Early Intervention for Autism: Assessment & Treatment Strategies for Birth to 5

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Susan Hamre, MA, CCC-SLP Related seminars and products

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Susan Hamre, MA, CCC-SLP, is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist with over 40 years of clinical, teaching and research experience with autism in the home, school, hospital and community settings. She owns and manages a private practice in Santa Fe, New Mexico that serves individuals from infancy to adulthood, with an emphasis on Early Intervention, autism and various other challenging conditions. A clinician at heart, Susan has personally provided treatment for children as young as nine months, on up. She has had the pleasure of working with some individuals and their families for over 20 years.

Susan is a national presenter teaching treatment strategies for autism to rehab professionals, mental health clinicians and educators. She provides autism trainings to First Responders (Crisis Intervention Teams, firefighters and EMT. Susan was the Director of the Autism Training Center at Giant Steps in Illinois, where trained first responders, transportation systems, park districts, small and large venues, nursing colleges, medical centers, parent groups and public school systems. Years of professional experience backs up her ability to speak on this subject with conviction and passion.

Susan has made five Operation Smile mission trips; four to the Philippines and one to Africa. While those trips were medical in nature (cleft lip and palate), on every one of those trips, she was privy to identify the existence of probable autism, then steering the families in the right direction. Those situations underscore her belief that with trained eyes, the unique set of characteristics that cloak autism can be spotted at a very young age, in all sorts of environments and even when the same language is not being spoken.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Susan Hamre maintains a private practice and is a National Seminar CE Trainer. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Susan Hamre has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Additional Info

Program Information

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Objectives

1. Characterize the six developmental milestones found in young children as it relates to case conceptualization for the treatment of autism.
2. Analyze the 14 ‘red flags’ found in a young child who is at-risk for autism and utilize this information to assist with assessment and treatment planning.
3. Explain the subtle differences in neurotypical and at-risk infants for purposes of parent/family psychoeducation.
4. Utilize six screening and assessment tools to determine if autism is present in a young child.
5. Employ specific clinical strategies/techniques to reduce and replace challenging behaviors inherent to autism.
6. Characterize aberrant play behaviors in children that can be an early identifier to the possible risk for autism.

Outline

• Screening and Assessment
  • Measure developmental milestones
  • ‘Red flags’ of autism
  • Subtle differences in neurotypical and at-risk infants
  • Latest research in early intervention
  • Video case studies:
    • Neurotypical and at-risk development
    • Subtle, easy to miss signs of autism
    • Distinct results of early intervention
• Treatment Framework: Interrupt/Replace Coping Behaviors
  • Underpinnings of displayed behavior
  • Recognize and support sensory seeking/ avoiding actions
  • Pair preferred and non-preferred actions/activities to enhance change
  • Replacement activities that can interfere with aberrant behaviors
  • The power of distraction that can alter rigid behaviors
  • Stimulate engagement as initially related to their interests
  • Unstick the ‘sticky’ attention
  • Steps to broaden child’s play-based activity
• Strategies/Techniques to Treat ‘Coping Behaviors’
  • Meltdowns/tantrums
  • ‘Stimming’
  • Sensory seeking/avoiding
  • Reduced engagement
  • Reduction of social reciprocity
  • Hyper-focusing
  • Resistance to cuddling/being held
  • Eating/sleeping challenges
  • Repetitive behaviors
  • Under-developed communication
  • Resistance to change
• Treatment Case Studies:
  • How to begin treatment with a 9 month old
  • 14 month old who does not respond to pain
  • 2 year old with hyper-focus issues
  • Build Customized Treatment Plans
  • Practice designing realistic goals
  • Dissect behaviors to build effective treatment plans
  • Design a treatment plan for your client
  • Reduce Insurance Denials
  • Writing obtainable goals
  • Documentation: Treatment steps to show progress

Target Audience

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