Has an Ot suggested the brush protocol? May be something worth asking about?

The hitting may not be related to starting OT. Have there been other changes or stresses that are new? Or, may the OT is asking more from your child than she is used to.

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OP again. I have been allowing her to hit herself because I don't want her to feel self-conscious, but should I be attempting to decrease the behavior? How can I do this without making her feel badly? She'll be in mainstream K
next year and I worry she will be teased or ostracized and all she wants these days is to be part of the group and have lots of
friends.

DD receives weekly OT for sensory issues. Suddenly she's hitting herself on her chest with both hands when excited (though fortunately not hurting herself), sometimes while vocalizing. She is also bouncing around more and less centered physically. Isn't OT supposed to do the opposite and help her regulate her body? Have your kids gone through cycles when their sensory issues are through the roof after a period of relative calm?