Frequently Asked Questions

If your question is not answered below, please contact us at info@squeasewear.com

• 1. What is Squease

  • What is Squease?

    Please watch our animation here to understand what Squease is.

    Squease is an inflatable pressure vest that is hidden away insidea hooded top. No weights are used; hug-like pressure is applied to to the upper body simply by inflating the vest with air. The vest is lightweight and may be worn by itself or zipped inside a Squease hooded top, making it discreet and mobile. The vest is inflated by squeezing a hand pump, allowing the wearer to regulate and apply soothing pressure in everyday situations that may lead to anxiety, stress or sensory overload - whether that is at home, at school, or on-the-move. For people with sensory processing difficulties such as many people with autism, who find dealing with change, busy environments or contact with other people to be highly stressful, applying pressure to the upper body may be calming, increase body awareness or improve attention and focus.

     

     

  • Does this have anything to do with Temple Grandin's hug machine?

    Temple Grandin's hug machine was part of the inspiration when Squease was first designed. We are not affiliated with Temple Grandin's machine in anyway but she tried try on a Squease and gave us her feedback which is detailed in our testimonials here. 

     

    More information on Temple's machine can be found here. 

• 2. Who may benefit from wearing Squease?

  • I am not sure if a Squease would be effective for my user shall I still try?

    Have a read of our Who May Benefit section . If you are still not sure if the user will benefit from the vest you might want to try our  our Try before you Buy scheme detailed here. 

  • Who may benefit from wearing Squease?

    People who like being held firmly, wearing tight clothes, lying underneath heavy blankets and those who currently use deep pressure products such as weighted clothing may like wearing a Squease garment.

    Deep pressure has been successfully used with people with Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Asperger’s Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD-NOS), Sensory Integration Disorder (SID), and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).

    If you are in doubt, we recommend that you consult an Occupational Therapist.

• 3. How does Squease work?

  • How does Squease work?

    The Squease vest provides firm, evenly distributed pressure over the upper body (this type of sensory input may be referred to as Deep Pressure). No weights are used - pressure is applied simply by squeezing a hand pump, which inflates the vest with air. As the vest inflates, it contracts around the wearer's upper body. A button on the hand pump allows the wearer to deflate the vest easily and quickly.

    The Squease vest is different to other products that provide pressure, such as weighted vests, weighted blankets, weighted jackets and tight fitting clothing, in that pressure is applied only when it is inflated.  When deflated, the vest sits loosely around the wearer's body making it comfortable to wear all day long.

  • What is Deep Pressure?

    Deep Pressure is the kind of surface pressure that is exerted in firm touching, holding, stroking, or swaddling. Occupational Therapists have observed that people with sensory processing difficulties, such as many people with autism, can improve their body awareness and focus, be calmed and decrease sensory seeking behaviours by applying pressure to their muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments.

    Dr Temple Grandin, a professor at Colorado State University with autism, has written about 'Deep Pressure Touch Stimulation' and how this type of sensory input might help people with autism; “Deep Pressure touch has been found to have beneficial effects in a variety of clinical settings. In anecdotal reports, deep pressure touch has been described to produce a calming effect in children with psychiatric disorders. It also has been used to reduce tactile defensiveness in children who cannot tolerate being touched.” (Grandin, 1992)

    In explaining this phenomenon Grandin and professionals from the field of Occupational Therapy (Fertel-Daly et al, 2001; Blairs et al, 2007) have noted that some people may actively seek Deep Pressure to modulate their sensory input, which enables them to regulate their sensory system and change their responses to the environment. People with autism have expressed to us that the sensation of pressure allows them to reset and refocus in the midst of a stressful situation.

    • Fertel-Daly, D., Bedell, G., Hinojos, J. (2001). Effects of a Weighted Vest on Attention to Task and Self-Stimulatory Behaviors in Preschoolers With Pervasive Developmental Disorders. American Journal of Occupational Therapists, Vol 55, No 6, pp 639-640
    • Grandin, T. (1992). Calming effects of deep pressure in patients with autistic spectrum disorder, college students and animals. Journal of Child and Adolescent Pharmacology, 2, pp 63–72
    • Blairs, S., Slater, S., Hare, D.J. (2007) The clinical application of deep touch pressure with a man with autism presenting with severe anxiety and challenging behaviour. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 35, pp 214–220

  • Is there scientific proof of Squease's effectiveness?

    Not yet, but we're working on it. In collaboration with research organisations in the UK and The Netherlands that specialise in scientific evaluation of interventions for people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders, we are designing a rigorous research programme. Of course, people with autism have been involved in all stages of the Squease development. Their feedback informed the final design and all the small details that make Squease such a great product. Visit our Testimonials page to read stories about people who use Squease. Also, take a look at the Deep Pressure section below.

• 4. My country is not listed in the delivery menu?

  • Do you deliver to Australia and New Zealand?

     

    The short answer is yes we do. You can purchase directly from our online shop here

     

    All duties and taxes are the responsibility of the purchaser. 

     

    Just for absolute clarity we can supply Squease products direct to individual consumers. This includes professionals and family members, who are purchasing for an individual. 

  • Do you deliver to Canada?

    The short answer is yes we do. You can purchase directly from our online shop here 

    All duties and taxes are the responsibility of the purchaser. However the Squease products are classified as medical devices and if ordered on the advice of an Occupational Therapist or other medical practitioner, will be zero rated for tax in Canada.

  • Do you deliver to the US?

    The short answer is yes we do. You can purchase directly from our online shop here

     

    All duties and taxes are the responsibility of the purchaser. 

  • How much do you charge for delivery?

    Currently Squease offers free delivery to the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand. There is a £25 delivery charge for our customers in the US. 

  • My country is not listed in the delivery pull down menu?

    Squease is currently available to customers in the EU, EFTA, Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand. (a complete list of countries is shown below). Customers from other countries will be able to purchase Squease garments soon. If you live outside the EU, EFTA, Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand and would like to be notified of when you may purchase Squease products join our mailing list or follow us on Twitter and Facebook .

     

    For absoloute clarity all overseas  import/export duties and taxes are the responsibility of the customer.

     

    Squease is currently available to customers in Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and the USA. 

• 5. Will people notice when I inflate Squease?

  • Will people notice when I inflate or deflate Squease?

    The Squease vest has been designed to sit discreetly either under our hooded top or under your own clothing. Even when inflated, the vest moves very little and so it will not be seen by other people.

    Pressing a button on the hand pump releases air and deflates the vest. As air escapes, a little hissing noise may be heard. This sound is unlikely to be noticed in anything but a completely silent environment.

    As the product is not as bulky or as hard to put on as weighted vests, weighted blankets, weighted jackets or tight fitting clothing it is less noticeable as you activate it or when its in use.

• 6. Why is the product called Squease?

  • Why is the product called Squease?

    Squease is a combination of the word Squeeze and Ease. The idea being that sensation of a squeeze or hug like pressure would calm the individual down in a state of anxiety. Effectively putting them at "Ease"

• 7. Tell me more about Try before you buy Scheme?

  • What happens at the end of the rental period?

     

    At the end of the rental period we would love to get your feedback on the trial. Either on email rental@squeasewear.com or on the phone 0208 596 5461.

     

    You have three options at the end of the rental period

     

    1) If the vest isnt for  the user put the Vest into the box and post it back to us via the post office at the following address: If sending from the UK the cost for sending back from the post office should be between £3- £5. 

     

    Squease Ltd

    Innovation Centre

    Marsh Way

    Rainham

    Essex

    RM13 8EU

     

    2) If you would like to try the Squease vest for a longer period, you can opt to extend the rental period. Email at us rental@squeasewear.com and we will organise this for you 

     

    3)  if you feel the vest has been beneficial and wish to purchase then let us know and we will organise the balance to be paid. You can also at this point choose to buy a set or any of the accessories.  The money that has been paid for the rental will be taken off the purchase price of the vest or set. So for example if you have opted for a two week rental and have paid £72 (£36 for the rental £36 for the deposit) and decide to purchase the vest you only have to pay a further £173.  

  • What if the goods come back damaged?

    We appreciate the some of the users who try Squease have extreme behaviours and have experience of users chewing the handpump and being quite physical with the product. Squease is robust and was designed with these types of users in mind. 

    As part of the scheme we take a deposit which is returned on receipt of the vest after the trial and a quality check. In the history of the scheme we have had very few occasions when the deposit has not been returned. So long as its still in working condition and at worst can be used as a demonstration piece we are happy to refund.  

    If you have a user who has a particular set of behaviours that you would like to discuss with us pre a trial, then please give us email us at rental@squeasewear.com or call us on 0208 596 5461. 

  • When does the rental period start?

    The rental period starts from the date you receive Squease. So if you have signed up for a 2 week rental the 2 weeks start when you get delivery. We track all deliverys sent to customers so we keep the delivery dates in our record system , there is no need for you to let us know when the vest was received.  

  • Which countries do you run the rental scheme in?

    We currently rent to anyone in Europe. At present we do not run the rental scheme in the US, Canada and Australia.  Join our mailing list or follow us on Twitter and Facebook to be the first to know if we run the rental scheme outside of Europe. 

     

• 8. How do I buy Squease?

  • Can I get an invoice?

    We are happy to organise an invoice if required. You can either request one pre purchase or post purchase online by emailing us at orders@squeasewear.com .

     

  • Tell me more about VAT?

    For the UK

     

    If Squease garments are purchased for personal or domestic use by a chronically ill or disabled individual or are made available to a disabled person or persons for domestic or personal use, then we may supply the products at zero-rated Value Added Tax (VAT). When you purchase an item online questions are asked through the checkout process assessing whether VAT is required. If you wish to pay by cheque or bank transfer then please fill out the form on this page and email it to us.

     

    info@squeasewear.com

     

    Squease Ltd.
    CEME Innovation Centre
    Marsh Way
    Rainham
    Essex
    RM13 8EU
    United Kingdom

     

    If you are in any doubt as to whether you are eligible to receive goods zero-rated for VAT, you should consult Notice 701/7 VAT reliefs for disabled people or contact the National Advice Service on 0845 010 9000. 

  • What payment methods do you accept?

    Via our online shop we can accept all major credit card and debit card payments. 

    We are also able to accomodate paypal payments, bank transfers and payment by cheque, details are below. 

     

    Paypal Account 

     

    paypal@squeasewear.com

     

    Cheque

     

    Made out to Squease Ltd 

     

    Post to 

    Squease Ltd

    Innovation Centre

    Marsh Way

    Rainham

    Essex

    RM13 8EU

     

    Bank Account details

     

    Squease Ltd

     

    Bank Account Alliance and Leicester 

    Account Number 74562989

    Sort Code 720003