Effects of a weighted vest on attention to task and self-stimulatory behaviors in preschoolers with pervasive developmental disorders

Objective. This study examined the effectiveness of using a weighted vest f or increasing attention to a fine motor task and decreasing self-stimulator y behaviors in preschool children with pervasive developmental disorders (P DD). Method. Using an ABA single-subject design, the duration of attention to ta sk and self- stimulatory behaviors and the number of distractions were meas ured in five preschool children with PDD over a period of 6 weeks. Results. During the intervention phase, all participants displayed a decrea se in the number of distractions and an increase in the duration of focused attention while wearing the weighted vest. All but 1 participant demonstra ted a decrease in the duration of self-stimulatory behaviors while wearing a weighted vest; however, the type of self-stimulatory behaviors changed an d became less self-abusive for this child while she wore the vest. During t he intervention withdrawal phase, 3 participants experienced an increase in the duration of self-stimulatory behaviors, and all participants experienc ed an increase in the number of distractions and a decrease in the duration of focused attention. The increase or decrease, however, never returned to baseline,levels for these behaviors. Conclusion. The findings suggest that for these 5 children with PDD, the us e of a weighted vest resulted in an increase in attention to task and decre ase in self-stimulatory behaviors. The most consistent improvement observed was the decreased number of distractions. Additional research is necessary to build consensus about the effectiveness of wearing a weighted vest to i ncrease attention to task and decrease self-stimulatory behaviors,for child ren with PDD.