Sensory Integration Theory

Sensory Integration
Theory
By Lauren Hoppe, OTS
Touro University Nevada
What is Sensory Integration Theory (SIT)?

Based
on a theory created by Jean Ayres
She described sensory integration as a persons

ability to organize sensory information for use and
sensations from ones body and from the
environment that make it possible to use the body
effectively in the environment (Ayeres, 1972)
Individually
designed interventions
Desired outcome:
Use sensory stimulation to affect the nervous system
in order to improve; attention, behavior, and learning
(Ayeres, 1972)
Support meaningful and functional activities in the
natural environment (Preis & McKenna, 2014)
Sensory Integration Theory

SIT
Interventions Include:
Sensory Diet
Individualized sensory experiences to provide
sensory based activities appropriate for the
child
Examples:
Deep pressure, joint compressions,
swinging, jumping on trampoline, riding on

scooters, body brushing, body massage,
weighted vests or oral motor exercises
(Preis & McKenna, 2014)
SIT & Children With Autism

Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Sensory
functioning is an area of concern

for children with ASD
Impacts a childs ability to communicate,
attend to social cues, and regulate
emotions/behaviors
Sensory-based Occupational Therapy (OT) is
one of the most frequently recommended
interventions for children with ASD
Ranging from 38% for age ranges 0-14 years old
21% are 8 years and younger
(Devlin, Healy, Leader, & Hughes, 2011)
SIT & Language In Children With

ASD
A
study by Preis & McKenna (2014) researched

the effectiveness of SIT in improving
communication skills in children with ASD
Specifically looked at spontaneity, complexity of
utterance and engagement
The
study included 4 participants between the

ages of 3-6 years with a diagnosis of ASD
Each received 1-3.5 hours of SIT in OT each week
Each area of language was recorded
Pre, during, post OT services
Results
showed that all participants performed

best in OT or post OT sessions
(Preis & McKenna, 2014)
SIT & Challenging Behavior In

Children With ASD
An
article by Deavlin, Healy, Leader & Huges (2010)

compared the effectiveness of SIT and behavioral
interventions when working with children with ASD
who also exhibited challenging behavior
Participants
4 (male) children ages 6-11
Diagnosed with ASD
1 mild, 1 mild-moderate, 2 moderate-severe
Had a history of challenging behavior

Kicking, hitting, crying, stomping feet, body-tensing, hand
mouthing and hand biting
All had language and speech difficulties

(Deavlin, Healy, Leader & Huges, 2010)
SIT & Challenging Behavior In

Children With ASD cont.
Interventions
SIT and Behavioral Interventions were alternated daily

SIT interventions were designed by an OT who was trained in the use of SIT and
its techniques
Behavioral Interventions were individually created based on Behavioral Function
Measures
Measures
The daily frequency of challenging behaviors was tracked

Behavioral Function Measures
Stress Levels
Results
All 4 participants demonstrated less occurrences of challenging behavior with the

use of behavioral interventions as compared to SIT interventions. In some
instances SIT interventions actually increased the occurrence of challenging
behaviors
An increase in challenging behavior could have been due to an increase in
cortisol levels exhibited during SIT interventions (which is indicative of increase
in stress)
(Deavlin, Healy, Leader & Huges, 2010)
SIT and Infants

A
study by Jorge, Witt, & Franzsen (2013) explored the

effectiveness of a two-week sensory program for infants
with Regulatory Sensory Processing Disorder (RSPD)
12 infants ages 7-24 months
Split into two groups
7-12mo & 13-24 mo
Interventions
Parent education
Individualized sensory diet (2 week)
Calming vestibular Input
Feeding difficulties
Sleep difficulties
(Jorge, de Witt & Franzsen, 2013)
SIT and Infants cont.

Results
A significant reduction in signs of fussiness was seen after

intervention
However there were continued difficulties with tactile,
vestibular and auditory sensitivities associated with
sensory processing
Authors suggest that this may decrease with further SIT
Improvements in sleep were also reported however, they

were not statistically significant
Parents reported prior to engagement in this study, they
felt they had poor resources and a lack of education about
RSPD. They reported that this process allowed them to
understand their babies needs and ways to address them.
(Jorge, de Witt & Franzsen, 2013)
Ayres
A.J. (1972), Sensory Integration and Learning Disorders. Western

Psychological Services.
Preis, J., & McKenna, M. (2014). The effects of sensory integration therapy on
verbal expression and engagement in children with autism. International
Journal of Therapy & Rehabilitation, 21(10), 476-486.
http://http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?
sid=75557462-ba39-41ae-83e28b20ba4aeef9%40sessionmgr198&vid=4&hid=110
Devlin, S., Healy, O., Leader, G., & Hughes, B. (2011). Comparison of
behavioral intervention and sensory-integration therapy in the treatment of
challenging behavior. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 41(10),
1303-1320. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1149-x
Jorge, J., de Witt, P. A., & Franzsen, D. (2013). The effect of a two-week
sensory diet on fussy infants with regulatory sensory processing
disorder. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 43(3), 28-34. doi:
10.1018/j.idairyj.2011.04.006
References

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Sensory Integration

What is Sensory Integration Theory (SIT)?

on a theory created by Jean Ayres

She described sensory integration as a persons

Deep pressure, joint compressions,

swinging, jumping on trampoline, riding on

(Preis & McKenna, 2014)

SIT & Children With Autism

functioning is an area of concern

SIT & Language In Children With

study by Preis & McKenna (2014) researched

study included 4 participants between the

showed that all participants performed

SIT & Challenging Behavior In

article by Deavlin, Healy, Leader & Huges (2010)

Had a history of challenging behavior

All had language and speech difficulties

SIT & Challenging Behavior In

SIT and Behavioral Interventions were alternated daily

The daily frequency of challenging behaviors was tracked

All 4 participants demonstrated less occurrences of challenging behavior with the

(Deavlin, Healy, Leader & Huges, 2010)

SIT and Infants

study by Jorge, Witt, & Franzsen (2013) explored the

(Jorge, de Witt & Franzsen, 2013)

SIT and Infants cont.

A significant reduction in signs of fussiness was seen after

Improvements in sleep were also reported however, they

A.J. (1972), Sensory Integration and Learning Disorders. Western

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