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Case Reports: Learning from unexpected outcome (positive or negative)
Effect of vibrostimulatory wearable technology on stereotyped behaviour in a child with autism and intellectual disability
  1. Cristina Santamarina-Siurana1,
  2. Vicente Cloquell-Ballester1,
  3. Carmen Berenguer-Forner2 and
  4. Milagros Fuentes-Albero3
  1. 1Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Industrial, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
  2. 2Departamento Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación, ERI Lectura, Universitat de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
  3. 3USMIA Catarroja, Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain
  1. Correspondence to Dr Carmen Berenguer-Forner; carmen.berenguer{at}uv.es

Abstract

The aim of the work has been to report on the effects of vibrostimulation, administered through wearable technology, on stereotyped behaviour of a child in middle childhood, with autism, intellectual disability and severe behaviour in the ‘stereotypic behaviour’ subscale of the Restricted and Repetitive Behaviour Revised Scale. He received vibrostimulation (210 Hz, 2.8 µm), with a continuous pattern of vibration: three vibrations of 700 ms, each separated by a rest period of 500 ms and a pause of 8000 ms. Vibration was delivered bilaterally by two devices, repeating the vibration pattern for 3 min. The measures were repeated four times alternately, with the device turned off and on. The outcome measure was frequency of stereotyed behaviour, which was evaluated for 3 min with and without vibrostimulation. The results and observations, over 3 min of stimulation, showed the disappearance of stereotyped movements during vibrostimulation and better precision in intentional hand movements. Subjectively, the child enjoyed vibrostimulation.

  • Health informatics
  • Movement disorders (other than Parkinsons)
  • Developmental paediatrocs
  • Child and adolescent psychiatry

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2022-252181

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors CS and VC: conduct, write and design the study; CB: critically reviewed the study proposal and design; MF-A: served as scientific advisor.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.