Children with autism typically have problems with social interaction, language, and behavior, but a recent study featured on Medical News Today reports that it’s possible to help them improve in these areas by using everyday items which can stimulate the senses.

Cynthia Woo and Michael Leon from the University of California Irvine worked with 28 autistic boys between three to 12 years old. Aside from standard autism therapies, half of the group also had sensory enrichment exercises for six months.

Some of the boys were asked to smell four different kinds of essential oils a day and listened to classical music at night. They were also given sensory stimuli tests involving everyday household items twice a day.

After the trial, the 42 percent of the boys who underwent sensory exercises showed significant improvement--they related better with other people and showed higher levels of cognitive function--as compared with only seven percent of those who attended conventional therapy sessions. However, in order to maximize the effects of these sensory drills, researchers recommend starting the exercises as early as six years old.

(Photo by Marta Paz via Flickr Creative Commons; used for illustrative purposes only)