OCCUPATIONAL SWINGS

 The hop swing.....one of the swings used in occupational therapy....if you can only afford one swing for your child this should be the one to consider. The Hop Swing is designed to provide a vertical, bouncing movement and stimulation while building muscle tone and stimulating the vestibular and propioceptive systems. 

What is the Vestibular System? "The first sensory system to fully develop by six months after conception is the vestibular system, which controls the sense of movement and balance. This system is the sensory system considered to have the most important influence on the other sensory systems and on the ability to function in everyday life. Directly or indirectly, the vestibular system influences nearly everything we do. It is the unifying system in our brain that modifies and coordinates information received from other systems. The vestibular system functions like a traffic cop, telling each sensation where and when it should go or stop." 

"The Proprioceptive System is part of the vestibular system, where special receptors in muscles and joints travel quickly from the cerebellum to enhance tone and joint stability. The initiation of proprioception is the activation of a proprioreceptor in the periphery.^[10] The proprioceptive sense is believed to be composed of information from sensory neurons located in the inner ear (motion and orientation) and in the stretch receptors located in the muscles and the joint-supporting ligaments (stance). There are specific nerve receptors for this form of perception termed "proprioreceptors," just as there are specific receptors for pressure, light, temperature, sound, and other sensory experiences. Proprioreceptors are sometimes known asadequate stimuli receptors.

Sure if you have already been to an occupational therapist they would of explain to you about modulation....most autistic children through out their day fall either under or above where they are suppose to be....being either over stimulated or under stimulated....the hop swing helps with regulating modulation. when unstimulated they can become withdrawn and when over stimulated they can become aggressive being faced with all an increased amount of energy and no avenue to expel it... which can be very frustrating for them...and sadly interpreted as just bad behavior. Its just about helping their body self regulate. 

A boy's story: Performed a single-case study on a boy age 3 years and 5 months with sensory modulation disorder (as diagnosed by the Sensory Profile which noted tactile and auditory processing issues and sensory seeking behaviors) and delayed communication skills. He had been given a reduction in school hours due to classroom behaviors of phycial and verbal aggressive, throwing objects, mouthing objects and touching others within a classroom setting. Treatment was given.             At the end of the study all aggression and mouthing behaviors had diminished. There was a 50% decrease in teacher intensity needed to manage the child's behavior and he was engaged in classroom activities for 70% of the time, a 40% increase from the start of the study.The child continued with once per week OT which was reduced to once per month over a 3 year period. 

this is why it is important to have a room dedicated in your home for both speech and occupational therapy....a one hour session twice for the week will not be enough.

Avaialbe at especial needs,,,,,, they have online assistance with any question you may have on this item plus if you can afford more than one OT swings they are available here.