Written by Mike Price, OT
Some individuals with special needs are at great risk for a head injury. Whether you or someone you love is recovering from surgery, healing from a traumatic brain injury, or demonstrating headbanging behavior, special needs helmets can greatly lower the risk for head injuries and protect the part of us that makes us who we are.
Every helmet offers slightly different amounts and types of protection. For instance, some boast full-coverage 360-degree support for the front, back, and sides of the head, while others are lightweight and focus on a greater balance between cushioning and comfort. Helmets come in both hard-shell and soft-shell varieties.
A soft shell helmet is typically made from shock absorbent, foam material. It is meant to lower the force of impact and decrease the risk of concussion. Soft-shell helmets are meant more for lesser force impacts (such as headbanging). A hard shell helmet, the antithesis, offers greater protection from penetration injuries but both types are excellent options to protect you or the heads of your loved ones.
Special needs helmets are safety devices meant to protect and support the head and brain of individuals with medical conditions that put them at a greater-than-average risk of injury. These helmets are different from a typical bicycle, baseball, or football helmet you might typically imagine. Special needs helmets protect individuals facing extraordinary circumstances in their lives and are typically meant for longer use than a ride around the neighborhood or a game in the park.
Special needs helmets can be advantageous for adults as well as kids. Adults with epilepsy or balance issues are just as at risk for falling as children with the same conditions, so protective headgear can be useful to prevent cranial injury for adults as well. Special needs helmets typically come in multiple sizes and are measured by head circumference. You can easily measure your own head and look for a fitting option online.
Autism helmets are meant to absorb the impact of dangerous activities individuals with autism often partake in. For example, children with autism often use repetitive headbanging to express pain, confusion, and overwhelming emotions. This self-destructive behavior gives them a sense of control and often calms them, but can be extremely unsafe. These helmets prevent cranial and hand injuries by padding the head and minimizing impact. Autism helmets are often generalized and can also typically be used as and referred to as universal special needs helmets.
While helmets do greatly reduce the risk of injury, they unfortunately do not make you invincible. It is still possible to experience injuries like a concussion, brain bleed, or fracture while wearing a helmet, so it is still important to take all safety precautions and attentively supervise anyone at risk of injury.
The Single Shell EVA Helmet with Graphic by Opti-Cool placed 7th on our list due to the highly customizable design and lightweight, breathable design ideal for everyday wear. The thick EVA foam covered with Lycra has excellent impact and vibration absorption. The Lycra exterior and interior are easy to wash and keep the head cool and comfortable. The Single Shell EVA Helmet is available in six sizes to cover a variety of ages.
This helmet offers excellent ventilation and full peripheral vision, ensuring proper airflow to keep your loved ones' head cool. The EVA foam material used to construct the helmet has several properties we would be remiss if we didn't mention: like good clarity, gloss, low-temperature toughness, and stress-crack resistance. Moreover, it is waterproof, UV-resistant, and the edging around the helmet provides durability and style. With the plethora of color and style choices to choose from, the Single Shell EVA Helmet with Graphic by Opti-Cool easily made our top seven list.
Danmar's Lightweight Full Coverage Protective Helmet placed 6th on our list due to its additional coverage at the nape of the neck and around the ears. This, combined with the many different functionality and design choices put this firmly on our list for the best special needs helmets on the market.
The Lightweight Full Coverage Protective Helmet is coated in high-quality vinyl, making it easy to clean using just soap and water. There's also no hardware in the foam, alleviating the fear of danger from the face or hands connecting with anything hard or sharp within the helmet itself. This helmet’s variety of patterns and colors helps your loved one feel their best by melding with their own unique style and preferences. This lightweight full-coverage helmet is made from fully ventilated foam keeping them cool while wearing it.
This unique helmet comes with your choice of straps for your loved ones' individual needs. Whether they need easily adjustable snaps or a Velcro closure chinstrap, Danmar has thought of every need. The need for helmets to accommodate glasses, and ponytails, or to have an option for foam visors also makes this helmet a must-have inclusion for our list. No matter what life your loved one leads, this helmet can be adjusted to fit them personally.
The soft yet durable Sammons Preston Protective Special Needs Helmet by Performance Health earns the 5th spot on our list due to its excellent balance between protection and comfort.
The outside of the helmet is a high-quality, brown leather which gives the helmet its strength. The sturdy, pliable material easily forms to you or your loved one’s head and offers protection without sacrificing comfort. Furthermore, the interior felt lining is extremely soft, enabling comfort for use while out and about during the day and while sleeping at night. Fall asleep without the anxieties and stress of head injury with this autism helmet.
The Sammons Preston Protective Special Needs Helmet protects the front, top, and back of the head while simultaneously offering unobstructed vision due to its open-face design. You will have no issues seeing while wearing this protective helmet. Additionally, keep the helmet firmly strapped on using the adjustable chin strap. By offering 22-inch, 23-inch, and 24-inch models, Performance Health ensures a snug and secure fit. If you’re at risk for head injuries and falling, you face enough stress. Let Performance Health remove some of your concerns with their protective and comfortable special needs helmet.
The VTECH Special Needs Helmet Protective Headgear placed 4th on our list due to its advanced full-impact absorption technology and included jaw strap which combats self-injurious behavior.
The VTECH Special Needs Helmets are designed with two layers of specialized foam that help combat both low-impact and high-impact contact. The helmet covers the nape, temples, forehead, parietal zone, and jaw. This helmet is the only helmet of its kind that is ASTM-certified.
The VTECH helmets are available in small, medium, large, or x-large sizes, and come in a variety of color choices like black, blue, white, or red to fit your personal preference. In addition, several openings between common points of impact help patients stay cool when wearing the headgear for longer periods.
Protect your head in style with Ribcap’s fashionable Bump Cap Billie Medical Grade Protective Helmet. Ranking number three on our list, this special needs helmet keeps you safe without sacrificing comfort or good looks.
The Billie hat is perfect for anyone facing an increased risk of falling or exhibiting headbanging behavior. It stands up to repetitive impact with 360-degree protection and a “liquid foam” material that molds to your unique head shape. This bump cap also boasts detachable chin straps and an easy-to-use, side-squeeze buckle clasp. Wear it however feels most comfortable and safe to you!
Not only does the liquid foam material create an individualized fit, but it allows breathability. Say goodbye to head sweat with the breeze created through the Billie hat’s ventilation. It is also moisture-wicking to keep you cool and water repellent for in and outdoor use. Don’t be afraid to adventure outdoors in the safety of this special needs hat! Not only will you impress your neighbors, but keep your head safe and out of harm’s way.
The Hard Shell Helmet with Face Bar by Danmar offers maximum protection for individuals looking for rear, side, and facial coverage, earning the number two spot on our list.
This Hardshell helmet is made of shock-absorbent foam and is coated with vinyl, making it lightweight, strong, and even easy to clean. Facial protection is provided by a clear, strong bar that covers the mouth and decreases the risk of injury due to frontal impact. This feature makes it perfect for individuals demonstrating headbanging behavior, as well as individuals struggling with balance issues. It also features an adjustable chin strap so you can easily snap the helmet in place.
Wearers are offered three free standard color options and custom liner colors at an additional cost. In order for proper fit, choose between seven different sizes and consider adding free Cush-In-Pads if in between sizes. Lastly, feel free to add an eyeglass relief area, a foam visor, ear coverings, rear hard shell extension, reinforced liner or seams, a quick-release chin strap buckle, or a custom strapping system for increased and customized protection. Get exactly the protection you need with the Hard Shell Helmet with Face Bar by Danmar!
The gold medal goes to the Extra Protective Soft Helmet for Kids by Ribcap due to its high level of protection, stylish baseball hat design, and comfortable padding. With this soft helmet, you get it all!
The Extra Protective Soft Helmet is perfect for universal use. It features 360-degree foam protection against high-impact forces, so every part of your head is protected. It also has extra removable padding that supports the back of the wearer’s head and added cushioning in the temporal region. If you’re looking for maximum support, this helmet by Ribcap is perfect for you!
You can stylishly wear this in and out of the house as it’s modeled after a baseball cap and will protect you in any environment. Don't fear, this special needs helmet is lightweight and breathable, so it will still be comfortable to wear in the heat of the summer. In addition, the Y straps avoid irritating the ears and are adjustable, ensuring comfortable all-day use and a perfect fit. Avoid any negative stigma of special needs helmets while still receiving utmost support with Ribcap’s Extra Protective Soft Helmet for Kids.
Special needs helmets are excellent ways to safeguard someone recovering from surgery, with headbanging tendencies, or at a high risk of falling. With a strong yet comfortable helmet, protect the very part of you that makes you, you.
We awarded the Extra Protective Soft Helmet for Kids 1st place on our list because it offers maximum protection and also features a stylish, baseball cap design. Most notably, in terms of safety, we believe this special needs helmet’s 360-degree padding and extra back-of-head padding set it apart. Baseball caps are extremely popular, so you or your loved ones have no reason not to be safe and show off!
View our entire catalog of Protective Helmets to see even more protective headgear options and check out Caregiver University for more product reviews and buying guides!
Co-Founder of Rehabmart and an Occupational Therapist since 1993. Mike has spent his professional career working in multiple areas of Occupational Therapy, including pediatrics, geriatrics, hand therapy, ergonomics and inpatient / outpatient rehabilitation. Mike enjoys writing articles that help people solve complex therapeutic problems and make better product choices.
