Occupational Therapy and Sensory Integration
Occupational therapists using a sensory integration frame of reference (OT-SI) provide evaluation and interventions designed to identify, prevent, and remediate deficits related to a child’s sensory/perceptual skills, motor and praxis skills, sensory sensitivities, and related patterns of functional performance.1, 2, 3, 4 The American Occupational Therapy Association recognizes sensory integration as one of several theories and methods used by occupational therapists. These methods are used to achieve the overarching goal of occupational therapy to improve the client’s health and participation through engagement in everyday activities or “occupations.”5
An occupational therapist may use a sensory integration frame of reference when he or she suspects sensory related issues are affecting a child’s ability to behave adaptively, participate in daily life activities, or engage in meaningful and developmentally appropriate activities. A sensory integration deficit can include problems with sensory modulation, discrimination of sensations, praxis, and postural-ocular skills.6 Deficits in these areas of sensory integration functioning have been related to difficulties in functional performance in a variety of areas.
Occupational therapists routinely utilize numerous frames of reference to meet the unique and varied needs of each individual client.7 Frames of references may include neuro-developmental treatment (NDT), biomechanical, social-emotional, or consultative. The American Occupational Therapy Association has developed specific practice guidelines for the provision of occupational therapy services using a sensory integration approach.8 Specifically, sensory integration methods are designed to improve a person’s ability to interact adaptively in the environment, learn, behave, and to prevent future adaptive difficulties and thus improve quality of life.
To read the AOTA’s article, “Frequently Asked Questions About Ayres Sensory Integration®,” that includes information on sensory integration assessment, therapy training, when to use the ASI® approach, and additional sensory integration resources, click on the following link: Frequently Asked Questions About Ayres Sensory Integration
To learn more about what occupational therapists do and how they help patients with sensory integration, read the AOTA’s article, “Addressing Sensory Integration Across the Lifespan Through Occupational Therapy,” by clicking on the following link: Addressing Sensory Integration Across the Lifespan Through Occupational Therapy
For more information about the American Occupational Therapy Association, visit: http://www.aota.org/
References
1 Ayres AJ. (1979) Sensory integration and the child. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Association.
2 Bundy AC, Lane SJ, Murray EA. (2002) Sensory integration: Theory and practice (2nd ed). Philadephia: F.A. Davis.
3 Dunn W. (2001) The sensations of everyday life: Empirical, theoretical, and pragmatic considerations. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 55:608–620.
4 Parham D, Mailloux Z. (2005) Sensory integration. In J. Case-Smith (Ed.), Occupational therapy for children (5th ed, pp 356–409). St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby.
5 American Occupational Therapy Association. (2009) Providing occupational therapy using sensory integration theory and methods in school-based practice. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 63:437-456.
6 Miller LJ, Anzalone ME, Lane SL, Cermak SA, Osten ET. (2007) Concept evolution in sensory integration: A proposed nosology for diagnosis. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 61:135-140.
7 May-Benson T, Barraza MA, Flanagan J. (2011) Review of medical policy of UnitedHealthcare: Sensory integration therapy. Unpublished document submitted to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
8 Watling R, Koenig K, Schaaf R, Davies P. (in preparation) Occupational therapy practice guidelines for children and adolescents with challenges processing and integrating sensory information. Bethesda: American Occupational Therapy Association.
