Sensory processing problems and related dysfunctions are among the most common conditions in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study examined the effect of sensory integration therapy (SIT) on different aspects of occupational performance in children with ASD. The study was conducted on an intervention group (n = 16) receiving SIT and a control group (n = 15) with 3- to 8-year-old children with ASD. The Short Child Occupational Profile (SCOPE) was used to compare the two groups in terms of the changes in their occupational performance and the Sensory Profile (SP) was used to assess sensory problems. The intervention group showed significantly greater improvement in all the SCOPE domains, as well as in all the SP domains, except for the “emotional reactions” and “emotional/social responses” domains, (p < .05). The effectiveness of SIT in improving occupational performance in children with ASD as a health-related factor is supported by our findings.
AmelE. A. K.AmiraH. M. (2015). Effectiveness of sensory integration program in motor skills in children with autism. Egyptian Journal of Medical Human Genetics, 16, 375-380.
2.
American Psychiatric Association. (2013a). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
AminiA. D.KannenbergK.BodisonS.ChangP. F.ColaianniD.GoodrichB.. . . LiebermanD. (2014). Occupational therapy practice—Framework: Domain & process (3rd edition). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68, S1-S48.
5.
AyresA. J. (1972). Sensory integration and learning disorders. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.
6.
BaioJ. (2014). Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years-autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, 11 Sites, United States, 2010.Surveillance Summaries, 63, 1-21.
7.
Ben-SassonA.HenL.FlussR.CermakS. A.Engel-YegerB.GalE. (2009). A meta-analysis of sensory modulation symptoms in individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39, 1-11.
8.
BowyerP. L.KramerJ.PloszajA.RossM.SchwartzO.KielhofnerG.. . . KramerK. (2008). The Short Chıld Occupatıonal Profıle (SCOPE) (Version 2.2). Chicago: The University of Illinois at Chicago.
9.
BowyerP. L.LeeJ.KramerJ.TaylorR. R.KielhofnerG. (2012). Determining the clinical utility of the Short Child Occupational Profile (SCOPE). British Journal of Occupational, 75, 19-28.
10.
BundyA. C.LaneS. H. J.MurrayE. A. (2002). Sensory integration: Theory and practice (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis.
11.
Case-SmithJ.ArbesmanM. (2008). Evidence-based review of interventions for autism used in or of relevance to occupational therapy. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62, 416-429.
12.
Case-SmithJ.WeaverL. L.FristadM. A. (2015). A systematic review of sensory processing interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders. Autism, 19, 133-148.
13.
CorselloC. H. M. (2005). Early intervention in autism. Infants & Young Children, 18, 74-85.
14.
DimitrovD. M.RumrillP. D. (2003). Pretest-posttest designs and measurement of change. Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation, 20, 159-165.
15.
DuncanE. A. S. (2011). Foundations for practice in occupational therapy. London, England: Elsevier.
DunnW. (2001). The sensations of everyday life: Empirical, theoretical, and pragmatic considerations. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 55, 608-620.
18.
DunnW. (2007). Supporting children to participate successfully in everyday life by using sensory processing knowledge. Infants & Young Children, 20, 84-101.
19.
FrenchG. (2005). Using environments to enable occupational performance. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 52, 267-268.
20.
GayleR.Magill-EvansJ. (1994). Play and preschool children with autism. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 48, 113-120.
21.
GeurtsH. M.VertéS.OosterlaanJ.RoeyersH.SergeantJ. A. (2004). How specific are executive functioning deficits in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism?Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 45, 836-854.
22.
GrieveJ.MaskillL. (2013). Neuropsychology for occupational therapists: Cognition in occupational performance. New Jersey, NJ: 07030-5774, John Wiley & Sons.
23.
HuriM.Kashefi MehrB.KayihanH.AkelS.ÖksüzC.BuminG.. . . GöksülükD. (2016, June1-4). Adaptation, Reliability and the validity testing of a Turkish version of the short child occupational profile (SCOPE). In International Conference on Cerebral Palsy and other Childhood-onset Disabilities, Stockholm, Sweden.
24.
IngersollB. (2008). The social role of imitation in autism: Implications for the treatment of imitation deficits. Infants & Young Children, 21, 107-119.
25.
JohnsonC. R.HandenB. L.Mayer-CostaM.SaccoK. (2008). Eating habits and dietary status in young children with autism. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 20, 437-448.
26.
KayihanH.Semin AkelB.SalarS.HuriM.KarahanS.TurkerD.KorkemD. (2015). Development of a Turkish version of the sensory profile: Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and psychometric validation. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 120, 971-986.
27.
KielhofnerG. (2002). A model of human occupation: Theory and application. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
28.
KuhaneckH. M.BritnerP. A. (2013). A preliminary investigation of the relationship between sensory processing and social play in autism spectrum disorder. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, 33, 159-167.
29.
MalowB. A.CroweC.HendersonL.McGrewS. G.WangL.SongY.StoneW. L. (2009). A sleep habits questionnaire for children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Child Neurology, 24, 19-24.
30.
MatsushimaK.KatoT. (2013). Social interaction and atypical sensory processing in children with autism spectrum disorders. Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy, 23, 89-96.
31.
May-BensonT. A.KoomarJ. A. (2010). Systematic review of the research evidence examining the effectiveness of interventions using a sensory integrative approach for children. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 64, 403-414.
32.
MylesB. S. (2007). Autism spectrum disorders: A handbook for parents and professionals. London, England: Greenwood Publishing Group.
33.
ParhamL. D.RoleyS. S.May-BensonT. A.KoomarJ.Brett-GreenB.BurkeJ. P.. . . SchaafR. C. (2011). Development of a fidelity measure for research on the effectiveness of the Ayres Sensory Integration intervention. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65, 133-142.
34.
PayneS. (2002). Standardised tests: An appropriate way to measure the outcome of paediatric occupational therapy. The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65, 117-122.
35.
PfeifferB. A.KoenigK.KinnealeyM.SheppardM.HendersonL. (2011). Effectiveness of sensory integration interventions in children with autism spectrum disorders: A pilot study. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65, 76-85.
36.
PillerA.PfeifferB. (2016). The sensory environment and participation of preschool children with autism spectrum disorder. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, 36, 103-111.
SchaafR. C.BenevidesT.MaillouxZ.FallerP.HuntJ.Van HooydonkE.. . . KellyD. (2014). An intervention for sensory difficulties in children with autism: A randomized trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44, 1493-1506.
39.
SchaafR. C.HuntJ.BenevidesT. (2012). Occupational therapy using sensory integration to improve participation of a child with autism: A case report. American Occupational Therapy Association, 66, 547-555.
40.
TaylorR. R.KielhofnerG.SmithC.ButlerS. H.CahillS. M.CiukajM. D.GehmanM. (2009). Volitional change in children with autism: A single-case design study of the impact of hippotherapy on motivation. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 25, 192-200.
41.
ThomasA. (2012). Are occupational therapists’ assessments occupation focused?Journal of Health & Social Work, 4, 46-60.
WhiteB. P.MulliganS.MerrillK.WrightJ. (2007). An examination of the relationships between motor and process skills and scores on the sensory profile. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61, 154-160.
Yeargin-AllsoppM.RiceC.KarapurkarT.DoernbergN.BoyleC.MurphyC. (2003). Prevalence of autism in a US metropolitan area. Journal of the American Medical Association, 289, 49-55.
