Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Flip

Original poster

We've got to brush DS every 2 hours?!

11 replies

Madoldbird · 16/11/2010 14:01

Have been to a review meeting this morning with all the various therapists involved in DS's care. They have been assessing him for 3 weeks and are now giving us stuff to do at home with him.

Among the many recommendations given, the OT has suggested we brush him regularly, with a surgical brush (looks like we are scrubbing him with a brillo pad )and then do joint compression. Apparently this helps with the processing of sensory information and helps the links between the body and the brain.

So I was just wondering if others of you have done this, and if you have found it to be useful? We are very willing to give it a go, after all, it's not going to do any harm. Would love to hear some good feedback though!

OP posts:

daisysue2 · 16/11/2010 14:05

Yes I did it and she loved it. I felt it really helped. Quite funny but even her LSAs did it in school, not sure that it actually helped, but I know she never complained as much better than spellings.

IndigoBell · 16/11/2010 14:55

It's a standard treatment to cure retained reflexes and I've heard lots of good things about it.

Google retained reflexes and brushing and I think you'll find loads of info.

We're doing a diff reatained reflexes therapy with my son and are very pleased with the results.

SJisontheway · 16/11/2010 15:06

We did it for a few months. I'm not sure how effective it was, but I have heard others swear by it.

ghoulsforgodot · 16/11/2010 17:27

we did it for a 2 week period which resulted in him being more aware of his own body and meant we could toilet train him

moondog · 16/11/2010 17:29

'Apparently this helps with the processing of sensory information and helps the links between the body and the brain.'

I'd ask to see (or have explained) the research on this.

yanny · 16/11/2010 19:32

We did this over the Easter break 2 hourly for 2 weeks. My dd went from being extremely tactile defensive (going to school without socks or tights, barely brushed hair etc) to having the first stress free Monday on the return to school after the Easter break. Managed to wear socks, put clothes on, have hair brushed. I was amazed as I didn't have much hope. We do a top up every now and then as it defintely isn't a cure, once dd starts to get wriggly and complaining about seams/clothes etc I get the brush out

mumgoingcrazy · 16/11/2010 20:03

DD2 was severely tactile defensive, we did this for 6 weeks and it transformed her. 4 months later she got ill and her defensivness crept back so we did a top up month and have never looked back.

Would definately recommend this.

MrsYamada · 16/11/2010 20:14

We did it for a few months, not 2 hourly though. It was a few times through the day. He enjoyed it for a while and it had quite a calming effect as usually he was seeking lots of sensory stimuli. There were no miraculous results but no downsides either. DS started refusing it after a while and we didn't push it. It might be something we go back to though.

Original poster

Madoldbird · 17/11/2010 08:55

Thanks for your feedback, and it's nice to see that it seems to work for some children! indigoBell - thanks, i shall go off and google!

moondog Yes, when i came out i wished i'd asked to see some specific research. It's just that while we were in there we were getting lots of information and suggestions from not only the OT, but also the physio, SALT & play specialist. I think i was in sensory overload and couldn't think clearly!!
They spoke about it being the start of a "sensory diet" for him. So many new terms. However i am assuming that as the NHS are routinely suggesting this, that is must be backed up by some sort of research

OP posts:

IndigoBell · 17/11/2010 09:48

I on the other hand wouldn't care at all about the research. It clearly works for some children - because you have got parents here saying so.

The only way to know if it will help your child is to do it. It doesn't actually matter if it helps 5% of children or 95% of children - it only matters if it helps your child.

Anyway, this is the site I was meaning.

moondog · 17/11/2010 16:26

'However i am assuming that as the NHS are routinely suggesting this, that is must be backed up by some sort of research'

Hollow laugh. Plenty of stuff recommended has no evidence base whatsoever.
But I take Indigo's point too of course.
Still good to know on what grounds something being recommended (before one embarks on outlandish regimes as often happens.)

next time, take someone with you to take notes and ask questions as of course it is overwhelming.

Flip