Weighted Hug Vest - Unisex

The deep pressure provided by a Weighted Hug Vest has a ‘calming and organising’ effect on the body's proprioceptive system. The Vests are commonly recommended by Occupational Therapists for use in the classroom to increase attention-span and reduce the hyperactivity often seen in autistic children and children with ADHD, and sensory or learning difficulties.   A Weighted Hug Vest can benefit children who: are autistic. have ADHD, or sensory processing disorder. display hyperactivity, such as excessive shifting in their seat. have a short attention-span and are easily distracted. show tactile sensitivities such as needing to touch everything, or being resistant to touch. have a poor awareness of their body position. display self-stimulatory behaviour such as rocking, twirling, and chewing.   Occupational Therapist Nancy Vandenberg conducted research on children with ADHD and the use of weighted jackets in the classroom (Vandenberg 2001). Students with ADHD were studied in the classroom performing fine motor activities for 15 minute periods, both with and without a weighted jacket. The research showed that concentration on tasks increased by 18% to 25% in all students tested. Additionally, 75% of the pupils frequently asked to wear the jacket even when they weren’t being observed. Nancy Vandenberg’s research recommends using a jacket for maximum periods of 30 to 40 minutes before giving the child a rest for a similar period before using it again.  Vests may have weight around the waist area only, or offer weight around the shoulder area as a way of applying deep pressure to the upper body. The better jackets are discrete and have a “non clinical” look – without close inspection you would not know it was a ‘special’ jackett. This is an important feature for all using the jacket, particularly for children in mainstream schools, who don’t want to stand out from their peers. Weighted jackets are designed for the classroom or other passive activities. They are not recommended for outside play or any other physical activities. In addition to the classroom, weighted jackets are useful in a wide variety of other environments such as restaurants, cafes, church, or cinemas when it is necessary for the child to sit calmly for a period of time. Other situations may include, for example, a busy shopping centre to help keep a child calm and reduce anxiety.