Weighted Blankets and Deep Touch Therapy for Autism

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSensory Processing DisorderSPD in AutismSPD and ProprioceptionDeep Touch TherapyResearch FindingsTrying Deep Touch Therapy for Autism

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Sensory Processing Disorder

SPD in Autism

SPD and Proprioception

Deep Touch Therapy

Research Findings

Trying Deep Touch Therapy for Autism

As sensory processing challenges are an issue for most autistic people, deep pressure touch is often recommended as a tool to reduce anxiety. This technique can help autistic people to maintain calm in potentially stressful situations.

This article discusses how weighted blankets and deep touch therapy may work to provide benefits for autistic people.

John Fedele / Getty Images

Some experts have described sensory processing disorder as a neurological “traffic jam” for the parts of the brain needed to interpret sensory information correctly.

The outcomes of this traffic jam include a range of difficulties including (but not limited to):

Is It Autism or ADHD?

Autistic people often have sensory processing challenges; in fact, one of the officialcriteria for autism spectrum disorderis hyper (higher) or hypo (lower) response to sensory input. This can include unusual interest in textures, sound, smells, and lights and movement.

These issues can interfere significantly with the ability to learn in a typical classroom, play games, or socialize with classmates during recess or lunchtime.

Teens and adults who have grown up with untreated autism-related SPD may have learned to avoid (or been steered away from) social interaction, physical activity, or typical learning situations because they are uncomfortable or even traumatic.

While avoidance is one coping mechanism, it is not ideal. Small, quiet, carefully modified situations may benefit an autistic person, but it is extremely difficult to maintain such a setting outside of an institution such as school. The ideal is to provide treatment so that the autistic child can interact successfully in a typical (or semi-typical) setting.

Autism and Auditory Processing Disorders

Often, treatment for proprioceptive challenges can have a calming impact. Deep touch therapy, in particular, can help reduce anxiety and improve an individual’s sense of body awareness.

In 1992, Dr. Temple Grandin (an autistic adult with low support needs) wrote a paper about her “squeeze machine.“This simple device, built to provide deep pressure touch, helped her manage anxiety through her teenage years; a patented version provided relief to many autistic people.

According to Grandin, 15 minutes of use would reduce her anxiety for up to 60 minutes. The “squeeze machine” was one of the first scientifically evaluated techniques for providing deeptouch therapyas a way to calm an autistic person.

Some examples of use when working with clients include:

The research on deep touch therapy has had mixed results. Somesmaller studiessuggest that the approach is extremely helpful.On the other hand, a 2016 metastudy found DTP interventions are “generally poor quality and demonstrate effects that do not validate their current use for students with disabilities.”

Older studies include a group that replicated something similar to Grandin’s squeeze machine and found “a satisfactory therapeutic capability.” In addition:

While research findings aren’t universally positive for deep touch therapy, DTP carries almost no risk, is not expensive, and could potentially provide benefits for some autistic people with related sensory issues.

To get started, you’ll ideally want to seek out an occupational therapist (OT) with sensory integration training and experience who will evaluate and treat your child. This is, of course, the best choice; it may, however, not be feasible.

While no-cost occupational therapy is often provided through schools, few school-based OTs are specifically trained in sensory integration or deep touch therapy. They are more likely to work with your child on school-related skills such as handwriting or cutting with scissors.

If you are unable to find or afford a therapist who can work with your child effectively, you can integrate some DIY deep touch pressure into your child’s routine. Here are a few options:

Cautions With DIY Deep Touch Techniques

While deep touch techniques may be helpful, there is no guarantee they will have a calming impact. To determine whether they are really making a difference, you will have to observe your child in similar situations with or without the DTP, and carefully note how your child responds to DTP.

For example, if your child is typically restless at bedtime, note:

Then, provide a weighted blanket and make similar observations. Compare your findings to determine whether the blanket is helpful, neutral, or problematic.

Summary

Many autism therapies are under-researched, and many work well for some people on the autism spectrum but not for others. Research on deep touch therapy and weighted blankets has been mixed, although there is no evidence of harms if done properly.

You also may need to consider whether a trained therapist is available or if you’ll need to try deep touch therapy on your own. It’s important, before trying out any therapy, to carefully evaluate potential risks and negative outcomes as well as possible benefits.

If the potential benefits far outweigh any possible risks, it’s also important to accurately measure traits before and after using the therapeutic intervention. Accurate measurements can help avoid the possibility of a false positive (or negative) outcome.

7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.STAR Institute for Sensory Processing Disorder.Understanding Sensory Processing Disorder.American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5). 2013.Grandin T.Calming effects of deep touch pressure in patients with autistic disorder, college students, and animals.J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 1992 Spring;2(1):63-72. doi:10.1089/cap.1992.2.63.Bestbier L, Williams TI.The Immediate Effects of Deep Pressure on Young People with Autism and Severe Intellectual Difficulties: Demonstrating Individual Differences.Occup Ther Int. 2017 Jan 9;2017:7534972. doi:10.1155/2017/7534972.Losinski M, Sanders SA, Wiseman NM.Examining the Use of Deep Touch Pressure to Improve the Educational Performance of Students With Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 2016 41(1), 3–18. doi:10.1177/1540796915624889VandenBerg NL.The use of a weighted vest to increase on-task behavior in children with attention difficulties.Am J Occup Ther. 2001 Nov-Dec;55(6):621-8. doi:10.5014/ajot.55.6.621.Mullen B, Champagne T, Krishnamurty S, Dickson D, Gao R.Exploring the Safety and Therapeutic Effects of Deep Pressure Stimulation Using a Weighted Blanket.Occupational Therapy in Mental Health. 2008 24:1, 65-89, doi:10.1300/J004v24n01_05Additional ReadingBestbier L, Williams TI.The immediate effects of deep pressure on young people with autism and severe intellectual difficulties: Demonstrating individual differences.Occup Ther Int. 2017;2017:7534972. Published 2017 Jan 9. doi:10.1155/2017/7534972Grandin T.Calming effects of deep touch pressure in patients with autistic disorder, college students, and animals.J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 1992 Spring;2(1):63-72. doi:10.1089/cap.1992.2.63Losinski M, Sanders SA, Wiseman NM.Examining the use of deep touch pressure to improve the educational performance of students with disabilities: A meta-analysis.Research and Practice for Persons With Severe Disabilities. SAGE Journals. 2016; Volume: 41 issue: 1, page(s): 3-18. doi:10.1177/1540796915624889Mullen B, Champagne T, Krishnamurty S, Dickson D, Gao RX.Exploring the safety and therapeutic effects of deep pressure stimulation using a weighted blanket.Occupational Therapy in Mental Health. 2008; Volume 24, 2008 - Issue 1. doi:10.1300/j004v24n01_05STAR Institute.Understanding sensory processing disorder.Vandenberg NL.The use of a weighted vest to increase on-task behavior in children with attention difficulties.Am J Occup Ther. 2001;55(6):621-8.

7 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.STAR Institute for Sensory Processing Disorder.Understanding Sensory Processing Disorder.American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5). 2013.Grandin T.Calming effects of deep touch pressure in patients with autistic disorder, college students, and animals.J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 1992 Spring;2(1):63-72. doi:10.1089/cap.1992.2.63.Bestbier L, Williams TI.The Immediate Effects of Deep Pressure on Young People with Autism and Severe Intellectual Difficulties: Demonstrating Individual Differences.Occup Ther Int. 2017 Jan 9;2017:7534972. doi:10.1155/2017/7534972.Losinski M, Sanders SA, Wiseman NM.Examining the Use of Deep Touch Pressure to Improve the Educational Performance of Students With Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 2016 41(1), 3–18. doi:10.1177/1540796915624889VandenBerg NL.The use of a weighted vest to increase on-task behavior in children with attention difficulties.Am J Occup Ther. 2001 Nov-Dec;55(6):621-8. doi:10.5014/ajot.55.6.621.Mullen B, Champagne T, Krishnamurty S, Dickson D, Gao R.Exploring the Safety and Therapeutic Effects of Deep Pressure Stimulation Using a Weighted Blanket.Occupational Therapy in Mental Health. 2008 24:1, 65-89, doi:10.1300/J004v24n01_05Additional ReadingBestbier L, Williams TI.The immediate effects of deep pressure on young people with autism and severe intellectual difficulties: Demonstrating individual differences.Occup Ther Int. 2017;2017:7534972. Published 2017 Jan 9. doi:10.1155/2017/7534972Grandin T.Calming effects of deep touch pressure in patients with autistic disorder, college students, and animals.J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 1992 Spring;2(1):63-72. doi:10.1089/cap.1992.2.63Losinski M, Sanders SA, Wiseman NM.Examining the use of deep touch pressure to improve the educational performance of students with disabilities: A meta-analysis.Research and Practice for Persons With Severe Disabilities. SAGE Journals. 2016; Volume: 41 issue: 1, page(s): 3-18. doi:10.1177/1540796915624889Mullen B, Champagne T, Krishnamurty S, Dickson D, Gao RX.Exploring the safety and therapeutic effects of deep pressure stimulation using a weighted blanket.Occupational Therapy in Mental Health. 2008; Volume 24, 2008 - Issue 1. doi:10.1300/j004v24n01_05STAR Institute.Understanding sensory processing disorder.Vandenberg NL.The use of a weighted vest to increase on-task behavior in children with attention difficulties.Am J Occup Ther. 2001;55(6):621-8.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

STAR Institute for Sensory Processing Disorder.Understanding Sensory Processing Disorder.American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5). 2013.Grandin T.Calming effects of deep touch pressure in patients with autistic disorder, college students, and animals.J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 1992 Spring;2(1):63-72. doi:10.1089/cap.1992.2.63.Bestbier L, Williams TI.The Immediate Effects of Deep Pressure on Young People with Autism and Severe Intellectual Difficulties: Demonstrating Individual Differences.Occup Ther Int. 2017 Jan 9;2017:7534972. doi:10.1155/2017/7534972.Losinski M, Sanders SA, Wiseman NM.Examining the Use of Deep Touch Pressure to Improve the Educational Performance of Students With Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 2016 41(1), 3–18. doi:10.1177/1540796915624889VandenBerg NL.The use of a weighted vest to increase on-task behavior in children with attention difficulties.Am J Occup Ther. 2001 Nov-Dec;55(6):621-8. doi:10.5014/ajot.55.6.621.Mullen B, Champagne T, Krishnamurty S, Dickson D, Gao R.Exploring the Safety and Therapeutic Effects of Deep Pressure Stimulation Using a Weighted Blanket.Occupational Therapy in Mental Health. 2008 24:1, 65-89, doi:10.1300/J004v24n01_05

STAR Institute for Sensory Processing Disorder.Understanding Sensory Processing Disorder.

American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5). 2013.

Grandin T.Calming effects of deep touch pressure in patients with autistic disorder, college students, and animals.J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 1992 Spring;2(1):63-72. doi:10.1089/cap.1992.2.63.

Bestbier L, Williams TI.The Immediate Effects of Deep Pressure on Young People with Autism and Severe Intellectual Difficulties: Demonstrating Individual Differences.Occup Ther Int. 2017 Jan 9;2017:7534972. doi:10.1155/2017/7534972.

Losinski M, Sanders SA, Wiseman NM.Examining the Use of Deep Touch Pressure to Improve the Educational Performance of Students With Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 2016 41(1), 3–18. doi:10.1177/1540796915624889

VandenBerg NL.The use of a weighted vest to increase on-task behavior in children with attention difficulties.Am J Occup Ther. 2001 Nov-Dec;55(6):621-8. doi:10.5014/ajot.55.6.621.

Mullen B, Champagne T, Krishnamurty S, Dickson D, Gao R.Exploring the Safety and Therapeutic Effects of Deep Pressure Stimulation Using a Weighted Blanket.Occupational Therapy in Mental Health. 2008 24:1, 65-89, doi:10.1300/J004v24n01_05

Bestbier L, Williams TI.The immediate effects of deep pressure on young people with autism and severe intellectual difficulties: Demonstrating individual differences.Occup Ther Int. 2017;2017:7534972. Published 2017 Jan 9. doi:10.1155/2017/7534972Grandin T.Calming effects of deep touch pressure in patients with autistic disorder, college students, and animals.J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 1992 Spring;2(1):63-72. doi:10.1089/cap.1992.2.63Losinski M, Sanders SA, Wiseman NM.Examining the use of deep touch pressure to improve the educational performance of students with disabilities: A meta-analysis.Research and Practice for Persons With Severe Disabilities. SAGE Journals. 2016; Volume: 41 issue: 1, page(s): 3-18. doi:10.1177/1540796915624889Mullen B, Champagne T, Krishnamurty S, Dickson D, Gao RX.Exploring the safety and therapeutic effects of deep pressure stimulation using a weighted blanket.Occupational Therapy in Mental Health. 2008; Volume 24, 2008 - Issue 1. doi:10.1300/j004v24n01_05STAR Institute.Understanding sensory processing disorder.Vandenberg NL.The use of a weighted vest to increase on-task behavior in children with attention difficulties.Am J Occup Ther. 2001;55(6):621-8.

Bestbier L, Williams TI.The immediate effects of deep pressure on young people with autism and severe intellectual difficulties: Demonstrating individual differences.Occup Ther Int. 2017;2017:7534972. Published 2017 Jan 9. doi:10.1155/2017/7534972

Grandin T.Calming effects of deep touch pressure in patients with autistic disorder, college students, and animals.J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 1992 Spring;2(1):63-72. doi:10.1089/cap.1992.2.63

Losinski M, Sanders SA, Wiseman NM.Examining the use of deep touch pressure to improve the educational performance of students with disabilities: A meta-analysis.Research and Practice for Persons With Severe Disabilities. SAGE Journals. 2016; Volume: 41 issue: 1, page(s): 3-18. doi:10.1177/1540796915624889

Mullen B, Champagne T, Krishnamurty S, Dickson D, Gao RX.Exploring the safety and therapeutic effects of deep pressure stimulation using a weighted blanket.Occupational Therapy in Mental Health. 2008; Volume 24, 2008 - Issue 1. doi:10.1300/j004v24n01_05

STAR Institute.Understanding sensory processing disorder.

Vandenberg NL.The use of a weighted vest to increase on-task behavior in children with attention difficulties.Am J Occup Ther. 2001;55(6):621-8.

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