Temple Grandin
'The Clinical Effects of Deep Touch Pressure' an excerpt from her 1992 paper.
__________________________________
Deep touch pressure is the type of surface pressure that is exerted in most types of firm touching, holding, stroking, petting of animals, or swaddling. In contrast, light touch pressure is a more superficial stimulation of the skin, such as tickling, very light touch, or moving hairs on the skin. In animals, the tickle of a fly landing on the skin may cause a cow to kick, but the firm touch of the farmer's hands quiets her. Occupational therapists have observed that a very light touch alerts the nervous system, but deep pressure is relaxing and calming.
Deep pressure touch has been found to have beneficial effects in a variety of clinical settings (Barnard and Brazelton 1990, Gunzenhauser 1990). In anecdotal reports, deep touch pressure has been described to produce a calming effect in children with psychiatric disorders. Deep pressure stimulation, such as rolling up in a gym mat, has been used to calm children with autistic disorder and ADHD (Ayres 1979, King 1989). Lorna King (personal communication, 1990) reports that children with sleeping problems appear to sleep better inside of a mummy sleeping bag, which adapts to fit the body snuggly. It also has been used to reduce tactile defensiveness in children who cannot tolerate being touched. McClure and Holtz-Yotz (1991) found that deep pressure applied by foam-padded splints on the arms reduced self-injurious behavior and self-stimulation in an autistic child.
Research on autistic children indicates that they prefer proximal sensory stimulation such as touching, tasting, and smelling to distal sensory stimulation of hearing and seeing (Kootz et al. 1981). Autistic children will often seek out deep pressure sensations. At various lecture meetings of parents of autistic individuals, parents have reported to me various types of pressure-seeking behavior of their offspring, such as wrapping arms and legs in elastic bandages, sleeping under many blankets even during warm weather, and getting under mattresses. In my case, l used to crawl under sofa cushions and have my sister sit on them. A high functioning autistic woman stated, "I need heavy blankets on me to sleep well, or else my muscles won't calm down."
Grandin T., 1992, 'Calming Effects of Deep Touch Pressure in Patients with Autistic Disorder, College Students, and Animals', Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, Vol. 2, No. 1
About Calm Fit
Calm Fit T-Shirts help children regulate their body and filter sensory information, which enables them to stay calm, help with body awareness, listen and learn. Designed to wear all day, every day to keep the sensory system calm. Reassuring gentle pressure gives proprioceptive feedback (information received from muscles and tendons, concerning body movement and position).
What's it made of?
Our material is a very high quality breathable milk polyester and has excellent compression and recovery because of the high spandex count. The 4 way stretch, warp knit polyester provides maximum compression and support.
Calm Fit is machine washable and bounces back after washing.
The fabric has a soft silky feel, has no tags and the seams are on the outside reducing irritation to the skin.
Calm Fit are easy to take care of and do not require ironing.
Benefits
When children wear the Calm Fit T-Shirt under their school uniform (or other clothing) they will enjoy the calming benefits of the compression helping to decrease anxiety and meltdowns. Calm Fit is perfect for those children that hate wearing clothes and are highly sensitive to touch.
Parents Review
