The Benefits of Bean Bag Chairs for Kids With Autism

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of disorders characterized by significant impairment in social interactions, communication difficulties and repetitive, compulsive behavior. Approximately 1 in 150 children in the United States are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, and symptoms can range from mild to severe. It is common for a child with an ASD to have an additional diagnosis of sensory integration dysfunction. This means that the child's brain doesn't process the sensory information it receives in a coherent, organized way. Therapy for autistic children with sensory processing difficulties often involves weight-bearing exercises and deep sensory input. For these kids, beanbag chairs are a low-cost therapeutic tool.
As a seating option, bean chairs help autistic children who have poor muscle tone, or hypotonia, which is a common problem with kids on the autism spectrum. Hypotonia isn't a medical disorder; rather, it's the name of the symptom resulting from any combination of neurological and muscle disorders that cause overall muscle weakness. Researchers are still looking into why kids on the autism spectrum often have hypotonia, but it is more challenging to address in children than adults by virtue of the fact that many weight-bearing exercises involve the use of adult-sized, overly heavy equipment.
Bean bag chairs have just enough weight to act as a weight-bearing exercise tool for kids on the spectrum. A child may use it for weight-lifting with his arms or legs. Additionally, because of the palpable inner components, a bean bag chair provides sensory feedback during weight-training exercises. Their flexible shape allows kids and therapists to shape and mold the chairs for whatever purpose they need.
Bean bag chairs help hypotonia in kids with autism in other ways. Many kids on the autism spectrum find it uncomfortable to sit in traditional chairs. The use of bean bag chairs in the home may provide kids on the autism spectrum with comfortable alternatives, since the chair molds itself to the child's body while providing the sensory feedback of its filler material. In an autism classroom, a teacher may use bean bag chairs for the students at least part of the day. Many kids on the spectrum find the sensory feedback of sitting in a bean bag chair very comforting. Best of all, they're easy to transport and lightweight enough so that even very young children can move them from room to room.
Two bean bag chairs used together can be a helpful therapeutic tool for kids on the spectrum. Many kids with autism find it comforting and calming to have their torsos surrounded by gentle sensory pressure. Some autistic kids like to sit on one bean bag chair while having a second bean bag chair placed across the torso. This gentle weight and the continuous sensory feedback can be very calming and relaxing for a child with autism, helping him to organize his thoughts and center his emotions. Bean bag chairs are more than just a comfortable option for children's furniture - for kids with autism, they can be an important therapeutic tool, too.

With the many features and benefits of beanbags, buying one which provides the comfort and affordability necessary to meet your needs is crucial. Comfy Sacks has bean bags in a wide variety of sizes and colors. Instead of being filled with beans, they are filled with a proprietary blend of shredded polyurethane foam. This guarantees that it will be soft, and durable for years to come.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dario_J._Ruff

Bean Bag Chairs for Autism Sensory Integration Therapy

Beanbag chairs have been a casual alternative for comfortable, stylish seating since the 1960s. They come in different sizes and colors, and sometimes different shapes, too, so that they mold themselves to whatever shape you sit in for maximum comfort. For many years, furniture manufacturers made bean bag chairs with small polystyrene beads, but because they posed a choking hazard for young children, manufacturers now make bean bag chairs with shredded polyurethane, the same material that lines car cushions. As a result, bean bag chairs are more comfortable than ever, and with a growing array of fabrics and materials for colors, they've experienced something of a resurgence as a viable choice for informal interior décor. However, bag chairs aren't just stylish and comfortable. Many therapists use them in different ways to help people on the autism spectrum cope with sensory processing issues.
Many individuals affected by autism have neurological issues that affect their ability to process and organize sensory information. They may experience delays in acknowledging what they see, hear or feel, or they may feel sensory input more or less intensely than neurotypical people. This can be very unsettling, and may trigger upset, restlessness and even anxiety in an autistic person. Bean bags are a safe, gentle way to help a person with autism organize their sensory input and have a greater awareness of their bodies in their immediate surroundings. Many physical therapists use beanbag chairs as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for sensory integration issues in autistic kids.
As seating, beanbag chairs provide immediate sensory feedback to the child about every subtle shift in his movements. The child can feel the countless small pieces of shredded polyurethane adjusting beneath the chair's cover. This can also help a child learn more about his body's responses and how to better monitor what feels comfortable to him and what doesn't. Learning to pay attention to his body's sensory cues is an important part of helping a child cope with sensory processing issues. Children can easily take bean bag chairs with them in a therapy session, if a session of therapeutic services require the child to move from room to room.
Many kids on the autism spectrum who also struggle with sensory processing difficulties benefit from deep sensory pressure massage and feeling weighted objects around their torsos. Bean bag chairs are an inexpensive option for providing this purpose. Placing a child on a beanbag, and then placing a second bean bag over the child's torso is a safe method to provide some weighted pressure evenly distributed across the torso. Many autistic kids find this extremely relaxing and comforting.
Bean bag chairs are a safe, gentle option for physical therapy that must involve gentle weight-lifting to improve coordination and muscle tone, both common problems for young children on the spectrum. Children can lift the chairs easily with little coordination necessary, and a dropped bean bag chair, unlike a traditional weight set, won't cause any injury or damage.

With the many features and benefits of bean chairs, buying one which provides the comfort and affordability necessary to meet your needs is crucial. Comfy Sacks has bean bags in a wide variety of sizes and colors. Instead of being filled with beans, they are filled with a proprietary blend of shredded polyurethane foam. This guarantees that it will be soft, and durable for years to come.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dario_J._Ruff