Author: Doreen Fertel-Daly, Gary Bendell, Jim Hinojosa
Source: American Journal of Occupational Therapy, November/December 2001, Volume 55, Number 6, pp 629-640
This single subject research study was designed to systematically measure the effects of a weighted vest on the behavior and performance of five children with pervasive developmental disorders. The children were from 2 to 4 years of age reported to have difficulties in attention tot ask, who were enrolled in a self-contained classroom three hours a day, five days a week. The Investigators measured duration of focused attention to task, number of distractions, and duration and type of self-stimulatory behaviors during a 5-minute fine motor activity. Activities included scribbling and imitating crayon strikes, building with blocks, imitating block patterns, putting pegs into a pegboard, stringing beads, snipping with scissors, and pointing to objects.
The study followed three phases: Baseline ? Intervention ?Intervention Withdrawal. Data was recorded during 5-minute observation sessions during fine motor activities (one sessions for each measure, per child, per phase). During the intervention phase the children wore a weighted vest for two-hour periods, three days per week. Data were collected after the children had worn the vest for 1.5 hr. The vest was a Kiddie Vest? made of denim and sized to fit each child. A 0.25 lb weight was added to each of four pockets, two in the front and two in the back.
The authors reported a decrease in duration of self-stimulatory behaviors, a drop in the number of distractions and an increase in duration of focused attention while wearing the vest. The authors suggested that the vest had a calming effect and produced positive changes in the behavior of the children.
|
