wow can't believe how much difference body brushing has helped with dd with asd

[BanrockStation]

Fought and got my daughter into a fantastic private sn school. She is 10 and has high functioning autism.
They suggested regular (2 hourly from breakfast to tea time) body brushing to help with my dd's anxiety, meltdowns, tactile defensiveness and propreception difficulties.
I am stunned that after nearly 2 weeks the difference it has made.
Not 1 meltdown Really loving and inquisitive. Wants to chat and play board games with me. Got into bed yesterday and we had a 20 minute cuddle (unheard of). I could go on. Just thought I would share this bit of positive therapy we have had.

tell us more... how do you do it - for how long etc. & how do you fit it in round school????

lauree - i do it at breakfast and after school. school do it every 2 hours. it is a special little scrubbing brush. I brush her arms, hands, back and legs. i brush downwards about 4 times each section making sure you cover all areas. then you have to do deep compression afterwards which is, getting your child to push against the wall, jumping up and down on the spot (feet together) and pushing down on their head with pressure. Each one done 10 times each! takes about a minute. we are now onto a different brush, that has slightly harder bristles.

thanks for that, I am all for things that can be done at home!
what sort of brush would that be closest to, like a wide paintbrush?

like a nail brush to be honest

Thanks for that Banrock - it is very good to hear that your DD is making so much progress with this procedure. I love hearing about experiences that make so much difference to children with ASD. I have DD 3.8 with ASD who seems to be so much happier now I have excluded gluten and casien and introduced fish oils to her diet.

You need to be very careful with body brushing. It is a surgical sponge that is used, as you need a wide surface area, with brisk but soft bristles.

Also, it it vital that only the arms, back hands and legs are brushed. Never the tummy or chest (can send internal organs into crisis).

You can read about it here

We tried it with DD1, but it sent her wild! Absolutely hyped up beyond belief.

Deep pressure massage on its own was good though.

Thank you Lou & Barnock, exactly what I needed to know!! I actually started with increasing touch at the moment and also ordered another book from the library. I can see that going full steam ahead might be too much for my ds at the moment, so starting gently.
I think these are great therapies, we have been doing diet for a few years now, but I am more than ready to take it to the next level. I do like the logic behing it and the fact that it can be done w/o dragging them from one expert to the next.
Thanks again!

I'll go and do some reading - I'd never heard of this before

Starting gently.., so bought a shaving brush as a start to ease my ds into it!

Mmm, we just paid a FORTUNE to have a private OT assess DD (OT doesn't exist in France so had to find a private American one ). Am looking forward to her report so we can begin sensory diet with DD. Have already begun deep pressure massage and she LOVES it. We have tried brushing in the past and that is less effective but she's sensory seeking rather than defensive. I also hit on the brilliant idea of sending her into school with an alice band - provides pressure on her head and seems to keep her much calmer

great to hear your dd loves it!
my ds definitely sensory defensive, very!

Has so many benefits - good research showing that touch therapies can increase relaxation and concentration for us. Good for establishing trust in other people. Good for helping us work out where our bodies are. Good for helping us with sensory defensiveness (because unexpected touch hurts like heck for some of us).

anyone here use weighted blankets / compression vests etc? www.sensorydirect.com/

I made DD1 a weighted blanket and a weighted lap pad. (total cost £20)

The blanket is very helpful - she has it every night for bed, and although she does still wake, she settles much quicker than previously.

The OT has lent us a weighted vest, but DD doesn't seem to get quite as much out of that.

twt, dd1 used to do that. She loves her weighted blanket - it isn't warm, just heavy.

Body brushing - hi all I'm new but need advice for my 12 year old as am considering body brushing therapy for my son as heard it can help enormously. Can anyone recommend anywhere in North or central London that they have heard of or have a positive experience of please?