Sensory Integration Therapy in Autism: Mechanisms and Effectiveness
Project Description:
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) affect 1 in 68 children and frequently result in impairments in the functional skills necessary for independent living. It has been shown that 45-90% of persons diagnosed with ASD experience sensory issues (ASD+SI), including difficulty with sensory processing and integration. This can largely impact functional skills, and interventions for sensory issues are the most highly requested by parents. In this randomized controlled study, we will compare Sensory Integration Therapy (SIT) to focused behavioral interventions on the improvement of functional skills for children with ASD+SI between the ages of 6 and 8.5. Participants will be evaluated to determine whether cognitive level, severity of autism and/or sensory issues moderate intervention outcomes. We predict that children who receive SIT will show greater improvement in functional skills and greater decreases in maladaptive behaviors, especially those with higher IQ and more severe autism and sensory symptoms. We will also assess whether the treatments will have differential effects on sensory processing and integration using electrophysiological recordings to monitor brain activity. We hypothesize that children in the SIT treatment group will have increased performance on a multisensory task and greater differences in brain activity pre and post SIT.
Core Function(s):
Performing Direct and/or Demonstration Services, Performing Research or Evaluation
Area of Emphasis
Health-Related Activities
Target Audience:
Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Specific Groups
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
State
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
