"BRUSHING" | Autism PDD

This has worked wonders for Nicholas for a couple of years. we did it every night before bed. He no longer needs it. but it did work

It worked for Fabian for a while but now all it does is tickle him and the OT says because he is even more sensitive now - instead of decreasing his tactile needs, it has actually increased it (he no longer rocks so it is replacing that)

It was great for Junior though!!!

Tweeker used to receive the "brushing" during therapy at a pre-school age. I can remember doing it at home as a reinforcement. I had to stop though when he was about 7 yo....he went through this phase where he didn't want me to touch him :( It really made me feel bad. It did work when he was younger though!

OK. I am new to this board. I wanted to see if you have discussed or if you have an opinion on brushing? This is a technique where a child's arms and legs are brushed by an OT at first and then the parents to break down sensory defensiveness. What do you all think? Any sucess for anyone?

Paisley

We used it for a while( maybe a year) with DS. It seemed to help to calm him. We did it 2-3 times a day. I will still grab the brush everyonce in a while. We have gotten out of the habit. Also we were told that at almost 6 he sould find ways to calm himself. We followed the burshing with joint compression. Have your OT show you this step too.

I don't think it hurt at all, but I can't say it was all that great.

Here is a little more background information about the Wilbarger Protocol. My experience has been that nearly every student I have done this with has decreased tactile hypersensitivity, and increased calmness and ability to self regulate.

http://www.pbbkids.com/the_wilbarger_brushing_protocol.htm

This technique has helped my DS so much! It took a week or so before we saw results, but he calms himslef so much better when we are keeping up on the brushing. I was sick a few weeks ago and he didn't get brushed. A few days after that he was an absolute terror, crying and melting down over everything, it was awful. So for us, it definatly works and keeps this household sane

Mikey and Tori will both sit with the brush and brush themselves, in between sessions, if they feel stressed or uptight.

It's helping.

my 5 year old requests it when he needs it, but my 2 year old just has it done 2-3 times a day. he's not verbal enough or able to communicate enough to request it. but if either of them see the brush they will bring it to me to be brushed. they also do it at school. We are doing it for our younger son every 2 hours that he's awake. It needs to be taught by an OT and should be followed up with joint compressions. We pair this with his oral motor exercises. It helps calm and center him. He's 20 months old. We will maybe be using it with my older son (he's 4 years old) but have some seizure testing to go through on Tuesday first. Since you can't do it until you have those under control or at all with seizures, we have to wait to see what's going on with him. We've done brushing with several children with seizures. Unless tactile input is something that you know triggers seizures in your child, you should be able to do the brushing regardless.< id="gwProxy" ="">< ="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" ="">[QUOTE=paisley]

Paisley

[/QUOTE] omg that was awfull it was try on me it felt like someone was ripping my skin off i think i try to hit my si therphist in the face .so after a few times she stuck to deep persure

Brushing worked wonders for my son.

Tiffany

Brushing helped my son greatly. We do it occasionally now and he still enjoys it. I do do it over his clothes but that is due to his sensitivities to texture and the surgical brush texture is stressful for him. We also do deep pressure not that the two go hand in hand all the time as we started only with brushing therapy for about six months.

We have tried it and have the brush, his OT does it with him and he likes it when she does. I kind of forget about it, but will try to make it more routine and see what happens.