Vestibular therapy to calm and relax your child
We usually associate hammocks with relaxing in the backyard on a lazy Sunday afternoon. While they’re certainly great for that, hammocks can also be a valuable tool for vestibular therapy in children and adults with Sensory Processing Disorders. People with proprioceptive dysfunction, tactile defensiveness, Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Asperger’s and excessive energy levels will all benefit from the calming “all-body hug” hammocks provide. There is a great variety of hammocks on the market, and choosing one depends on who will be using it and for what purpose, as well where it will be primarily used. Some of the choices include:
- a reclining hammock chair
- a hammock chair with stand
- hanging outdoor chair swing
- rope, canvas, fabric, quilted, or parachute silk hammock
- hammocks for children
- baby or crib hammocks
- cushioned single chair hammock swing
- sensory swing
The hammock as a therapeutic tool can work in two ways. For those who perceive the gentle, swaying motion as soothing it will provide a calming relaxation tool. For those with a disturbance in the vestibular sense, lying in a reclining chair with feet suspended in the air can be threatening. Continual therapy using the hammock will gradually build the person’s tolerance to this type of vestibular input. So grab a book, your iPod or just merely lie back and feel good knowing that relaxing in a hammock is good for you on so many levels!