Sensory modulation is one of our brain’s functions that involves organising sensory information from different environmental input. It is a part of one’s capability to establish awareness of his body and understand his presence in the physical surroundings. The brain helps the individual focus once a specific stimulus is applied while filtering out and modulating the rest. For some people who have behavioural and developmental problems, processing sensory input can be extremely tough. Because of this, they undergo bean bag therapies that help them regain self awareness and control.

Children with autism, adults with borderline personality disorders, and victims of trauma and abuse are the ones who are in need of therapies. They can be over or under-responsive to stimuli such as touch, pain, sound, odour, motion, sight, and taste. It is challenging for them to attain an optimal performance and adaptation in their daily lives given that their nervous system has problems in judging the amount, nature, or intensity of a stimulus. Their learning, social skills, and self-worth are all affected. Bean bags are safe and versatile tools that are helpful in making people organise their senses and gain awareness of their bodies in their physical environment. They are stuffed with beans or similar materials like such as shredded foam, and are available in various sizes and shapes.

The even pressure and hugging effect they have on the body makes them much-loved products for deep pressure therapy in autistic children. As chairs, they supply immediate sensory responses to the child with every subtle change in his actions. The foam in the bags adjusts to the child’s figure and makes him conscious of every move. When he shifts around the chair, the process of discovering what is a comfortable position and what is not helps him focus on all sensory cues.

Therapeutic tapping is one other technique that uses smaller bean bags. Strong and deep pressure input is given to various body parts. The person is tapped all over from the arms and hands, down to the legs and feet. This is conducted regularly at certain times during the day, and each area is tapped for a minute prior to shifting to the next. The tapping motions build awareness and focus on the different body parts. This is helpful for trauma and abuse victims who have grown fearful of touch because gentle tapping makes them realise that touch can also be good and less threatening. With this, they can exercise power over their sensational responses.