Autism Swings

Autism swings can be used for sensory integration therapy. Some models are made specifically for occupational therapy and sensory activities. However, many play swings work well, too.

Swinging

Sensory processing can be a considerable problem for people diagnosed on the autism spectrum. An activity like swinging can help a person to calm and organize behavior by providing sensory input. The activity can be very motivational and it can encourage communication and social interaction.

Sensory integration therapy involves engaging the senses in a systematically. Autism swings are excellent because they work on a number of different levels, allowing for better attention and behavior. Swinging may appear to be a simple activity, but it addresses many things.

• Vestibular system
• Visual processing
• Proprioception

The vestibular system is responsible for helping the brain communicate with the body in terms of movement and space. The Vestibular Disorders Association explains how sensory input works in relation to this system.

Many parents of autistic children can relate to problems in this area:

• Child resists walking from one surface to another (from the sidewalk to the grass, for example)
• Self-stimulatory behavior
• Poor muscle tone
• Failure to take reciprocal steps or tends to sit on each step to go up or down
• Difficulty having bowel movements

Vision is an important aspect of balance, motion and perception, and it is an important aspect of the vestibular system. Autism swings involve visual stimulation as well as motion. Some children may rock back-and-forth in order to get a sense of motion but they often engage in the activity for visual input as well.

Proprioception involves the nervous system and while it may seem similar to balance, the proprioceptive system does not include the fluids in the inner ear that are integral to the vestibular system. Proprioception helps a person orient herself in space by providing sensory information through the joints and muscles. The system is critical to the proper development of motor skills.

A person who has problems with proprioception may be unable to walk without looking at his feet. She may not be able to work the controls of a video game while looking at the video screen.

Autism swings offer sensory input that engages the proprioceptive system by providing pressure, much like weighted vests. Some swings are specifically designed to hug the body, offering added sensory input. Many find the combination of the swinging motion and the pressure to be very calming.

Like many other therapeutic interventions for autistic disorders, autism swings should be patient-centered. The focus is on the specific needs of the individual who should be encouraged to communicate when she wants the activity to begin and end. The swinging activity can be used to address issues other than sensory processing problems.

• Communication
• Social interaction
• Desensitization

Whether a person is verbal or nonverbal, they are able to communicate with the right motivation. Swinging is a great activity for building communicative skills because it engages the entire body and it is an enjoyable activity for many people. Since the sensory input is consistent and focused, the activity can improve attention.

The person working the swing can stop the motion and prompt the person in the swing to indicate whether he wants to continue or not. Simply stopping the swing and asking, "More swing?" may be enough to prompt a response. Gradually introducing words, phrases and reciprocal conversation while using swings is a great way to build a vocabulary and appropriate responses that can be moved to a general setting.

Autism swings can help children develop social skills on a fundamental level. The idea is to establish a give-and-take exchange between the person operating the swing and the child. The process can motivate the child to reference others as the activity progresses and interactions that are more complex can be gradually introduced.

The activity can be extremely rewarding, too. This makes it ideal as a reward for reaching objectives. The swinging exercise should follow a difficult task immediately after the less desirable task is completed.

While many enjoy swinging, many people with autism have such difficulty with sensory input that swings may be a source of great stress. Autism swings can help by desensitizing the person with the aversion. The process can be very time-consuming and it should be a part of the person's treatment plan involving multisensory approaches.

Many swings are made specifically for people with autism or for people with sensory processing problems. However, a quick trip to the local playground offers great opportunity to swing while engaging in play therapy like Floortime.

• Sensory Edge has reasonably priced autism swings, including net swings for deep pressure.
• Take a Swing has a collection that includes a platform swing for developing balance.
• Affordable Therapy Solutions has hammock swings, gliders, and disc swings in its inventory.

• Autism Clipart
• Aspergers Checklist for Adults
• Preschool Activities for Autistic Children
• Aspergers Quiz
• Autism Quiz

• Lesson Plans for Autistic Children
• Adult Autism Symptoms
• Social Skills Activities for Kids with Autism
• Speech Therapy Ideas for Autistic Children
• Famous Autistic People

• Autism and Video Modeling
• Autism Multisensory Approaches
• Applied Behavioral Analysis
• Sensory Integration Therapy for Autism
• Autism Through Art