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Sensory Integration Research

Effectiveness of Sensory Integration Theory

There is effectiveness research on the efficacy of sensory integration.(1) Studies suggest that children benefit from sensory integration as a treatment, compared to no-treatment control groups.

American Occupational Therapy Association (2009). Providing occupational therapy using sensory integration theory and methods in school-based practice. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 63(6):437-456.

Ayres AJ, Tickle LS (1980). Hyper-responsivity to touch and vestibular stimuli as a predictor of positive response to sensory integration procedures by autistic children. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 34(6):375–381.

Ayres AJ (1977). Effect of sensory integrative therapy on the coordination of children with choreoathetoid movements. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 31(5):291–293.

Horowitz LJ, Oosterveld WJ, Adrichem R (1993). Effectiveness of sensory integration therapy on smooth pursuits and organization time in children. Pediatrie und Grenzgebiet 31(5):331–344.

Kimball JG (1990). Using the sensory integration and praxis tests to measure change: A pilot study. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 44(7):603–608.

Linderman TM, Stewart KB (1999). Sensory integrative-based occupational therapy and functional outcomes in young children with pervasive developmental disorders: A single-subject study. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 53(2):207–213.

May-Benson TA, Koomar JA. (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(3):403-414.

Miller LJ, Coll J, Schoen S (2007). A randomized controlled pilot study of the effectiveness of occupational therapy for children with sensory modulation disorder. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 61(2):228-38.

Miller LJ, Kinnealey M. (1993). Researching the effectiveness of sensory integration. Sensory Integration Quarterly 21: 2.

Miller LJ, Schoen SA, James K, Schaaf RC (2007). Lessons learned: A pilot study on occupational therapy effectiveness for children with sensory modulation disorder. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 61(2):161–169.

Schaaf R, Lane S (2010). Examining the neuroscience evidence for sensory-driven neuroplasticity: Implications for sensory-based occupational therapy for children and adolescents. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 64(3):375-390.

Schaaf RC, Nightlinger KM (2007). Occupational therapy using a sensory integrative approach: a case study of effectiveness. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 61(2): 239-46.

Smith SA, Press B, Koenig KP, Kinnealey M (2005). 59(4):418-425. Effects of sensory integration intervention on self-stimulating and self-injurious behaviors. American Journal of Occupational Therapy.

Watling RL, Dietz J (2007). Immediate effect of Ayres's sensory integration-based occupational therapy intervention on children with autism spectrum disorders. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 61(5):574-83.

Wuang YP, Wang CC, Huang MH, & Su CY (2009). Prospective study of the effect of sensory integration, neurodevelopmental treatment, and perceptual-motor therapy on the sensorimotor performance in children with mild mental retardation. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 63(4): 441-52.

Sensory Integration Issues Effect on Learning

Sensory deficits can translate into delays with coordination, balance, focus, organization, and fine motor skills, which impact performance in home, school and social settings. The articles below provide insight into why challenges in sensory integration affect a child’s learning and how sensory integration therapy can improve their academic success.

Ayres AJ (1972). Improving academic scores through sensory integration. Journal of Learning Disabilities 5(6):338–343.

Hoehn TP, Baumeister AA (1994). A critique of the application of sensory integration therapy to children with learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities 27(6):338–350.

Humphries T, Wright M, McDougall B, Vertes J (1990). The efficacy of sensory integration therapy for children with learning disability. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics 10(3):1–17.

Humphries T, Wright M, Snider L, McDougall B (1992). A comparison of the effectiveness of sensory integrative therapy and perceptual–motor training in treating children with learning disabilities. Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics 1: 31–40.

Humphries TW, Snider L, McDougall B. (1993). Clinical evaluation of the effectiveness of sensory integrative and perceptual motor therapy in improving sensory integrative function in children with learning disabilities.. Occupational Therapy Journal of Research 13(1):163–183.

Koenig KP, Rudney SG (2010). Performance challenges for children and adolescents with difficulty processing and integrating sensory information: A systematic review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 64(3):430-442.

Mangeot SD, Miller LJ, McIntosh DN, Mc-Grath-Clarke J, Simon J, Hagerman RJ, Goldson E (2001). Sensory modulation dysfunction in children with attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 43:399-406.

Polatajko HJ, Law M, Miller J, Schaffer R, Macnab J (1991). The effect of a sensory integration program on academic achievement, motor performance, and self-esteem in children identified as learning disabled: Results of a clinical trial. Occupational Therapy Journal of Research 11(3):155–176.

Stonefelt LL, Stein F (1998). Sensory integration techniques applied to children with learning disabilities: An outcome study. Occupational Therapy International 5(4):252–272.

Wilson B, Kaplan K, Fellowes S, Gruchy C, Faris P (1992). The efficacy of sensory integration treatment compared to tutoring. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics 12(1):1-36.

Sensory Processing and Cerebral Palsy

There is a co-morbidity of sensory processing deficits in a myriad of neurological and neurobehavioral diagnoses, such as cerebral palsy. The articles below present cases in which children with cerebral palsy display sensory processing deficits.

Bumin G, Kayihan H. (2001). Effectiveness of two different sensory integration programs for children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. Disability and Rehabilitation 23(9):394-399.

Cooper J, Majnemer A, Rosenblatt B, Birnbaum R (1995). The determination of sensory deficits in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Journal of Child Neurology 10(4):300-309.

Hoon AH, Stashinko EE, Nagaw LM, et al (2009). Sensory and motor deficits in children with cerebral palsy born preterm correlate with diffusion tensor imaging abnormalities in thalamocortical pathways. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 51(9):697-704.

Lesny I, Stehlik A, Tomasek J, Tomankova A, Havlicek I (1993). Sensory disorders in cerebral palsy: Two-point discrimination. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 35(5):402-405.

Nashner LM, Shumway-Cook A, Matin O (1983). Stance posture control in select groups of children with cerebral palsy: Deficits in sensory organization and muscular coordination. Experimental Brain Research 49(3):393-409.

Sanger TD, Kukke SN (2007). Abnormalities of tactile sensory function in children with dystonic and diplegic cerebral palsy. Journal of Child Neurology 22(3):289-293.

Wingert JR, Burton H, Sinclair RJ, Brunstrom JE, Damiano DL (2008). Tactile sensory abilities in cerebral palsy: Deficits in roughness and object discrimination. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 50(11):832-838.