The brush is back, we hope just for a short time but for now it is needed. I don't know the reason maybe beginning school, her new medication, less time in the pool and a busier schedule but Elizabeth has been a bit 'off' lately. Her anxious behaviors are creeping up, she is humming a lot and clapping her hands, she is really needing tactile stimulation and is finding it in inappropriate ways (pebbles at the park, rubbing food on her face, rolling on her mega blocks and squishing her food). We have tried to give her extra time the bath and the sandbox but it did not meet her needs, her father thinks that not even a bed of nails would meet her current needs. We in the past have tried the 'wilbarger brushing technique' and found it kept Elizabeth calmer, less sensory seeking and less overexcited (and at school it kept her out of trouble). Elizabeth giggled when she saw the brush and savors every moment of the brushing and asks for more on her hands and feet. It is a bit of a time consuming method and we are only doing it in the morning to help her get through school but hopefully it will help her get over this rough patch.
3 comments:
That is great that she likes it. I wonder if you could attach it to a ribbon and a clip and let her do it herself, when she wanted to. Or does she get the satisfaction out of other peaple doing it for her? We have done this for yrs for Faith in her therapies b/c she is tactiley defensive. I don't know if it helps or not, for her.
This is very interesting to me. Since you find it effective, you use it - despite Wilbarger's promotion of the technique - you are not using her protocol? - so seems more like a brushing as part of a sensory diet.
And then there's Candace who uses it for years despite being unsure of its effectiveness - ?
Barbara
Does Elizabeth have a swing? I have Asperger's syndrome and swinging seems to help reduce my sensory symptoms. I have an industrial grade swingset in my back yard and use it about every second day for half an hour. I enjoy it and it give me an appropriate outlet.
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