The Wilbarger Brushing Protocol: Who Can Do It?
Are you confused about the Wilbarger Brushing Protocol and who can do it... OT's, parents, other care givers? Whose allowed? What the protocol says? One OT asked on our help line to clarify this. Well, here's the answer!
In the book: "Sensory Defensiveness in Children Aged 2-12, An Intervention Guide for Parents and Other Caretakers" By Patricia Wilbarger, MEd, OTR, FAOTA and Julia Leigh Wilbarger, MS, OTR, published by Avanti Educational Programs, copyright 1991,
On page 2, they state...
Purpose of the Guide:
This guide presents a description of sensory defensiveness and an overview of its treatment. This booklet is designed to be used with the guidance of an occupational or physical therapist who has gained specialization in treating sensory defensiveness in children aged 2-12, through continuing education and clinical practice."
For Parents: excerpt..."It is hoped that this guide will provide basic information parents need to understand the diagnosis and treatment of sensory defensiveness in their child between the ages of 2-12. It will answer some of the questions most frequently asked about sensory defensiveness and give some examples of treatment strategies."
For Other Family Members: excerpt... "Understanding the nature of sensory defensiveness will help families develop appropriate relationships and free family members to assist in child's treatment."
For Other Caretakers: excerpt..." Foster families, baby-sitters, teachers, and others who have contact with the child with sensory defensiveness need to have a clear understanding of the nature of this problem. .... The intervention techniques recommended here are much more effective if everyone is able to help."
For Professionals: Occupational Therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists and other health professionals who have specialized in treating sensory defensiveness need to communicate effectively and quickly with the caretakers of the children they diagnose. This guide is structured as a way to share consistent information (on pressure brushing and joint compressions) while attending to the individual differences that are so important in each case.
Page 7... Intervention Approaches (con't)
....excerpt... "We have found that sensory defensiveness can be much more quickly and efficiently treated by using an intensive approach. This intensive approach relies heavily on the caretaker's participation in the treatment process. It appears also that by treating the touch system we can influence other sensory systems as well. Our treatment approach now includes applying rapid and firm pressure touch to the arms, hands, back, legs and feet with a non scratching brush with many bristles. The only brushes we have found to be effective so far are a specific plastic surgical scrub brush. This is followed by gentle joint compressions to the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, ankles and sometimes fingers and feet. This should be demonstrated for you by a knowledgeable therapist. Never brush the stomach. The head, neck and chest should also be avoided.
The brushing and joint compression routines are best started on a weekend to get the most consistency. It is a good idea to merge the technique with family routine, i.e. when the child wakes up, goes to bed, bath times, and especially transition times. If the child goes to school and it is impossible for school staff to carry out the program, do the technique right before and after school. Older children can be taught to do it to themselves."
Page 11... Individual Treatment Plan Form
1. Brush firmly with a non-scratching pressure brush on the arms, legs and back as demonstrated by your consulting therapist. Use joint compressions 5-10 times on major joints as demonstrated by your consulting therapist (neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and sometimes fingers and feet) Repeat ___ times per day or every ___ hours.
(description of and instructions for brushing and joint compressions included on this page in the guide)
Page 14...
"Loan this manual, and other materials about sensory defensiveness to relatives, significant family friends, teachers and other professionals working with your child."
Hopefully this answers your question. The bottom line... other people, can and should be taught by an OT. But, the child's reactions must be closely monitored by the OT.
Thanks to Michelle Morris for looking up and sharing this information with us! And, of course to the Wilbarger's for the best solution to tactile defensiveness anyone has yet to come up with!!
Related Resources
Check Out The Issue # 21 Edition of the
Sensory Companion Newsletter Titled:
The Wilbarger Protocol For Sensory Defensiveness
If you have any experience, thoughts, ideas or comments about the Wilbarger Brushing Protocol, feel free to share it with the readers of Sensory-Processing-Disorder.com! Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
80 year old hypersensitive
Brushing failed...
Special education teacher/parent
Associate Psychologist
Occupational therapist/parent of child w/ TD/SPD
COTA in a public school system in NJ
Miss Lisa Webster
Mom
Brushing Worked for us!
Sensory Brush
Brushing
Occupational Therapist
What a difference it made!
Translations of the Wilbarger Protocol
Excellent approach
Stopped responding...
DPPT-Can parents perform the therapy at home
I'm a layperson
Has anyone heard of Wilbarger deep pressure and Proprioceptive Technique
A Therapressure Brush (Wilbarger DPPT)
Therapressure brush for Wilbarger DPPT protocol
Wilbarger Deep Pressure Protocol
Hyperactive
The Wilbarger Protocol
Brushing protocol
Significant Progress with Brushing Not rated yet
Can you stop and start the brushing program Not rated yet
Occupational therapist Not rated yet
Occupational therapist Not rated yet
Occupational Therapist Not rated yet
COTA/L Not rated yet
Brushing as a reinforcer Not rated yet
Occupational Therapist Not rated yet
It Helped Our Son Not rated yet
Infant Oil Massage Not rated yet
Burpee's method of buzzing and brushing Not rated yet
I use the wilbarger brushing protocol Not rated yet
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What Other Visitors Have Said
I suspect I have always had a minor sensory handicap, however when I turned 70 years of age it got progressively worse. Now at age 80 I find ALL my senses, …
My son is 9 & his OT's suggested the brushing protocol (a modified version since he's in school)3-4 x a day and it has seemed to backfire on us. He is …
My daughter had some visual issues when she was in the fourth grade and we ended up having to take her to a vision therapist who prescribed 10 weeks of …
I am currently working with an adult with tactile problem who would not allow dental or medical procedures. He would not allow touches more than 30 seconds …
My daughter says she doesn't like the feeling of the brush. She used to tolerate this when she was around 6 y.o. Now 8, she could benefit from the brushing …
I have personally had the Wilbarger training several times, most recently about 5 years ago. I am comfortable doing the brushing and joint compressions …
Hi there,
I've never heard of this technique (Wilbarger Brushing Protocol) and am intrigued to find out more. My son has high functioning autism and …
I know a teacher who wants to hand out the brushes to moms of kids on the spectrum with sensory issues. I know she is not an OT, and is fully versed on …
The Wilbarger Protocol definitely worked for our 5 year old daughter. We have used it for a year now and have no doubt that it has helped. The brushing …
Hi,Doe's anyone know where I can get one of these brushes from in the UK? I have tried Amazon but they won't deliver it to the uk. I've not got as far …
Has anyone experienced not-so desirable side-effects from brushing? My son seems to enjoy it one day and hate it the next. And often I find that he is …
I am an occupational therapist trying desperately to find the most current training on the Wilbarger Deep Pressure and Proprioceptive Technique (DPPT). …
My son was diagnosed with PDD with possible Autism at the age of 3. We were in Paris, France at the time and within 30 days we returned to the US and …
Does anyone have a Creole' and Spanish translation of a home exercise program of the Wilbarger Protocol?
My son, who will soon be 4 years old, has been sensory defensive and it has been mistaken for ADHD. I am an Occupational Therapist since 1997 and knew …
My daughter, 7, was responding well to the brushing the first week. Now, she refuses. I don't know if I should push her to continue.
Hello,
I recently attended an autism conference. I was introduced to the Wilbarger's Protocal. My question is since this is an intensive procedure …
I have suffered with SPD all my life, but have only recently found out that there's a name for it, and that the Wilbarger Brushing Protocol is used to …
My daughter Haley has started receiving occupational and physical therapy this summer. She has also received speech therapy in the past and now during …
I need to purchase a proprioception brush for my daughter. I can't find one anywhere! I was taught how to brush her and do joint compression, but not …
I just read the SPD Companion issue #21 and checked out the new brush that is being recommended for the Wilbarger DPPT protocol. I clicked on the link …
Some friends who went to an Autism Symposium said that the OT presenting said that the Wilbarger Protocol should only be done for 2 weeks and then discontinued. …
Hi my daughter is 3 and 1/2 years old, hypoactive and sensitive (like me)
I was told about the surgical scrub brush. I started using this and a very …
So my 3.5 year old SPD girl, Addison when for her first OT session today. It went okay. She was showing me The Wilbarger Protocol, and Addison screamed …
I am doing brushing protocol on my 2 1/2 year old daughter. She is speech delayed and has a vey mild sensory problem. Our OT recommended I do brushing …
We've witnessed very good results from using the Wilbarger brush for tactical defensiveness while the ability to touch and feel the product also satisfies …
I have a son with Sensory processing disorder and started the brushing program last year, we did the initial program and brushed regularly.
Initially …
Hi! Do you have a Wilbarger protocol just for the oral area?
I work in a public school and started the brushing protocol on a child with autism. A week later the child had what the parents called a stomach virus …
I am wondering if doing the Wilbarger protocol is appropriate for a 1 1/2 year old?
I would like to inquire if there is a Step by step simple (layman's terms) handout for caregivers that have been trained to provide DPPT, to refer to. …
Should brushing be a motivator that the student chooses to work for even though he is on an every two hour protocol as is?
I have been trained in the Wilbarger Brushing Protocol years ago, but I cannot find a new updated course to take to make sure I am still doing the right …
My now 5 year old son responded well to the Brushing Protocol. We were taught how to do it by his OT, when he was 3 years old. It helped him seem more …
Where we come from (Asia) babies a couple of days old (just as their umbilical cord dries up) are massaged very thoroughly and vigorously with warm olive …
Hello,
I saw Burpee's method of buzzing and brushing, twice on your site and have never heard of it. Where can I get additional information?
…
I use this for my daughter and it works really good with her. I also use the foot protocol. That is for toe walkers or kids who are learning to walk. …
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