According to the STAR Institute, children with disorders in processing sensory information may have difficulty knowing where their body is.
Some symptoms include:
- clumsiness
- motion sickness
- frequent crashing into objects
- poor posture
- overall weakness
- feeding difficulties
- trouble with many other tasks in daily life
This is frustrating for the child so therapy is often recommended to assist them to become more confident and independent. Most baby shower registries list a swing as a must-have item.
Swinging is not just for children but is enjoyed by people of all ages. Swinging back and forth, or linearly, is calming to almost anyone. Many would look forward to taking a nap in a hammock.
The gentle sway reminds us of being rocked. In fact, our inner ear contains specific receptors designed to detect motion in all directions. Further, by providing information about movement, swinging can stimulate our sense of motion and orientation in space.
Studies have shown that one in twenty children may experience sensory processing disorder and the numbers are even greater in children with autism (Ben-Sasson et al., 2009). Many speculate that over three-quarters of all children with autism have sensory processing disorder (Tomchek and Dunn, 2007).
Children with autism often feel dysregulated, or confused and overwhelmed within their environment. They can over-react or under-react to various noises, sensations, sights, tastes, touch and more. Many of them find the smooth rocking and swaying of a swing to help them to relax and feel soothed. They may be able to concentrate and focus better during and after movement activities.
It is for this reason therapists permit kids to fidget and move to focus. Swinging and moving can also give kids’ bodies information about where they are in "space" and in relation to their surroundings.
The stimulation of the vestibular (movement) and proprioceptive (position) senses help them to feel more in control of their body.
Who Can Benefit From Therapy Swings?
Sensory Processing Disorders
Vestibular Processing: If a child is struggling with vestibular processing, they seek out movement that interferes with daily activities, they are clumsy or uncoordinated, or they get motion sickness - then the compression sensory swing can be a great tool!
The vestibular system is located in the inner ear. This system is directly related to balance and vision - specifically eye movements. Because of the location in the inner ear, the vestibular system is activated with head movements. When the head moves, the eyes move and the brain and body must provide a response - balance!
When we think about vestibular input, we can think about running, jumping, spinning, and swinging. These movements activate the vestibular system and will provide a response - some people can tolerate more movement than others, while some people become easily nauseous with movement (motion sickness). Vestibular input is typically alerting to the nervous system.
The compression sensory swing provides vestibular input because it’s a swing! Depending on how you position your body in the swing, you can receive linear vestibular input - back and forth or side to side, or rotary vestibular input - spinning.
Some individuals become easily over-stimulated by vestibular input. This can cause adverse reactions such as nausea / vomiting or irritability (among others). Some individuals seek vestibular input - constantly on the move, seeking out opportunities to spin and jump.
Proprioceptive Processing: If a child is struggling with proprioceptive processing, they seek out heavy work (such as pushing, pulling, jumping), they use too much force with tasks such as writing or playing, or they struggle with understanding where their body is in space (may seem clumsy or get hurt often) - then the compression sensory swing can be a great addition to their play items!
Proprioception is the awareness of the position and movement of the body. Sensory receptors are located on your skin, joints, and muscles. When we move, these sensory receptors send signals to our brain, telling it about the effort, force, and heaviness of the movement. Then our body is able to provide an appropriate response.
When we think about proprioceptive movement, we can also include heavy work - any type of movement that works the muscles, deep pressure - any type of input that provides pressure to our body, and vibration. Proprioceptive input is typically calming to the nervous system.
Individuals are usually not over-responsive to proprioception, meaning they don't have over-reactions to this type of sensory input. We do, however, see individuals who are under-responsive or sensory craving, meaning they want more heavy work, crashing, hugs, etc.
The compression sensory swing provides proprioceptive input through compression - almost like a hug! Because the material doesn’t have too much stretch, it provides more deep pressure than other stretchy swings.
Compression & Calmness
If a child is struggling with self-regulation and attention - they get frustrated easily, they cannot sit and attend to a task for an age appropriate amount of time, or they are unable to solve problems that are age appropriate - then the compression sensory swing can be a great tool!
Sensory Swings For Autism, ADHD, And More
If a child has a diagnosis or signs/symptoms of ADHD/ADD, Autism, Down Syndrome, Developmental Delay, cognitive/learning challenges, Apraxia, SPD, or speech/language delay, a sensory swing can be a great addition to their play and development.
Get our Sensory Joy™ Therapy Swing here
