Today, approximately 1 in 88 children are diagnosed with ASDs, or autism spectrum disorders, according to the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The gender divide between boys and girls is considerable. Among boys, the number is 1 in 54. For girls, it’s 1 in 252. Even among girls, however, the numbers are growing. Autism is a serious condition that can hinder development if not carefully monitored and treated. However, a new study recently published online in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders has surfaced, indicating that sensory therapy treatment may help children who are affected by ASDs.
What is sensory integration?
Sensory therapy, or sensory integration, is a way to help autistic children become more comfortable and familiar with certain sounds, sights, smells, tastes and textures. Using play, therapists and parents can help introduce children to these sensations that occur in their daily lives, which otherwise may seem threatening or jarring.
Children who are affected by ASDs often find certain types of stimulation to be overwhelming. Even something as simple as the sound of a vacuum cleaner or the feel of a certain type of fabric can cause extreme distress or confusion. These reactions to everyday sensations can limit a person’s capabilities, making even simple tasks like cleaning the house or getting dressed for the day seem complicated or hostile. However, using sensory integration, parents and health care professionals can help affected children lead more normal lives.
“If you ask parents of children with autism what they want for their kids, they’ll say they want them to be happy, to have friends, to be able to participate in everyday activities,” said study author Roseann Schaaf, Ph.D. Schaaf works as an occupational therapist at Thomas Jefferson University’s School of Health Professions, in Philadelphia.
According to Schaaf, sensory integration isn’t a new therapy, but it has been viewed as controversial in the past, in part because it had not been scrutinized until this point.
How sensory integration helps
In Schaaf’s admittedly small study, 32 children between the ages of 4 and 8 were assigned to one of two groups. The first group received their usual ASD treatments and therapies, including both medication and behavioral therapy. The second group continued their ongoing treatments, with the addition of 30 sensory integration sessions over the course of 10 weeks. Parents participating in the study were asked to outline a list of simple goals for the duration of the study, such as trying new foods or learning to get dressed in the morning without a struggle.
Children exposed to sensory integration were paired with an occupational therapist who created an individualized plan to integrate sensory therapy and meet the family’s goals. They worked in a “gym” setting, using ball pits, carpeted scooter boards, mats, swings and other equipment designed to help the kids be more comfortable being active in the sensory setting.
After 10 weeks, Schaaf’s research showed that the children exposed to sensory integration scored better in reaching the goals outlined by the families at the start of the study. These children were also showing better results in their daily routines.
“Parents rated their kids as more independent in self-care and participation in everyday activities,” Schaaf said.
Schaaf’s results suggest that introducing an element of sensory integration to an ASD child’s usual treatment plan, which should also include behavioral therapy and medication, can help manage the condition.
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