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in autism therapies, focus on priority input most of the time, than just giving see and do activities to keep hold engaged - Dr Kondekar

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First build the input, then expect the output One of the most important principles in developmental intervention is often overlooked: Without initiating cognition through meaningful input, working only on output is like losing the learning window. A child does not learn merely by being trained to produce a response. The usual developmental sequence is: INPUT → ATTENTION → PROCESSING → COGNITION → RESPONSE → LEARNING The child first receives information through the senses, attends to it, recognises its meaning, connects it with previous experiences, and then produces an appropriate response. Over time, repeated meaningful experiences build cognition, communication and learning. Therefore, if we spend most of our effort trying to pro hindi and english duce an output—making the child say a word, imitate an action, make eye contact, perform an exercise or follow a command—without ensuring that the child is actually receiving, attending to and processing meaningful information, we m...

Prioritisation of Goals in Autism: the crux of Goal Directed Cognitive Approach

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Prioritisation of Goals in Autism: From Comprehensive Assessment to Meaningful Intervention - Dr Kondekar Developmental Opportunity Cost as a Side Effect of Poor Goal Prioritization read more Dr. Kondekar emphasizes that the consequences of therapy are not limited to its direct benefits or adverse effects. Failure to prioritize developmental goals can itself become a side effect of management. When substantial therapy time is repeatedly devoted to visible but secondary difficulties—such as sensory activities, repetitive exercises, object manipulation, or isolated behavioural targets—there may be less time available for awareness, understanding, human connection, language comprehension, communication and social cognition. The concern is therefore not that these interventions are inherently harmful, but that poor prioritization can unintentionally displace more developmentally important opportunities . As described in the Principle of Developmental Opportunity Cost, every therapy hour h...

From “Sensation” to “Sense” — From Being Occupied to Being Aware - Dr Kondekar

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From “Sensation” to “Sense” — From Being Occupied to Being Aware Adding life to senses. Adding sense to life. A child may receive many sensory experiences, activities and therapies. But sensory stimulation alone is not the ultimate goal. The real goal is to help the child: NOTICE → ATTEND → LISTEN → UNDERSTAND → CONNECT → COMMUNICATE → LEARN → PARTICIPATE The developmental journey can therefore be expressed as: SENSATION ↓ AWARENESS ↓ ATTENTION & LISTENING ↓ UNDERSTANDING ↓ THINKING ↓ COMMUNICATION ↓ LEARNING ↓ PARTICIPATION IN LIFE The purpose of intervention is not merely to keep a child busy or occupied. It is to help the child become aware of the world, make sense of it, and meaningfully participate in it. A stronger closing message Don’t just add activities to a child’s day. Add awareness, understanding and meaning to the child’s life. Make Sense. Shape the Future. — Dr. Santosh Kondekar Developmental Neuro-Pediatrician www.myautismguru.com

The Receptive Window in Autism: Leveraging Low-Activity States for Optimal Language Acquisition : steadyness of body and mind Dr Kondekar Model

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The Receptive Window in Autism: Leveraging Low-Activity States for Optimal Language Acquisition Dr. Santosh V. Kondekar Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician Mumbai, India Contact: +91 9869405747 Abstract Background: Conventional language teaching strategies in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder emphasize active engagement, repetition, and response-driven interaction. However, such approaches often fail to account for neurocognitive readiness. Objective: To define and elaborate the concept of the Receptive Window as a state of steadiness of body and mind , and to integrate it within a cognitive sensing framework for optimizing language acquisition. Methods: This is a conceptual clinical analysis based on longitudinal observations and five illustrative case studies. The framework integrates sensory integration theory, attention network models, and predictive processing principles. Results: Periods of reduced motor activity and quiet alertness were associated with improved ...

Dr Kondekar ki autism ki nau Dohi

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ऑटिज़्म पर नौ दोहे  १. स्थिरता और ध्यान तन-मन जब स्थिर रहें, जागे सच्चा ध्यान। आँख-कान जब सजग हों, खुलता सीखने ज्ञान। जितना गहरा ध्यान हो, उतना गहरा ज्ञान। स्थिरता से सीखता, बालक अपना जहान। २. पहले सुनना-समझना करने वाली दुनिया से, पहले सुनना सीख। सुनकर समझे अर्थ को, फिर करने की सीख। आँख-कान से जगत को, पहले ले पहचान। समझ बने आधार जब, तब सार्थक हो ज्ञान। ३. रिश्तों की शुरुआत घर से रिश्ते घर से जुड़ें पहले, घर से बने संवाद। माँ-बाप और परिवार से, जागे प्रेम-प्रसाद। घर में जिसने मित्रता, सीखी सहज-समान। बाहर की दुनिया में फिर, आसान हो पहचान। ४. समाजीकरण घर से बाहर बच्चों की भीड़ में, मत ढूँढो सामाजिकता। घर में संवाद जगाइए, वहीं बने आत्मीयता। परिवार से बातचीत, परिवार से व्यवहार। घर से निकले सामाजिकता, घर से निकले प्यार। ५. भाषा, बुद्धि और विचार बातों से भाषा बढ़ती, संवादों से विचार। प्रश्न-जवाब की चर्चा से, खुलता बुद्धि-द्वार। शब्द अकेले भाषा नहीं, अर्थ बने आधार। बोलना जब विचार बने, तब संवाद साकार। ६. मैत्री और संवाद मैत्री केवल साथ नहीं, मन से मन का मेल। सुनना, समझना, उत्तर देना, संवादों...

role of OT occupational therapy, in kids with issues about awareness and cognition, autism, adhd, ID

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According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), occupational therapy (OT) should be recommended primarily when a child has a demonstrable functional difficulty that interferes with daily activities, participation, learning, or independence—not simply because the child has a developmental diagnosis. For children with autism, the AAP specifically identifies the following common indications: Fine-motor difficulties Poor grasp Difficulty manipulating objects Difficulty using crayons, pencils, scissors, buttons, zippers, etc. Poor hand coordination or dexterity Adaptive/self-care difficulties Dressing and undressing Brushing teeth Toileting-related skills Feeding with spoon/cup Personal hygiene Other activities of daily living Handwriting and visual-motor difficulties Poor pencil control Difficulty copying/drawing Difficulty writing Difficulty with classroom fine-motor tasks Feeding-related functional difficulties Difficulty using utensils Difficulty developing age-appropriate feedin...

BRAIN BEFORE BODY: Executive Functions, Awareness, Understanding and the Role of Occupational Therapy in Autism: The central MyAutismGuru concept

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BRAIN BEFORE BODY Executive Functions, Awareness, Understanding and the Role of Occupational Therapy in Autism The central MyAutismGuru concept Dr. Kondekar says: “We should not train the body to perform what the brain does not yet understand.” Dr. Kondekar insists that when we look at a child with autism, we should not begin by asking only: “What behaviour is the child failing to perform?” We should first ask: “What does the child understand about the situation, the person, the instruction and the purpose of the activity?” This is the essence of the Brain Before Body concept. A child may be physically capable of sitting, waiting, reaching, writing, walking, matching, sorting or following a sequence. Yet the child may not perform these actions independently because the brain has not sufficiently understood why, when, how and for what purpose the action is required. Therefore, therapy should not merely train the body's response. It should help the brain develop the processes that ...