Calming Effects of Deep Touch Pressure in Patients with Autistic Disorder, College Students, and Animals
This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.
About the autistic author markerGRANDIN, T. (1992). Calming Effects of Deep Touch Pressure in Patients with Autistic Disorder, College Students, and Animals. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 2(1), 63-72. https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.1992.2.63
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Authors
Abstract
ABSTRACT Many people with autistic disorder have problems with oversensitivity to both touch and sound. The author (an autistic person) developed a device that delivers deep touch pressure to help her learn to tolerate touching and to reduce anxiety and nervousness. The "squeeze machine" applies lateral, inwardly directed pressure to both lateral aspects of a person's entire body, by compressing the user between two foam-padded panels. Clinical observations and several studies suggest that deep touch pressure is therapeutically beneficial for both children with autistic disorder and probably children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Only minor and occasional adverse effects have been noted. Data are reported that show a similar calming effect in nonreferred college students. A review of the animal literature reveals that animals have similar calming reactions, and also suggests possible additional physiological effects of deep touch pressure. At present, there are increasing anecdotal reports of the clinical value of the squeeze machine, including suggestions that it can be used to reduce required doses of psychostimulant medications. More clinical studies are needed to evaluate the potential role of this seemingly beneficial form of "physiological" stimulation.
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These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 14 Sep 2026 14:03.
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Jill Anderson (1986). Sensory Intervention With the Preterm Infant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit . American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 40(1), 19-26. SAGE Publications.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
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E. Courchesne , R. Yeung-Courchesne , J.R. Hesselink , T.L. Jernigan (1988). Hypoplasia of Cerebellar Vermal Lobules VI and VII in Autism . New England Journal of Medicine, 318(21), 1349-1354. Massachusetts Medical Society.Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations