Autism Speaks:
Study Finds Sensory Integration Therapy Benefits Children
with Autism
Date:
December 03, 2013
Small but rigorous study backs parent
reports that sensory integration therapy improves daily function in children
with autism
A new study
backs parent reports that sensory integration therapy improves daily function
in children with autism. The research, led by occupational therapists at Philadelphia
Autism’s symptoms often include difficulty processing sensory information
such as textures, sounds, smells, tastes, brightness and movement. These
difficulties can make ordinary situations feel overwhelming. As such, they can
interfere with daily function and even isolate individuals and their families.
“This study is one of the first to show that a therapy is effective in
helping to ease such sensory difficulties in ways that improve daily function,”
comments child psychologist Lauren Elder, Autism Speaks assistant director for
dissemination science.
Sensory integration therapy, as practiced by occupational therapists, uses
play activities in ways designed to change how the brain reacts to touch,
sound, sight and movement. While the therapy is not new, it has remained
somewhat controversial.
“Part of the problem has been the many different techniques that have been
used under the name sensory integration,” Dr. Elder notes.
In their
study, the Farber researchers combined two measures to improve the reliability
of their assessment. They used the recently developed Sensory Integration
Fidelity Measure to ensure that each therapist was delivering the
intervention in a manner faithful to its principles. They also used a proven goal attainment
scale to objectively measure benefits against parent-set goals for each
child.
For example, a parent of a child who wakes during the night due to extreme
sensitivity to sounds might set a goal of improving tolerance of ordinary
noises and sleeping through the night. For a child who hates touching food, the
goal might be to decrease touch sensitivity to the point that the child can
comfortably eat a meal.
Researchers randomly assigned 32 children with autism, ages 4 to 8, to one
of two groups. Over 10 weeks, the control group received “usual care” with
standard speech, behavioral and other therapies for autism spectrum disorder.
The experimental group received the same “usual care” plus three hours per week
of sensory integration therapy.
Assessors who didn’t know who was in which group met with parents before
and after the intervention to set goals and assess progress.
At the end of the study, analysis showed that the children in the sensory
integration group scored significantly higher on attaining their goals. In
addition, standardized tests showed that the children receiving sensory
integration therapy required less assistance from their parents in self-care
and social situations.
"The rationale is that by changing how sensations are processed by the
brain, we help children with autism make better sense of the information they
receive and use it to better participate in everyday tasks," says lead
researcher Roseann Schaaf. Dr. Schaaf's group plans future studies that will
include additional outcome measures and follow children for longer periods to
see if improvements remain over time.
For more perspective, see “Sensory
Integration: Changing the Brain through Play,” by occupational therapist
Alison Wheeland, who is completing a doctoral residency with Autism Speaks.
