Weighted Blankets: Need for more evidence but definitely not no evidence

Weighted blankets are a popular Christmas present this year and have also been described by Time Magazine as one of the best inventions of 2018 (Source: Choice Magazine.) Gravity weighted blankets have sold over $18 US million dollars worth of weighted blankets yet many experts say that there is no evidence that they work. .

I must admit I am getting a little tired of ‘experts’ being interviewed who state that there is no evidence for weighed blankets. I wonder if they do a recent google search or if they are going on something that they read years ago when the research trials were just beginning.

It would be more accurate to describe that there is strong evidence in some areas and limited evidence in other areas. In research groups, strong and limited evidence is described according to levels of evidence. This table describes the categories of level of evidence.

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Sensory Triggers Screen- Acute Medical Environment

Sensory Modulation and the Hospital Environment

Hospital admissions can be an extremely overwhelming experience, no matter the reason or duration of the stay. A significant contributing factor to this is the experience of sensory triggers, often at heightened levels and unique to the hospital setting. This overstimulation of the senses is further compounded by the person’s difficulty in modulating the environmental input to suit their individual sensory needs due to illness or injuring, having cognitive or mental health issues, and simply not having the ability to control the environment they are inhabiting.

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