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