Autism: focus on the Teacch method

The Teacch method for the treatment of autism: what does it consist of?

It consists in structuring the environment of the child, to make him acquire a certain autonomy.

The Teacch method (Treatment and education of autistic and related communication handicapped children) applies specifically to children with autism.

Behind the Teacch method, created in the early 1970s, there is a man, Dr Eric Schoppler, who witnessed at the time the damage of a purely psychoanalytic treatment for autistic children. This program aims to structure and adapt their environment to help them in their daily life and help them acquire a certain autonomy. The Teacch method is now practiced in France in a certain number of specialized centers, with programs adapted to the child’s progress and his difficulties.

«Having noticed that autistic children had fears, perseverations, rituals (noises, change of position, eating next to the same person …), we reduce these changes as much as possible.“, Details Vinca Rivière. «So we always do the same things at the same time. The schedule is scrupulously respected, it is even visually exposed to the child so that he can easily find his way around. All activities are organized. The goal is toavoid unforeseen events as much as possible.«

Teeacch method for autism: why is it controversial?

«The progress observed is significant, especially during the first three years. Then the development stagnates“, Regrets Vinca Rivière, doctor of psychology in Lille. “With this method, language, when it is not present, is not worked on, or only with the help of alternative means and the management of behavioral disorders is not considered, since these disorders must no longer appear if the environment is precisely structured. On the other hand, when the child returns home, the organization is no longer the same and the troubles are sometimes difficult for the parents to manage. But this method has helped many realize that children with autism are capable of learning and achieving many things.. “

Clearly, the Teacch method tends, when it is not carried out correctly, to adapt the environment to the child, and not the child to his environment. But great progress has been made since its creation to improve the integration of autistic children, their socialization and their language learning.