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Somatron Vibroacoustic Products Autism "Use of the Somatron with Seventeen Students of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit's Autistic Program" Source:
Unpublished paper This paper provides a summary of observations during a six week period of using a Somatron chair with twenty students enrolled a special education program for autistic children. Each student was provided with a 5-15 minute Somatron session and was observed both before and after the session by staff members at the school. Staff recorded whether or not each child was attending to a task, completed a task, gave eye contact to the teacher, remained in their seat, and refrained from participating in self-stimulatory behavior. When a child was successful in one of the areas being observed, it was recorded as a “positive factor” (+). When a child was unsuccessful in one of the areas being observed, it was recorded as a “negative factor” (-). The total number of positive and negative factors observed both before and after each of the Somatron sessions were calculated. Overall, it was found that the number of positive factors observed increased, and the number of negative factors decreased after the use of the Somatron. Autistic Services Incorporated Type
of Facility:
Facility serving Autistic Individuals A grant received by Erie County Legislator, Lynn Marinelli, provided an opportunity for the Occupational Therapy department of Autistic Services to purchase a Somatron chair to use with their clients. The clinical director of Autistic Services, Mr. Tom Sinica values the chair because of its universal benefits including the fact that it can be enjoyed by both adult and children alike. The Somatron is used with clients during the course of supervised Occupational Therapy. The benefits gained from using the Somatron chair with the clients at Autistic Services are reported to include the relief of muscle tension, the stimulation of circulation, the diminishing of gastrointestinal problems, reductions in anxiety and success in screening out sounds that may otherwise be upsetting to the clients. Mr. Sinica made the following comments and observations about the new Somatron chair, “This is a calming experience. I can see visible differences in the people using it. They leave smiling, happy and better able to participate when they return to their classrooms.” |