Harkla Weighted Vest for Kids - Neoprene Compression Vest for Autism, ADHD - Ages 2 to 4 - Adjustable Kids Weighted Vest with 2lb weight - Breathable and Washable Compression Vest - Small

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In fitness and exercise, a weighted vest is used to increase the intensity of a specific physical activity. To achieve this, a person can walk, work out, bike, carry out chores while wearing the weighted vest. In this particular study conducted by Chang Gung University, the researchers looked into the physiological effects that weighted vests have on anxiety. The participants in this study were all neurotypical, as well as dental patients that expressed anxiety about going to the dentist. In addition, these participants did not have previous experience using weighted blankets before. Outside the field of research, teachers and therapists using weighted vests on children with autism is already a common and accepted practice.

If you take the object off for a period of time, then don it again, the stimulus becomes new and recognized. One of the most difficult parts of a literature review is understanding how likely it is that the study results are actually “true”, and therefore, clinically significant. In my review below, I have noted how strong the level of evidence, so that you can decide how best to use the information moving forward. If patients a,b,c, and d have a great outcome while wearing their “superman” vest or “police bullet proof garment”, it matters not if this is a placebo, or actual physical change happening to their central nervous system. If they feel better, have improved attention, and decreased maladaptive behaviors, the vest or strategy is working!

Where can you find a practitioner?

National Research Council (Ed.). (2001). Educating children with autism. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

In a classroom setting, stimming might be a hindrance for the child to complete a desktop activity. For this reason, a school therapist can apply sensory integration techniques such as having the child wear a weighted vest in the aim of lessening the stims and increasing focus. Calming tool There is no harm in trying a weighted vest on a child who has ASD. However, it is important to be working with an Occupational Therapist who has evaluated your child and can provide additional support through exploring this tool. Below are some tips to ensure the safety and comfort of your child while wearing this kind of vest. A deep pressure vestprovides equal snugness throughout the torso and claims to provide better stability to children with autism. Most deep pressure vests don’t have the bulky weights that are common in weighted vests. The Oxford Health NHS Foundation, for one, has stated that it does not endorse nor advocate the use of weighted or compressive products. Furthermore, it’s believed that when the central nervous system is well regulated, the physical processes occur more efficiently. This way, it encourages better sleeping habits and positively affects interoception (the sense of internal conditions, such as thirst, hunger, etc.).For instance, therapists recommend up to 12 percent of the person’s body weight instead of 5 to 10 percent. A study published in June 2022 hypothesized whether or not weighted vests can increase participation in activities. Activities included self-care, productivity, and leisure. It also included meaningful goals that may include activities that are not preferred by the participants. The participants consisted of 22 children aged 4-17. As a result, improvement in participation was evident. Better sleep As important as this vest is, the cost of buying it from the store is very expensive. However, with these few materials, you will be able to make your weighted vest.

A person being interviewed about the behavior of their student/child may not paint a clear picture. Oftentimes, caregivers either over dramatize, or deny behaviors and outcomes. Another child who wore the vest during his occupational therapy session looked for it in his succeeding session. When asked why he wanted to wear it again, he said, “I like wearing the vest. It’s comfortable.” What are weighted vests used for?

The reason there is not sufficient research and evidence on tools such as weighted/compression garments, vibration, therapeutic listening, sensory diets, etc. is the method by which it is collected. Weighted vests are sometimes used as part of sensory integration therapy to provide deep pressure input, which can be calming and regulating for some individuals with sensory processing difficulties. By wearing a weighted vest, individuals can receive the proprioceptive input they need to help them feel grounded and more in control of their bodies. Wearing weighted vests and other weighted objects (like weighted blankets) is part of a practice called sensory integration therapy. This approach aims to help children who have difficulty processing multiple sensory inputs at the same time.

Scruggs, T. E., Mastropieri, M. A., & Casto, G. (1987). The quantitative synthesis of single-subject research: Methodology and validation. Remedial and Special Education, 8(2), 24–33.If the vest is used to calm an upset child, then it may be removed when the child has calmed down. Do the material and design matter? Baer, D. M., Wolf, M. M., & Risley, T. R. (1968). Some current dimensions of applied behavior analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1, 91–97. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1968.1-91.