We have recently started the Brushing therapy on KC again(tonight was first night). I can't seem to find my protocal packet. By any chance do you all have yours still? If so I will pm my email addy. I can't get it from the OT we have now b/c she is against it so we got the brush from Nicole(former OT stuck on bed rest) and she forgot to give me the info on it. I am really excited about the second chnace that we are doing. Hopefully he will take to it better this time. Thanks so much

We just finished doing it with Sebastian. I still have my stuff I can send on to you.

Sebastian tolerated it for 12 days and then did not want anything to do with it. The OT said that was a good sign. He still has plenty of isses, but he no longer freaks out when he gets water in his face. In fact he is now dumping it on his head himself!!! He still makes a lot of faces and I have to wipe it off really fast, but it is much better then the blood curdeling screams that used to come if he got any water on his face at all.

I am so sorry, I totally missed this thread!

Did you get the info you needed? I do still have the protocol as well, somewhere. lol

Iain still DEMANDS brushing. It is really quite pathetic as he will come on over to you, drop to the ground, put his legs up into your face and cry "bwaaaa shing!" He does have times when he does not want it at all, and other times where he demands it almost constantly. We have tried to wean him off of it and really he does better with it. We recently pulled back again and have him running almost naked in the house as he can not stand clothes.

How is this time going? You can alter the program as well. Iain does not get full protocol as he has a vaso vegal response to it.

Keep us posted!

Leigh and Katey I can use all the info you got. So far KC has not responded to the protocol at all he is still not liking it so I think I am doing something wrong. I will pm both of you my email addy. Thanks a whole bunch

I am sorry he is not responding well to the protocol. :(

Are you doing it firmly enough? Or could it be too firmly? I really should take a video of what we do with Iain. I promised long ago to do this for Lesley and Catherine. :oops:

We do not do a full protocol with Iain due to his response. Perhaps you need to do an amended method with KC, too? Have you been in contact with your OT regarding this?

What kind of brush do you use, Lauren? We have a silicone brush, one that CHEO uses for scrubbing in for surgeries. We got a whole big bag of them from Lee Valley Tools here in Ottawa and it was SO cheap! They get 'scratchy' over time, so that can also be an issue for kids who are on this protocol. Once they get scratchy, we notice that Iain really does not like the brushing at all. Having so many of them allow us to cycle through them faster and avoid the scratchiness.

Also, what time of day are you doing it? And how many times a day? We altered a bit when we were doing it to actually help stem off behaviour or times that we know Iain is a bit more prone to full meltdown/launch.

I will have to hunt for my protocol sheets and will do that in the next couple of days. We sort of tidied up and threw some of the papers in a few boxes, so I really have to dig to get mine again. :oops:

I *might* have it on an email from the OT. Not sure, but will hunt there, too.

Good to see you as I have missed you! :hug:

I have to warn you, I am having computer issues right now with a nasty and tempermental cable on the laptop. I have one coming, but not until next week. :favorites21:

Sorry for my ignorance...I really do apologize...what is "brushing" protocol? Is that for kids who can't stand fabrics against their skin? What about those who love to "tag"? Aaron has a pillow lovey that he calls "Baba". The silk-like tags on the pillow are what he loves the most....he will suck on two fingers...yes, two!...and rub this tag on his face while he does it. Is this a sensory problem or just a kids who loves comfort???

Sorry for my ignorance...I really do apologize...what is "brushing" protocol? Is that for kids who can't stand fabrics against their skin? What about those who love to "tag"? Aaron has a pillow lovey that he calls "Baba". The silk-like tags on the pillow are what he loves the most....he will suck on two fingers...yes, two!...and rub this tag on his face while he does it. Is this a sensory problem or just a kids who loves comfort???


Brushing therapy is used mainly for Sensory problems. It can however be used for other things. For instance KC is a primary tippy toe walker and hates to be touched by people that are not in his immediate household. He also refuses to take bathes and screams the whole time. Tags on clothes are a big no no he hates them. He does not like to touch slimmy things at all(ex: finger piants and playdough etc...) You get the idea. Life with him hasn't been the easiest taking him out in public he freaks out alot then we have to leave the store. I hope that helps you to understand the brushing protocol.

Leigh we use the silicone ones too. we do the 5 minute protocol every 2 hours(I think that is the whole protocol). I was told that if it is to soft to my tough then it is just right for KC is that correct. I am going to try again to get a hold of Nicole about this(she had her baby as far as I know)

I am so happy to finally be back I was going crazy without you ladies my life has been complete mahem without you. This place is the glue that keeps me together.I am pm'ing you my email addy right now. Thanks a bunch:hug:

We were told to do it really hard, but Sebastian is a sensory seaker, so we were doing it to try to give him the feedback he craves, rather then to get him to tolerate it.

Often light touch is hard for them to tolerate, so I would say try doing it a little hard and see if he likes that better.

We were told to do it every 2 hours for 2 weeks. Sebastian really liked it a first and they he got less and less into it. After about 10 days he was saying, "no, no brush" and did not want it anymore.

Our OT said that was a good thing. It ment that it had 'done its job' and he did not need it anymore. So we stoped it early.

I did not notice a huge change, but I am now able to wash his hair without his screaming his head off the whole time. He still does not like the water on his head and He wants towel right a way to dry his face, but he does not act like we are killing him anymore.

To OT also told us to try brushing his hands before sensory play to see if that will help him. I have not had a chance to try it yet, but I don't really think it will work. He is more upset about seeing his hands dirty then the feel of it I think. He love lotion and things that soak in, but freaks out over finger paint or shaving cream. I think it is seeing the suff on his hands that he can not handle.

I will try to get that stuff out to you today.

Thanks, Lauren, for explaining what the brushing protocol meant. I was looking into sensory integration disorder after I read the post. I * think* Aaron may have issues with it...possibly a sensory "seeker" but I really don't know...just have a hunch...perhaps that's some of what the neurologist saw at the visit. We are still waiting on the second referral (second opinion) before we proceed with any testing.

I am sorry to hear that KC has such a hard time with sensory issues...I can imagine that going out in public has been/can be a nightmare. :sad5: I can see so many behavior issues linked to sensory issues...may explain Aaron's behavior?