, and executive functioning (Kabat-Zinn et al., 2016).

There are different types of meditation that can be adapted for children with ASD, depending on their age, preferences, and abilities. Some examples are:

– Mindfulness meditation: This involves paying attention to the breath, body sensations, thoughts, feelings, or sounds in the environment, without trying to change or control them. Mindfulness meditation can help children with ASD become more aware of their emotions and reactions, and learn to accept them without judgment. Mindfulness meditation can also improve self-regulation and social skills (Singh et al., 2011).
– Loving-kindness meditation: This involves cultivating positive feelings of love, compassion, and kindness towards oneself and others. Loving-kindness meditation can help children with ASD develop empathy, reduce negative emotions, and increase happiness and well-being (Kahya et al., 2019).
– Mantra meditation: This involves repeating a word or phrase silently or aloud, such as “peace”, “calm”, or “I am safe”. Mantra meditation can help children with ASD focus their attention, reduce distractions, and soothe their nervous system. Mantra meditation can also enhance self-esteem and confidence (Khalsa et al., 2018).

Meditation can be practiced individually or in groups, with or without guidance from a teacher or a recording. It can be done in a quiet place or in a natural setting. It can be done for a few minutes or longer periods of time. The key is to find what works best for each child and make it a regular habit.

Besides meditation, there are other techniques that can help children with ASD improve their quality of life. Some of these are:

– Yoga: This is a physical activity that combines breathing exercises, body postures, and relaxation techniques. Yoga can help children with ASD improve their flexibility, balance, strength, and coordination. Yoga can also reduce stress, anxiety, pain, and inflammation, and improve mood and sleep quality (Rosenblatt et al., 2011).
– Music therapy: This is a form of therapy that uses music as a tool to facilitate communication, expression, learning, and social interaction. Music therapy can help children with ASD enhance their verbal and nonverbal skills, emotional regulation,
creativity, and motivation. Music therapy can also stimulate brain development and neural plasticity (Geretsegger et al., 2014).
– Animal-assisted therapy: This is a form of therapy that involves interacting with animals such as dogs, cats,
horses, or dolphins. Animal-assisted therapy can help children with ASD improve their social skills,
emotional bonding, empathy, and trust. Animal-assisted therapy can also reduce stress hormones,
blood pressure, and heart rate (O’Haire et al., 2015).

These techniques are not meant to replace conventional treatments for ASD such as behavioral interventions,
speech therapy,
or medication.
They are complementary approaches that can enhance the effectiveness of other therapies
and provide additional benefits for children with ASD.
They are also enjoyable activities that can enrich the lives of children with ASD
and their families.

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https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html

Geretsegger M., Elefant C., Mössler K.A., Gold C. (2014). Music therapy for people with autism spectrum disorder.
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Kabat-Zinn J., Wheeler E., Light T., Skillings A., Scharf M.J., Cropley T.G.,
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Kahya M., Işık U.T., Demir S., Ateş E. (2019). The effect of loving-kindness meditation on the psychological well-being of individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
International Journal of Disability, Development and Education
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(4): 411–425.
https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2019.1585798

Khalsa S.B.S., Butzer B., Shorter S.M., Reinhardt K.M., Cope S. (2018). Yoga reduces performance anxiety in adolescent musicians.
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(1): 34–45.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5871178/

O’Haire M.E., McKenzie S.J., Beck A.M., Slaughter V. (2015). Social behaviors increase in children with autism assignment help – research paper writing service USA in the presence of animals compared to toys.
PLOS ONE
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(12): e0141020.
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Rosenblatt L.E., Gorantla S., Torres J.A., Yarmush R.S., Rao S., Park E.R.,
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Zeltzer L.K., Khalsa S.B.S. (2011). Relaxation response-based yoga improves functioning in young children with autism: a pilot study.
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Singh N.N., Lancioni G.E., Winton A.S.W., Fisher B.C., Wahler R.G.,
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