Abstract
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have challenging behaviors, which are associated with difficulties in parenting. Deep pressure is a therapeutic modality in occupational therapy, and it was reported to produce a calming effect. This study aimed to determine whether the short-term use of an autism hug machine portable seat (AHMPS) improves behavioral and neurobiological stress in children with ASD, and to determine whether AHMPS with an inflatable wrap or manual pull is more effective. This study enrolled children with ASD who were administered with the inflatable wrap (group I) and manual pull (group II) for 20 min twice a week for 3 weeks. Conners’ Parent Rating Scale-48 (CPRS-48) was used to rate behavioral improvements, and galvanic skin response (GSR) was used to measure sympathetic stress response. A total of 20 children with ASD (14 boys and 6 girls; aged 7–13 years) were included. CPRS-48 presented conduct problems: behavior was significantly decreased in the inflatable group (p = 0.007) compared to the manual pull group. The GSR captured a significant reduction in sympathetic response (p = 0.01) only in group I. Neurobiological stress was reduced in children who were wearing the AHMPS inflatable wrap; therefore, AHMPS inflatable wrap is an effective method to reduce emotional arousal.
Highlights
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior
This study aimed to determine the effect of the short-term use of an autism hug machine portable seat (AHMPS) to improve behavioral and neurobiological stress in children with
Children with autism were randomized into two groups, i.e., group I, which was administered with an autism hug machine portable seat (AHMPS) with an inflatable wrap, and group II, which was administered with an AHMPS with a manual pull
Summary
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), individuals with ASD have three characteristics, namely, difficulty with communication and interaction with other people, restricted interests, and repetitive patterns of behaviors, and sensory integration disorders (SIDs) that affect an individual’s ability to function properly [1]. The Central Bureau Statistics of Indonesia predicted that 1.14% of the population (2.4 million individuals) had autism in 2018 (unpublished data). Epigenetic, environmental, and immunological factors are linked to the pathophysiology of autism and affect the neuroanatomical and neurochemical development of the central nervous system [3,4,5]. Single-gene disorder is associated with the etiology of autism, which accounts for 20–30% of cases [3].
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