(12-19-2010, 05:59 PM)Pearso22 Wrote: Hi Lydia, I had a look at your blog re coping tools. My son is 4 with autistic spectrum condition and he is very 'sensational'. He jumps up and down all the time repetitively, I am getting a mini trampoline for him and I notice you said you use yours all the time. Have you had this need to bounce since you were very young? He also chews on his fingers all the time, what pleasure does this bring to him? I wish I knew. I ordered some chewlery for him from USA, I'm hoping he may chew that instead of his fingers and nails but I'm not sure it will work. Interesting to read your blog, thanks! (I just joined here this week too).

Well, I didn't really start doing a lot of bouncing until a couple years ago. When I was really little, I was more active in other ways -- like swimming/playing in water, running around, riding a bike, and so forth. These activities probably gave me enough input to feel good without actually bouncing.

But as I got older, I wasn't as interested in those things. I got more interested in things that weren't especially active, like reading and doing litttle crafts, and that's when my trouble with SPD really came up. My OT has also said that our needs for input can change; for example, when I was little I craved spinning in circles, but now doing that just makes me sick.

I also have felt the need to chew on my fingers when I do NOT incorporate things like bouncing or using my weighted blanket. For me, it's because I need deep pressure, and chewing my fingers is a way (although unhealthy) to get that pressure. My OT has suggested chewing gum instead, or even chewing on plastic tubing like fridge tubing (?) or the tubing from breathing nebulizers. I hope the chewlery works for your son! Does he feel good from other types of deep pressure too, like bear hugs or using a weighted blanket?