This paper was presented at the
National Seminar on
Indian Psychology: Theories and Models
SVYASA, Bangalore,
December 26 - 28, 2007
 

Using Yoga Therapy (YT) to increase communication, social and cognitive skills in children with autistic spectrum disorders

Shantha Radhakrishna — SGS Vagdevi Center for the Rehabilitation of Communication Impaired, Bangalore

The growing number of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD), along with treatment studies suggesting substantial gains when treatment is provided at a very early stage, has led to the development of Datta Methodology for Enhancing Learning (DMEL).

DMEL was introduced in 1996 at Vagdevi Integrated School at pre-primary level with 75 children diagnosed as having one or other form of communication disorders. 6 children with ASD were treated exclusively using DMEL for a period of one year. The result indicates that children under this program have demonstrated spontaneous communication, reciprocal social interaction and reduced to restricted, repetitive and stereo typed behaviours and here ready to be mainstreamed. Throughout the study, the family was involved especially during yoga therapy (YT) sessions. Involving the family in the study enabled children to transfer the skills learnt from school to home. In this article an attempt has been made to introduce DMEL as an alternate treatment procedure for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Learning Disabilities (LD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Key words: Autism, Attention Deficit, hyperactivity, yoga therapy, enhance learning, treatment, methodology

Email the author, Ms. Shantha Radhakrishna, at shantha-rad@yahoo.co.in