HOUSTON – While Apple’s iPad is known for its convenience and high-tech capabilities, it’s also being used to help change the lives of autistic children.
Kyle and Tina Carkhuff’s 5-year-old son Evan was diagnosed with autism last year. Like many autistic children, he cannot talk. But in the last two months, Evan has shown astonishing progress.
"He started to play more with his brother, he is more interactive with us," Tina Carkhuff said.
The couple purchased an iPad and shortly realized the device provided learning Apps that helped give their son a voice.
"We started using the iPad to put pictures of the food on the I-Pad, then Evan can tap or scroll and tells us exactly what he is looking for," his Tina said.
10-year-old Tom Theriot has a similar story. Therio, who was diagnosed with autism at 2-years-old, attends Spectrum of Hope, a center that provided therapy for autistic children in Cypress. The centers has started using the iPad and iTouch. Therio’s parents, it was a major breakthrough.
"It’s a way that I am going to get to know my child, he is a joker and loves to laugh," said his mother, Laura Theriot. "We know he’s laughing, but have never been able to hear about what."
Autism is a developmental disorder that affects the brain. Intense therapy over many years has proven to reverse the disorder in some cases.
Pediatric Neurologist Dr. Richard Frye said the new technology won’t fix autism, but it is a critical aid.
"The iPad will fill in those gaps, fill in the places the brain isn’t working, and at this point that is an incredible step forward," Frye said.
And for families dealing with autism, a step forward is akin to one giant leap.
Click here if you would like to find out more about the App that therapists are recommending.
