Sensory Integration Training

1. Sensory Integration Training Fact v. Fad?

2. Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID) • Children with SID frequently experience problems with their sense of touch, smell, hearing, taste and/or sight. Also often experienced ifficulties in movement, coordination and sensing where one's body is in a given space. • Common disorder for individuals with neurological conditions such as an autism spectrum disorder. • Individuals may be overly sensitive to certain textures, sounds, smells and tastes, while wearing certain fabrics, tasting certain foods, or normal everyday sounds may cause discomfort. • The opposite is also possible - for example a child with an autism spectrum disorder may feel very little pain or actually enjoy sensations that neurotypical children would dislike: strong smells, intense cold or unpleasant tastes.

3. Sensory Integration Therapy w/ Children • Occupational therapy with child placed in a room specifically designed to stimulate and challenge all of the senses. During the session, the therapist works closely with the child to encourage movement within the room. The therapy is driven by four main principles: • the child must be able to meet the challenges through playful activities • the child adapts behavior to meet the challenges presented • the child will want to participate because the activities are fun • the child's preferred activities are used in the session • Careful to not provide children w/ more sensory stimulation than they can cope with. The occupational therapist looks for signs of distress.

4. Examples of Sensory Integration Treatments • Prism lenses • Physical exercise • Auditory integration training • Sensory stimulation or inhibition techniques such as "deep pressure"—firm touch pressure applied either manually or via an apparatus such as a hug machine or a pressure garment. • Weighted vests, a popular deep-pressure therapy, have only a limited amount of scientific research available, which on balance indicates that the therapy is ineffective.

5. Examples: Sensory Integration Therapy • Sense of touch varies widely between children experiencing SID. • When children enjoy the feel of sticky textures, the therapist may use materials such as glue, play dough, stickers, rubber toys and sticky tape. • Other materials that can be useful for tactile sensation include water, rice, beans and sand. • Children on the autism spectrum often enjoy a sense of firm overall pressure. • Interventions =wrapping them up in blankets, being squashed by pillows and firm hugs. • Experiences that may be claustrophobic for neurotypical children may be enjoyed, such as being squashed between mattresses, and making tunnels or tents from blankets over furniture.

6. Common Examples in Schools • Sensory Rooms • Some pictures of sensory rooms • http://teachinglearnerswithmultipleneeds.blogspot.com/2008/02/sensory-rooms-on-cheap-revisited.html • Aka -- Snoezelen Rooms • Occupational Therapists usually suggest practices

7. What does the Research Say?

8. Sensory Integration Training (SIT) • Leong & Carter (2008) • Review of the Research on SIT • Examined past key reviews of SIT intervention studies through 1994 • Then examined SIT intervention studies from 1994-2007 • Findings • Consistent w/ numerous previous reviews, no robust evidence supporting the efficacy of SIT was found • In light of the accumulated lack of evidence for the effectiveness of SIT, continued use of the techniques outside of research contexts does not appear to be justified

9. SIT Research Summary • SIT is used widely across groups including: • Learning disabilities • Intellectual disabilities • Autism Spectrum Disorders • Though research dates back 40 years, SIT has yet to be proven effective for any of these groups