The Subjective Comfort Test of Autism Hug Machine Portable Seat

This preliminary study proposes to investigate (i) the mean comfortable deep pressure of Autism Hug Machine Portable Seat (AHMPS) manual pull and inflatable wrap models; and (ii) the effect of using AHMPS in reducing anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The first phase was done to determine the comfort test. Fifteen healthy adolescents (13 men and 2 women; aged 19-25 years) individuals volunteered to participate in the comfort test in determining the pressure of AHMPS, both manual pull, and inflatable wrap. The second phase was completed in children with ASD, in which the comforting pressure from the first phase was then applied to five children with ASD (4 boys and 1 girl; aged 8-15 years) from the Putra Mandiri Public Special School Semarang. All children were administered both the AHMPS inflatable wrap and manual pull as a deep pressure apparatus while traveling by bus. A pulse oximeter was used to measure heart rate variability (physiological arousal). The mean comfort pressure was obtained from 15 healthy subjects, which was 0.81 psi on the chest and 0.80 psi on the thigh for the manual pull; and 0.65 psi on the chest and 0.45 psi on the thigh for the inflatable wrap. In the second phase, the AHMPS manual pull did not significantly decrease heart rate with p=0.114, but the AHMPS inflatable wrap significantly decreased heart rate with a significance value of p=0.037. We conclude, therefore, the AHMPS inflatable wrap decreases physiological arousal in children with ASD.

Somatosensory Testing in Pediatric Patients with Chronic Pain: An Exploration of Clinical Utility

We aimed to evaluate the utility of clinical somatosensory testing (SST), an office adaptation of laboratory quantitative sensory testing, in a biopsychosocial assessment of a pediatric chronic somatic pain sample (N = 98, 65 females, 7–18 years). Stimulus–response tests were applied at pain regions and intra-subject control sites to cutaneous stimuli (simple and dynamic touch, punctate pressure and cool) and deep pressure stimuli (using a handheld pressure algometer, and, in a subset, manually inflated cuff). Validated psychological, pain-related and functional measures were administered. Cutaneous allodynia, usually regional, was elicited by at least one stimulus in 81% of cases, most frequently by punctate pressure. Central sensitization, using a composite measure of deep pressure pain threshold and temporal summation of pain, was implied in the majority (59.2%) and associated with worse sleep impairment and psychological functioning. In regression analyses, depressive symptoms were the only significant predictor of pain intensity. Functional interference was statistically predicted by deep pressure pain threshold and depressive symptoms. Manually inflated cuff algometry had comparable sensitivity to handheld pressure algometry for deep pressure pain threshold but not temporal summation of pain. SST complemented standard biopsychosocial assessment of pediatric chronic pain; use of SST may facilitate the understanding of disordered neurobiology.

EVALUATING THE IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OF DEEP PRESSURE ON CHILDREN DEVELOPMENTAL COORDINATION DISORDER: DEMONSTRATING INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES

Objective: However, every occupational therapist used deep pressure for treating children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). It has been used widely in the therapy aspect, but there is limited research evaluating the immediate effects of deep pressure. The current study aims to evaluate the immediate effects of deep pressure on children with DCD. Methodology: Pre-test and post-test design was employed; mood and behavior were assessed for 20 children with DCD before and after deep pressure sessions. Results: Five children responded with positive result on all the domains following deep pressure. Four showed positive result on three out of five domains. Sufficient information was available from eight participants. Three showed beneficial results statistically. A non-parametric technique (Tau-U) was used for the analysis. Conclusion: Deep pressure has high relevance to clinical practice and appears to be of immediate benefit to this population with DCD.