The new Occupational Therapist introduced the brushing technique to us last week and gave us instructions and a brush to take home and start using with Brycen. The goal of this technique is to help him with his sensory cravings, as well as to encourage restful sleep and eventually decrease aggression/help him work through agitation and frustration. I've been trying to find a good website to add to this post, but I just can't find one that I like that really explains the technique well enough. Wilbarger Brushing has been around for a long time and though it does not have science backing it up, many parents agree it has helped their child on the spectrum in so many ways.
My philosopy is it only takes a few minutes each time and doesn't cost us any money or require us to travel and put him out of his comfort zone, so why not?!
The technique uses a therapy brush with lightweight and soft bristles. This is the condensed version of what the technique is like: you start with firm pressure up and down one arm, move to the back up and down, and over to other arm. Then you move to each leg up and down, and then the bottoms of the feet. It is best to do on bare skin, but of course over the clothes is ok too if the child will accept it better that way. The protocol calls for doing it at least every 1 1/2-2 hours all day long.
At first, Brycen cried and threw the brush the first few times. Then he slowly would allow us to brush one small area (he actually wants to brush his head and stomach with it himself, though the technique says these areas are supposed to be off limits). After 5 days of doing it (I showed my mom how to use it over the weekend when we were gone), he now runs to us when we suggest getting the brush. He holds still and it seems like he is really craving it now. The drastic change from Thursday's reaction is phenomenal! I read that if the child doesn't respond like this within a week, then it's not the right therapy for them.
I have shared over and over how aggression is a huge issue with Brycen. In the long run, we would like him to be able to "tell" us he needs the brush when he is starting to have those feelings of frustration and anger, so we can help him work through those feelings before it goes to far. I have read that this technique decreases a lot of the tantrums that come along with classic/non-verbal children with autism. I have also read it takes A LOT of dedication to ensure the "sensory diet" is consistent day in and day out, which means everybody that cares for him has to be on board. My goal right now is to complete the technique once in the morning before school, have school do it about mid-morning, then shortly after he gets home during rest time, then again late afternoon, after dinner, and then again at bedtime. So far, so good and it was so great to go back to the OT yesterday and share his progress with her...and then to hear that he tolerated it so well for her during his session too!
It has been interesting to hear your journey, my son Willem who turned 3 in October was diagnosed in January 2010 with Autism, we started ABA in April, at the time he had lost all language and was very frustrated and aggressive. 8.5 months on the change is amazing, he speaks, knows his alphabet, can count to 20...I never would have thought it possible. We have been doing the brushing for the past 9 days and the last 3 he has been a live wire, i am just not sure if I should keep going for another week, it really seams to be making him worse???
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