| Most of us have no problem combining all our senses. | | | | Children who find the smooth, swaying motion soothing, |
| For autistic children (and grownups) however, it's a | | | | will relax and unwind while using it. However, children |
| mighty challenging task. Processing stimuli from the | | | | who have a vestibular dysfunction will feel uneasy |
| senses of sight, smell, sound, touch, taste, balance and | | | | while in the hammock and might initially protest its use. |
| body is overwhelming. Those suffering from autism will | | | | For them, hammock therapy is more about regaining |
| often withdraw to avoid over stimulation, or try to sort | | | | equilibrium and learning to tolerate vestibular stimuli. |
| out the input from their senses with self-developed | | | | The motion of swinging restores balance to the |
| soothing mechanisms and repetitive behaviours. | | | | vestibular system, provides proprioceptive input (deep |
| A significant amount of occupational therapy for | | | | pressure) and generally helps autistic-spectrum children |
| autism focuses on sensory integration through specially | | | | feel more "in balance". The soothing motion of swinging |
| designed programs. Some of the greatest tools for | | | | soothes, relaxes and increases concentration. Children |
| sensory integration therapy for autism type disorders | | | | who have trouble focusing on tasks such as reading |
| are various types of swings. People with various | | | | or math, might find it easier to concentrate sitting in a |
| autism spectrum disorders such as Autism, PDD, | | | | hammock chair, their bodies engaged in a soothing |
| ADHD, Asperger's, proprioceptive dysfunction and | | | | motion. |
| tactile defensiveness will benefit from using swings as | | | | Setting up a swing in the home is easy and does not |
| part of their therapy. | | | | require a large investment. A hammock, hammock |
| Additionally, children and adults with Sensory | | | | chair, hanging bag or a therapy platform swing are all |
| Processing Disorders (also called Sensory Integration | | | | relatively inexpensive, easy to find and do not take up |
| Disorders), especially those with proprioceptive or | | | | a lot of room. Making a platform swing out of a |
| vestibular dysfunction, should definitely have swings or | | | | hammock is an easy do-it-yourself project, with |
| therapy hammocks as a crucial element of their | | | | instructions available in our blog. Put one in the child's |
| treatment. | | | | room, playroom or family room for a retreat or a |
| The benefits of the hammock can be two-fold. | | | | therapy corner for an autistic child. |