| Autistic children and adults often seek pressure in | | | | perhaps the autistic child or adult moves his or her |
| a variety of ways to calm themselves and cope | | | | focus to a single feeling the pressure which in turn |
| with sensory overload. Oftentimes, hugs and | | | | produces a calming effect. For many autistic |
| squeezes from other people can cause more | | | | children and adults, anxiety can be completely |
| distress because autistic children or adults are | | | | incapacitating. Not being able to function with the |
| often unable to communicate their needs by | | | | anxiety is frustrating, and so appropriate social |
| indicating a particular amount or length of | | | | behavior is even more difficult. Sometimes, the |
| pressure. This is both frustrating and ineffective | | | | only release from such anxiety is through |
| for both the autistic person and whoever is | | | | pressure. To this day, the hug machine is used by |
| hugging or squeezing them. | | | | several programs and researchers studying |
| The hug machine was created to help relive this | | | | autism as well as therapy programs. |
| frustration, putting autistic individuals in control of | | | | Remember that hugging or squeezing an autistic |
| their situation. Both children and adults who suffer | | | | child may not help him or her. You may, in fact, |
| from autism sometimes crave pressure to help | | | | increase their senses and cause more anxiety. |
| calm anxiety. Because of this, one woman with | | | | Though you may not be able to purchase a hug |
| autism developed the hug machine, also known as | | | | machine, you may be able to create a similar |
| a hug box or a squeeze machine. The hug | | | | object. Try wrapping the autistic child or adult in a |
| machine has two padded sideboards connected | | | | blanket, where they can control how much |
| near the bottom of the boards to form a | | | | pressure to apply. You can also look into buying |
| V-shape. A lever helps push the sideboards | | | | padded boards that more closely simulate the hug |
| together to create pressure; the lever also allows | | | | machine's side-boards and perhaps tie or tape |
| the autistic child or adult the ability to control the | | | | some heavy-duty yarn to each side to allow the |
| amount and length of pressure. | | | | autistic child or adult control over how much |
| Studies are still being conducted to find out why | | | | pressure to apply and for how long. Contact your |
| those with autism respond to pressure and how it | | | | child's school to see if there has been any interest |
| can produce a calming effect. The hug machine | | | | in purchasing a community hug-machine. This may |
| may affect the heightened sensory perceptions | | | | not be a cure to all your child's problems, but it |
| of those with autism who often feels disruptive | | | | works well to help many autistic individuals cope |
| or distressing behavior. By applying pressure, | | | | with the world. |