Autism Spectrum Disorder includes a broad range of possible symptoms and challenges, and it affects every child differently, so it is often difficult to find the exact treatments that will help your child meet his or her needs to cope their individual symptoms.

One challenge that affects some autistic children, although not all, is problems with visual perception. By using some standardized methods to help improve visual perception, you can help your child to see the world more clearly, making learning and comprehension easier and possibly preventing or lessening some behavior problems as well.

Autistic children have problems with sensory overload and distortion. Individuals with Autism often find that the sensory overload of the world’s light, colors, contrast, shapes, and patterns is too much to handle, causing them to defend themselves by acting out or shutting down in general. This is sometimes a genetic condition that is enhanced by Autism, so if the child’s parents have trouble with reading or have been otherwise treated for visual perceptive problems, there is a good chance that their child may need help as well.

Since many people who are not on the Autism Spectrum deal with similar challenges, many treatment options have become available.

The Irene Method is one effective way to treat visual perception disorders. This method uses color to create a more harmonized world. You may have learned of this method if anyone has ever suggested using a color filter over the page when reading to be able to read better and more quickly. If your autistic child is at the maturity level of reading, you may want to try these color filters to see if there is an improvement in their reading speed and comprehension.

If a color filter helps with reading, it is likely that your autistic child will benefit from color filters during the entire day, not just when reading. Special glasses using colored lenses help to conquer this problem. Not every child responds the same way to every color, so a process of trial and error will be necessary to find out which color is the one blocking the harmful light. You may also choose to use colored light bulbs in your home to help autistic individuals with their visual perception problems.

The Irene method helps children in 4 areas: depth perception, social interaction, learning, and physical well being. The colors help the child determine how far he or she is from an object, and the world becomes more three-dimensional, helping depth perception. Social interaction also improves because the child feels as though he or she is in a calmer world and can more clearly see and interpret facial expressions. The colors make it possible to learn, especially when reading, and overall, the child will feel better, because it helps reduce headaches and dizziness. By testing this technique and others to help visual perception problems, you can help your child better cope with the world and his or her Autism.