Brian Muller at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has developed a “novel “deep-pressure” vest which can also be used for adults with mental illness, delivers a “portable hug” called deep pressure touch stimulation (DPTS).
“People with developmental disorders and mental illness are often overwhelmed in everyday environments such as school and the workplace, and solutions available to families and mental health professionals are limited,” says Mullen, a doctoral student of mechanical engineering. “This is an alternative therapy that can safely and discreetly provide the treatment they need to function in mainstream society.”
It has been observed by occupational therapists that children can benefit from DPTS especially those suffering from autism, sensory processing disorders and ADHD. It can help the children increase attention to tasks, reduce anxiety and harmful behaviors.
Source: Science Daily