Hug machine

A hug machine, also known as a hug box, a squeeze machine, or a squeeze box, is a therapeutic device designed to calm hypersensitive persons, usually autistic individuals. The device was invented by Temple Grandin to administer deep-touch pressure, a type of physical stimulation often self-administered by autistic individuals as a means of self-soothing.^[1]^[2]

Autistic people often have sensory processing disorder, which entails abnormal levels of stimulation of the senses (such as hypersensitivity).^[3] Because of difficulty with social interactions, it can be uncomfortable or impractical to turn to other human beings for comfort, including hugs. Grandin addressed this by designing the hug machine, in part to help her own anxiety and sensory sensitivity.^[3]

Description

The hug machine consists of two hinged side-boards, each four by three feet (120 cm by 90 cm) with thick soft padding, which form a V-shape, with a complex control box at one end and heavy-duty tubes leading to an air compressor. The user lies or squats between the side-boards for as long or short of a period as desired. Using pressure exerted by the air compressor and controlled by the user, the side-boards apply deep pressure stimulation evenly across the lateral parts of the body.^[1] The machine and its development are depicted in the biopic Temple Grandin.^[4]

History

The inventor of the machine, Temple Grandin, realized as a young child that she would seek out deep pressure stimulation, but she felt over-stimulated when someone hugged or held her. The idea for the hug machine came to her during a visit to her aunt's Arizona ranch, where she noted the way cattle were confined in a squeeze chute for inoculation, and how some of the cattle immediately calmed down after pressure was administered.^[5]^[6] She realized that the deep pressure from the chute had a calming effect on the cattle, and she decided that something similar might well settle down her own hypersensitivity.^[5]^[6]

Initially, Grandin's device met with disapproval as psychologists at her college sought to confiscate her prototype hug machine.^[7] Her science teacher, however, encouraged her to determine the reason it helped resolve the anxiety and sensory issues.

Efficacy

Several therapy programs in the United States now use hug machines, effectively achieving general calming effects among autistic people across the age spectrum. A 1995 study on the efficacy of Grandin's device, conducted by the Center for the Study of Autism, working with Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, involved ten autistic children and found a reduction in tension and anxiety.^[8] Other studies, including one by Margaret Creedon, have yielded similar results. A small pilot study by Edelson et al. (1999), published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, reported that the machine produced a significant reduction in tension but only a small decrease in anxiety.^[9]

Grandin continued to use her own hug box on a regular basis to provide the deep pressure necessary to relieve symptoms of her anxiety. "I concentrate on how gently I can do it", she has said. A paper Grandin wrote on her hug machine and the effects of deep pressure stimulation was published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology.^[1]

In a February 2010 Time magazine interview, Grandin stated that she no longer uses a hug machine: "It broke two years ago, and I never got around to fixing it. I'm into hugging people now."^[10]

Squeeze chair

For several years in the 1990s, urban interventionist/artist Wendy Jacob worked with Grandin in developing furniture that squeezes or "hugs" users, inspired by Grandin's hug machine.^[11]^[12]

Deep pressure

Other deep pressure techniques were developed.^[13] Systematic reviews showed that they had positive effects but the quality of the studies was too low to confirm this effect.^[14]^[15] The pressure can be controlled by the person herself. Focus groups and simulations will be necessary to confirm acceptability compared to others and trials will be useful to confirm efficacy of this method.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Grandin, Temple (Spring 1992). "Calming Effects of Deep Touch Pressure in Patients with Autistic Disorder, College Students, and Animals". Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. 2 (1). Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.: 63–72. doi:10.1089/cap.1992.2.63. PMID 19630623. S2CID 15343030. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
^ Grandin, Temple (1995). Thinking in Pictures: And Other Reports from My Life with Autism. New York: Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-385-47792-5.
^ ^a ^b Sicile-Kira, Chantal (2 March 2010). "What Is Sensory Processing Disorder and How Is It Related to Autism?". Psychology Today. Genesis Behavior Center Inc. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
^ Temple Grandin at IMDb
^ ^a ^b Grandin, Temple; Johnson, Catherine (December 26, 2004). "Animals in Translation". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
^ ^a ^b Raver, Anne (August 5, 1997). "Qualities of an Animal Scientist: Cow's Eye View and Autism". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
^ Grandin, Temple; Scariano, Margaret M. (1996). Emergence: Labeled Autistic. Grand Central Publishing. p. 91. ISBN 978-0-446-67182-8.
^ Edelson, Ph.D., Stephen M. (December 6, 2009). "Temple Grandin's Hug Machine". Salem, Oregon: Center for the Study of Autism. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
^ Edelson, Stephen M.; Edelson, Meredyth Goldberg; Kerr, David C. R.; Grandin, Temple (1999). "Behavioral and Physiological Effects of Deep Pressure on Children With Autism: A Pilot Study Evaluating the Efficacy of Grandin's Hug Machine". American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 53 (2): 145–152. doi:10.5014/ajot.53.2.145. PMID 10200837.
^ Wallis, Claudia (February 4, 2010). "Temple Grandin on Temple Grandin". Time Magazine. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
^ Nikolovska, Lira; Ackermann, Edith; Cherubini, Mauro (2008). "Exploratory Design, Augmented Furniture?". In Dillenbourg, Pierre; Huang, Jeffrey; Cherubini, Mauro (eds.). Interactive Artifacts and Furniture Supporting Collaborative Work and Learning. Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Series. Vol. 10. Springer. pp. 156–157. ISBN 978-0-387-77234-9. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
^ "The Squeeze Chair Project". Wendy Jacob. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
^ Gargot, Thomas; Vachaud, Amandine; Gilard, Clémence; Audrain, Alexia; Gomot, Marie; Guidotti, Marco; Briend, Frédéric; Malvy, Joëlle; Brilhault, Frédérique Bonnet (5 November 2024). "A Compressive Armchair (OTO) to Perform Deep Pressure Therapy in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: User-Centered Design and Feasibility Study". JMIR Human Factors. 11 (1) e55754. doi:10.2196/55754. PMC 11576594. PMID 39499911.
^ Watling, Renee; Miller Kuhaneck, Heather; Schaaf, Rosann (2018). Occupational Therapy Practice Guidelines for Children and Youth With Challenges in Sensory Integration and Sensory Processing. AOTA Press. doi:10.7139/2017.978-1-56900-483-8. ISBN 978-1-56900-483-8.
^ Case-Smith, Jane; Weaver, Lindy L.; Fristad, Mary A. (February 2015). "A systematic review of sensory processing interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders". Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice. 19 (2): 133–148. doi:10.1177/1362361313517762. ISSN 1461-7005. PMID 24477447.

External links

Dr. Temple Grandin's Webpage: Livestock Behaviour, Design of Facilities and Humane Slaughter (Grandin.com)
Description and schematic details of the squeeze machine (Grandin.com)
Hug Machine Building Directions

[Grandin-1] Grandin, Temple (Spring 1992). "Calming Effects of Deep Touch Pressure in Patients with Autistic Disorder, College Students, and Animals". Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. 2 (1). Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.: 63–72. doi:10.1089/cap.1992.2.63. PMID 19630623. S2CID 15343030. Retrieved April 14, 2019.

[:0-2] Grandin, Temple (1995). Thinking in Pictures: And Other Reports from My Life with Autism. New York: Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-385-47792-5.

[Sicile-Kira_2010-3] Sicile-Kira, Chantal (2 March 2010). "What Is Sensory Processing Disorder and How Is It Related to Autism?". Psychology Today. Genesis Behavior Center Inc. Retrieved 29 July 2021.

[4] Temple Grandin at IMDb

[translation-5] Grandin, Temple; Johnson, Catherine (December 26, 2004). "Animals in Translation". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 14, 2019.

[qualities-6] Raver, Anne (August 5, 1997). "Qualities of an Animal Scientist: Cow's Eye View and Autism". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 14, 2019.

[Emergence-7] Grandin, Temple; Scariano, Margaret M. (1996). Emergence: Labeled Autistic. Grand Central Publishing. p. 91. ISBN 978-0-446-67182-8.

[8] Edelson, Ph.D., Stephen M. (December 6, 2009). "Temple Grandin's Hug Machine". Salem, Oregon: Center for the Study of Autism. Retrieved April 14, 2019.

[9] Edelson, Stephen M.; Edelson, Meredyth Goldberg; Kerr, David C. R.; Grandin, Temple (1999). "Behavioral and Physiological Effects of Deep Pressure on Children With Autism: A Pilot Study Evaluating the Efficacy of Grandin's Hug Machine". American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 53 (2): 145–152. doi:10.5014/ajot.53.2.145. PMID 10200837.

[10] Wallis, Claudia (February 4, 2010). "Temple Grandin on Temple Grandin". Time Magazine. Retrieved April 14, 2019.

[Squeeze_Chair-11] Nikolovska, Lira; Ackermann, Edith; Cherubini, Mauro (2008). "Exploratory Design, Augmented Furniture?". In Dillenbourg, Pierre; Huang, Jeffrey; Cherubini, Mauro (eds.). Interactive Artifacts and Furniture Supporting Collaborative Work and Learning. Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Series. Vol. 10. Springer. pp. 156–157. ISBN 978-0-387-77234-9. Retrieved April 14, 2019.

[12] "The Squeeze Chair Project". Wendy Jacob. Retrieved April 14, 2019.

[13] Gargot, Thomas; Vachaud, Amandine; Gilard, Clémence; Audrain, Alexia; Gomot, Marie; Guidotti, Marco; Briend, Frédéric; Malvy, Joëlle; Brilhault, Frédérique Bonnet (5 November 2024). "A Compressive Armchair (OTO) to Perform Deep Pressure Therapy in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: User-Centered Design and Feasibility Study". JMIR Human Factors. 11 (1) e55754. doi:10.2196/55754. PMC 11576594. PMID 39499911.

[14] Watling, Renee; Miller Kuhaneck, Heather; Schaaf, Rosann (2018). Occupational Therapy Practice Guidelines for Children and Youth With Challenges in Sensory Integration and Sensory Processing. AOTA Press. doi:10.7139/2017.978-1-56900-483-8. ISBN 978-1-56900-483-8.

[15] Case-Smith, Jane; Weaver, Lindy L.; Fristad, Mary A. (February 2015). "A systematic review of sensory processing interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders". Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice. 19 (2): 133–148. doi:10.1177/1362361313517762. ISSN 1461-7005. PMID 24477447.

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v t e Autism
Main	Causes Diagnosis Epidemiology Epigenetics Heritability History Memory Pathophysiology Sex and gender Societal and cultural aspects Therapies
Diagnoses	Pervasive developmental disorder Autistic disorder Asperger syndrome Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified Childhood disintegrative disorder High-functioning autism
Associated conditions and phenomena	Alexithymia Anxiety LGBTQ identities Catatonia Masking Echolalia Echopraxia Emotional dysregulation Hyperlexia Infodumping Late talker Monotropism Nonspeaking Pathological demand avoidance Pronoun reversal Reading differences Savant syndrome Special interests Stimming Sensory overload Suicide among people with autism
Comorbid conditions	Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder Avoidant personality disorder Anxiety disorder obsessive–compulsive disorder Bipolar disorder Developmental coordination disorder Developmental verbal dyspraxia Epilepsy Gender dysphoria Global developmental delay Intellectual disability Major depressive disorder Schizoid personality disorder Sensory processing disorder Sleep disorder Suicide Tinnitus
Associated syndromes	16p11.2 deletion syndrome 16p11.2 duplication syndrome 17q12 microdeletion syndrome 22q13 deletion syndrome Angelman syndrome Beck–Fahrner syndrome CACNA1C-related disorders CHARGE syndrome Cohen syndrome Cornelia de Lange syndrome DiGeorge syndrome Down syndrome Dup15q Goldenhar syndrome Fetal valproate spectrum disorder Fragile X syndrome Jacobsen syndrome Malan syndrome MECP2 duplication syndrome Neurofibromatosis type I Noonan syndrome Multiple hamartoma syndrome O'Donnell-Luria–Rodan syndrome Pitt–Hopkins syndrome Rett syndrome Skraban–Deardorff syndrome Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome Sotos syndrome SYNGAP1-related intellectual disability Tatton-Brown–Rahman syndrome Timothy syndrome TRPM3-related neurodevelopmental disorder Tuberous sclerosis Williams syndrome
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Controversies	Facilitated communication Lancet MMR autism fraud MMR vaccine Rapid prompting method Thiomersal Chelation Combating Autism Act Autistic supremacism
Diagnostic scales	Autism Diagnostic Interview Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule Childhood Autism Rating Scale Gilliam Asperger's disorder scale
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