| A hammock chair could be one of the best gifts | | | | The motion of swinging restores balance to the |
| you can give a child with autism. The hammock | | | | vestibular system, providing proprioceptive input |
| chair holds the child tight while they rock back and | | | | (deep pressure) and helps autistic spectrum |
| forth. The improvement can be immediate. Even | | | | children feel more "in balance". The swinging |
| after fifteen minutes, the results can be dramatic, | | | | motion soothes, relaxes, and improves |
| lasting throughout the day. Autistic children crave | | | | concentration. Children who have difficulty focusing |
| deep pressure such as brushing, even though | | | | on tasks such as math and reading may find it |
| they will have tactile defensiveness. They may | | | | easier to concentrate while sitting in a hammock |
| feel like they are off balance and the reason why | | | | chair as their bodies sway with a soothing motion. |
| is due to vestibular dysfunction. This is the area | | | | Setting up a hammock chair for a swing in the |
| of the brain that controls seeing, touching, and | | | | home is easy and inexpensive. It can be hung |
| hearing. A dysfunctional vestibular system can | | | | from a hook and put up and taken down in |
| cause panic attacks, leading to the famous autism | | | | seconds. It may be used indoors or outdoors. The |
| tantrums. | | | | same swinging motion and benefit may achieved |
| A great portion of occupational therapy for | | | | from a smaller size hammock hung high enough |
| autism focuses on sensory integration and one of | | | | from one central point to be a swing or the child |
| the greatest tools is the swing. People with | | | | may enjoy just lying in the hammock and |
| various autism spectrum disorders such as | | | | swinging. A hammock without a spreader bar will |
| Autism, PDD, ADHD, Asperger's, proprioceptive | | | | envelop and and cradle the child closer, achieving |
| dysfunction, and tactile defensiveness will benefit | | | | the closer feel they need. |
| from the use of a swing (hammock chair) as part | | | | Autistic or not, don't we all love the feeling of |
| of their therapy. | | | | relaxing in a hammock or hammock chair? |