brushing therapy/sensory issues

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SweXtal
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22 Jul 2007, 2:36 am

As stellian mentioned, a light touch can be unbearable.

I can see similarities between me and my youngest son there, he's best calmed by a light touch on his back, and it is like hypnose for him. I was the same I've been told by my parents, I could sit for hours and just fade away (!) when stroked lightly on my back, but it didn't help me except that my parents got somewhat calm periods.

Also since I'm hypersensitive to light touch it has been a problem for me I never realised before this thread, I'm extremly picky about underwear, not in fashion ways but comfort. a pair of socks of the wrong materials can drive me mad and I end up ritually sacrifice them in the parking lot. Due to insurance policies I obviously make sure it's safe :-)

it's like when I give my ex or daughter massage on their backs, I'm not a masseur, but it seems that I'm a very good masseur for them, two fibromyalgic and reumatic persons.... when I gave them a workout this thursday actually my ex's neighbours came by and asked for the same treatment. it's a little bit fun, because two houses away a professional masseuse has her practice! (and she's darn good)



Pandora
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23 Jul 2007, 8:02 am

I think I would have liked this brushing therapy but they didn't have it when I was a child. It might not cure the sensory issues but I have heard good reports of it helping with them so it's definitely worth a try.


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jaleb
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23 Jul 2007, 12:10 pm

we do it with both our sons, they are completely opposite with their sensory issues, one is sensory seeking and the other sensory avoiding, it has helped the most with my sensory avoiding son, It has not cured him, but it allows him to tolerate touch better. I don't thing you can cure something like that but I do believe it improves a "tolerance" level. My sensory seeking son we don't know about yet, he is very hard to brush because it tickles him A LOT. So far he is the same, but I admit I am not always as regular about his brushing :oops:


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aussieguy
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23 Jul 2007, 2:08 pm

We do brushing with our almost 5 year old son. He has sensory issues, no dx for AS.

We have done it now for 11 weeks. He does not like it very much though as it was a interference with his schedule and he is not in "control" of it. But, we did try to do every 2 hours which was hell for everyone. So we stopped trying to push it and now do it 3 times a day which seems to work for him. We do it when he wakes, during the day once and at night before bed. It has helped some I think with transitions for him but the main reason I would hope it would help with (he wears only long sleeve pajama tops, jeans and socks even when its 100deg outside) it has not helped with. I am not sure if its a sensory issue with the whole outfit thing though and his OT does not know as well.
It is NOT a cure all, it helps some kids some kids not. It does calm my son though when he is receptive to being brushed. I did try it on my DH (aussieguy) and he said it felt awful and did not like it at all. My son I think is in the middle where it does not make anything worse or better, but we will stick with it and see if we get any results.

Let me know if you have further questions.
:idea: Also, make sure the OT teaches you the proper way to brush and also you should be following the brushing with compressions. Here is a website with the The Wilbarger Deep Pressure and Proprioceptive Technique (DPPT). AKA Brushing.

http://www.pbbkids.com/the_wilbarger_br ... otocol.htm



mommy_mimi
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23 Jul 2007, 2:24 pm

We have used the brushing technique on my ds. (sensory seeking) It has been known to calm him at times. Other times...it is like the previous poster said, he has to be receptive to it. To say it will "cure" sensory issues- I think is truly a false statement. But, it has helped my son when he's begun sensory overload. My son also appreciates deep pressure massage.


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25 Jul 2007, 10:24 pm

My 5 year old who is autistic did ok with brushing at first but after a couple of days it seemed to hyper stimulate him. What has worked has been joint compressions and weights. He has a weighted vest, a weighted blanket and we have him carry weighted book bags and a milk jug filled with sand that he painted a face on and named. For him deep pressure feels calming...he laughs when he gets shots. Light pressure sets him in to melt down so you cant put a band aid on or he freaks out and screams like your killing him. Nurses love him at immunization time LOL.



MomofAlex
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01 Aug 2007, 9:34 pm

Thank you to Aussieguy for the Willbarger website. I've looked (I thought) everywhere, and couldn't find it! FYI, we find sunscreen application to be one of the most miserable things we can do with A. This year we found Neutrogena has a spray that DOESN'T have to be rubbed in. What a difference :) .



Grim
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03 Aug 2007, 4:29 am

I have had that myself, and found it really calming, and somewhat helpful. However I still have sensory issues.
Does anyone else have a problem wearing socks on carpet, or is that just me?



ster
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03 Aug 2007, 5:27 am

hubby, who's aspie, used to LOVE wearing socks on the carpet~ would get great enjoyment out of rubbing his feet over the carpet, and then shock everyone with static electricity !