Does Brushing Help Your Child?
Have you ever heard of the Wilbarger Brushing Protocol and wondered if it may help your child with sensory challenges? It's a therapy technique that has made waves in the pediatric world, particularly for children who find the world around them a tad too intense. Let's break down what this is, where it came from, and how it might benefit your child.
The Origin Story
Patricia Wilbarger, an occupational therapist, that many of her patients felt bombarded by everyday sensations. Imagine the tag on your shirt feeling as prickly as a cactus or the hum of a vacuum cleaner as loud as a 110 dB rock concert. Patricia thought, "There's got to be a way to help these kids dial down the discomfort." While working in a hospital setting, she had the opportunity to help an infant who was at risk for requiring a feeding tube, calm his nervous system in order to regulate and tolerate oral feeding. Having access to a soft surgical scrub brush, she developed a technique to apply deep pressure input over a vast body surface area in a short amount of time, in order to calm the protective nervous system. And so, the concept of the Wilbarger Brushing Protocol was born. It has since been renamed the Deep Pressure Proprioceptive Technique, so as to not confuse it with Margeret Rood’s Brushing Technique. Together with her daughter Julia, Patricia has taught many occupational therapists and health professionals how to perform the technique correctly.
The Lowdown on Brushing
This method involves using a specialized brush, not a hairbrush, but a specific sensory brush to apply firm, deep pressure on the skin of the arms, legs and back. This is followed by joint compression to the major joints, either passively or actively. Patricia and her daughter Julia Wilbarger also recommended the use of a sensory diet, which includes specific sensory input through individualized activities dispersed throughout the individual’s daily routine. The protocol has been utilized with children and adults, and can have calming effect on hypersensitivities, as well as improving sensory awareness of the body.
It is recommended that before implementing the DPPT, individuals be trained by an occupational therapist with advanced knowledge of the procedure. While seemingly a simple technique, it can be misinterpreted and applied incorrectly, which can result in a lack of progress, or even have a detrimental effect in some situations. Thus, it is recommended that the protocol be monitored by a qualified occupational therapist.
Here are some benefits:
Relaxation Station: This technique can help kids who are often in sensory overdrive relax and feel more at ease. Studies have shown decreased cortisol levels following treatment.
Concentration Boost: It makes focusing on homework, mealtime, or playtime easier.
Coordination Connection: It can help with body in space awareness, so kids can move more smoothly.
Multi-sensory Impact: Overall, it can impact all the sensory systems, as the technique targets the more primitive autonomic nervous system. It can help children feel more organized, calm, and comfortable.
Is It a Match for Your Little One?
The first stop is a chat with an occupational therapist knowledgeable in sensory processing. They can assess your child's needs and determine if the Wilbarger Brushing Protocol could be a good fit. Remember, this isn't something to DIY— rather it is a technique a professional should guide.
The Takeaway
The Wilbarger Brushing Protocol isn't just any therapy technique—it's a potential lifeline for many children who feel overwhelmed by their sensory environment. It's all about making them feel more comfortable in their skin and more at ease with the world around them. If you're looking for something to help your child work with their sensory experiences more smoothly, the DPPT might be worth looking into.
Kimberley Arnett-DeSimone, a career pediatric occupational therapist in Huntersville, North Carolina, authored this post.
