Deep pressure therapy (DPT) use in the reduction of challenging behaviors for an individual with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability

Sensory integration therapy (SIT) has been used as an intervention for sensory sensitivities in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for decades without clear empirical evidence of its efficacy. Recent research has supported the use of deep pressure therapy (DPT) when applied in varying degrees to the upper body. The T.Jacket (an app-driven vest with air bladders and pump) is an emerging and novel approach to DPT. This single-subject study examined the effects of the T.Jacket on off-task behavior and challenging behaviors in an individual adolescent with ASD, speech impairment, and intellectual disability. Experimental control was not established across all settings and phases for off-task behavior and challenging behaviors. Rationale is given for future research in an area of symptoms recently recognized in the DSM-5 (i.e., hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input) for ASD yet has little to no empirically based intervention.