We have done it for years with Erin. It was first introduced when Erin was about 2 and in EI....it definitely helps. Sometimes just the joint compresssions alone will be enough to halt a meltdown.
The only thing that bums me out.....is I had hoped she would "outgrow" the need for it....and we definitely haven't.
Hi everyone
Has anyone tried brush therapy or compression therapy for their children?
One of Devin's therapist ( can'y remember which one) has started him on this combo. It seems to calm him and able him to focus.
So my question to you has any one had any success with one or both? Please write me either way. Thanks, Mona
Grandma to Devin age 3 ASD/SID
We do both and have for almost 2 years. It took almost a year before my son would do the brushing without screaming. He does tolerate touch a little better, but not much. My son LOVES the joint compressions! It relaxes him for a few minutes! We also use the weighted vest.
It's all worth a try!
THe joint compressions are part of the brushing, they recommend doing both. We use to do it, it did help with calming and focusing, they don't really have a whole of need for it now so unless its a bad day I don't do it. I would recommend trying though and getting the therapist to show you. Its very simple.
We do the brushing, joint comps and lotion rubs with most of the children I work with as part of their daily therapy. Some kids just love the feeling, and it's used as a motivator, and some kids need it to focus. It's not hard to learn, talk to his OT (I'm guessing that's who's doing it), and ask to learn. It takes less than 5 minutes to do the entire routein, and it's deffinetly worth it for most kids![QUOTE=ChibbyLick]My 10 year old, sam, "invented" what he calls a Samwich... he lays on his
bed, and DH and I lay either side of him, and hug him tight with our whole
bodies. very squashy. The name obviously comes from sandwich, and we're
the bread and he's the filling. If there is only one adult, then he wants the
bread on top. We also have the mumwich, dadwich, Ranwich and Imwich...
Sam jokes that it's a good thing no-one in our family is called sue.... gotta
love that bathroom humour.[/QUOTE]
That is SO cute!!! We do family-hugging things, too! Sue-wich -- very funny, indeed!
T melted down this morning and took a couple swings at me in the shower ... so Ithink I am reinstating the brushing and compresisons TONIGHT!
just a note.......it doesnt work for everyone but alot of children. my son had excessively adverse reactions to that, twice, with anything even material instead of the brush. the same happened with cranio sacral. but it was something we saw immediately and lasted for however many days/weeks we continued. try it and see how it goes. my sons sensory dysfunction is up and down but always through the roof. he HATES touching and it really messes with his emotional regulation.
good luck=you never know anything until you try!
We (para, OT and myself) did the brushing and the compressions for about a month. His OT claimed she saw improvements (she sees him for 20 minutes a week) but I saw no improvements (I see him much more than 20 minutes a week
We used to do the compression alot. Not so much now. Her OT showed us to lightly press our hands onto her back and chest. Tell her to take a deep breath and do it again. DD loved that. She would even say 'Feel better!' I was very skeptical about it, but the 1st time we did it and she said feel better, we knew it was for us! Now when she is upset, oneof us has her sit in our laps, and we bear hug her. We gently move our arms up and down her back, pressing into her back until she calms down. We don't do alot of the joint compressions anymore, she won't let us.
She has grown out of it for the most part. If she is really upset and other things won't work, we resort to bear hugs. She HATED the weighted blankets, etc. She says they are not real blankets. WHenever she doesn't like something she says its not real.
My son's OT wanted to start this, but we have been working each week on his letters because his writing and printing skills are very poor and he will be starting 1st grade in the fall. So that was kind of the priority, but I had been meaning to try this. I have tried weighted blankets and hand weights also, but I did not have any luck with them.I want to try this method as I know my son likes the pressure (whether he knows it or not). What type of brush are you guys using?
I have used it for around a month on all 3 of mine.
Have not used it since Friday morning now ... We just used it once per day and it seemed it to help. The NT one "liked" it best, interestingly. I think it feels GREAT!
It also seemed to help when we used it before bed. Ought to get back to it ...
I have some great links ( which I CAN'T find at the moment
I also would NOT recommend starting this therapy on your own or from internet research. It should be done under the supervision of an OT......
I doubt anything harmful would happen, BUT, if you commit to doing this....may as well do it properly and reap the benefits......also there are recomendations such as never brush stomach or face, onlky hands, arms, legs, feet and back.
It should be done in long sweeps with strong pressure....it shouldn't be light and "ticklish".....an OT will do it ON you first so that you understand how it feels and how much pressure to use. Also.....when doing the joint compressions.....you definitely want advice and guidance from an OT......ask at your school or EI and they can help you.
We do it for a few weeks-months for dd & then off for a bit (our OT
Funny..
Trinitys OT started both today. I have al l the info sheets. If anybody wants a copy just PM me and i'll send it to you. Don't want to paste it all on here and waste anybodys time. I'll keep you updated on how it goes, I'd like to hear how it works for your girl. Thank you to all who replyed to me. The therapist showed this to my daughted and she showed it to me, They want it done every 2 hours. It is soooo worth it if it helps.
We have been doing it for about 6 weeks now. My ds is very
sensory seeking with every part of his body except his hands. It
really seems to calm him and he is beginning to touch things on his
own.
Good luck, it is really helping us.
My 10 year old, sam, "invented" what he calls a Samwich... he lays on his
bed, and DH and I lay either side of him, and hug him tight with our whole
bodies. very squashy. The name obviously comes from sandwich, and we're
the bread and he's the filling. If there is only one adult, then he wants the
bread on top. We also have the mumwich, dadwich, Ranwich and Imwich...
Sam jokes that it's a good thing no-one in our family is called sue.... gotta
love that bathroom humour.
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