Attention Disorders

ADD & ADHD - Our idea of Rocking Chair Therapy was prompted by call from teacher Ken Rubin. He told us that our #7 rocker is helping his ADD & ADHD students better adapt and focus in the learning environment. The motion of the rocking chair accommodates for the need to keep moving while these students are studying, listening, etc. We asked the department of exceptional children in Iredell-Statesville Schools and the Georgetown School District (both in North Carolina) to place the #7 rocker in their classrooms and we are receiving positive feedback from their experiences thus far.

A recent article about calming the ADHD child, ADDITUDE Magazine bluntly stated "Get a rocking chair. The rhythm can be calming. Place it in a quiet spot where your child can sit to read." In another article regarding improving study environments for ADD children, particularly while studying for tests, it was advised again that having that rocking chair for the child to use for reading and even studying would improve the experience and that the "constant motion may help ADD kids concentrate".

Sensory Integration (SI) - SI is the ability to take in information through your physical senses (touch, movement, smell, taste, vision, and hearing) and put it together with prior information (stored) and make a meaningful response.

Sensory Integrative Dysfunction (SID) - SID is a disorder in which sensory input is not integrated or organized appropriately in the brain. Main symptoms of SID look like symptoms of other disabilities that include Fragile X, ADHD, ADD, Autism, Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD), and Tourette Syndrome.

Sensory Integration Therapy (SIT) - SIT is a theory used by occupational therapists. It is one approach used by therapists as part of a comprehensive and individualized intervention program. Its principles have been recommended for and applied to autism learning disabilities, attention problems, and developmental problems like Fragile X. Rocking in a rocking chair is one of the calming activities that are recommended. Sensory integration intervention is based on a neurophysiological view of autism. The late A. Jean Ayres, Ph.D. of the US developed the theory and practice of sensory integration. She believed every autistic child should have a rocker in his room.

In September of 2006, The American Library Association offered a workshop at their annual conference entitled "Welcoming Special Needs Children at Your Library". Lindsey Biel OCR/L, presenter and co-author of Raising a Sensory Smart Child suggests incorporating rocking chairs into the environment for it's soothing and repetitive motion for children with a range of disorders.