What is sensory integration therapy?
Sensory integration therapy is designed to help people better handle multiple sensory inputs like touch, sound and movement. It’s usually delivered as a program that has been tailored to an individual’s needs by an occupational therapist.
Who is sensory integration therapy for?
Sensory integration therapy is for people who have sensory processing difficulties or difficulties understanding sensory input. This might include autistic children.
What is sensory integration therapy used for?
Sensory integration therapy is used to help children learn to use all their senses together – that is, touch, smell, taste, sight and hearing, as well as senses related to body movement.
It’s claimed that when children can use all their senses together, it can improve challenging behaviour and repetitive behaviour. This is because challenging and repetitive behaviour can be related to sensory processing difficulties.
Therapists also sometimes suggest that sensory integration therapy can help with other autism characteristics, like difficulties with play and emotional regulation.
Where does sensory integration therapy come from?
The idea that difficulties with processing sensory information could be related to difficulties in everyday life was first proposed in the 1950s and 1960s by A. Jean Ayres, an occupational therapist and educational psychologist. Ayres developed sensory integration therapy in the late 1970s as a treatment for children with sensory processing difficulties.
Some forms of sensory integration therapy are called Ayres Sensory Integration intervention. This type of sensory integration therapy tends to focus on specific goals and is more systematic than other types of sensory integration therapy.
What is the idea behind sensory integration therapy for autistic children?
Most people experience the world in a way that stimulates more than one sense at a time. For example, when we read a book, we see the words on the page, we hear the pages turning, and we feel the book in our hands. We might even be able to smell the book if it’s old or dusty. We take in this varied sensory information and combine it to get a clear understanding of the world around us.
Autistic children can experience sensory information differently from other people and might feel overwhelmed if there’s too much sensory input. The idea of sensory integration therapy is to use physical activities and exercises to help children learn to interpret and use sensory information more effectively.
Many therapies for autism and other conditions use strategies to stimulate children's senses. These include hands-on play activities, like messy play and water play, and movement activities, like jumping and swinging. Sensory integration therapy is different from these general sensory strategies.
What does sensory integration therapy involve?
Sensory integration therapy starts with an assessment of the child. An occupational therapist usually does this assessment. The therapist then plans and conducts a program that includes activities to stimulate sensory responses from the child – in particular, responses to do with balance and physical movement. This might include things like swinging, bouncing or climbing.
Sensory integration therapy is designed to be part of wider programs that also include communication, behaviour and educational therapies.
Does sensory integration therapy help autistic children?
Some studies show sensory integration therapy doesn’t help autistic children.
Some studies have suggested that it might help children achieve some goals, but there are problems with the way these studies were designed. Also, it isn’t clear how the therapy helps children. That is, does it help with sensory processing difficulties – for example, do children become less sensitive to touch or smell? And do any changes help with their daily life or other skills?
And several studies have noted that the therapy has negative effects like overstimulation, distress or increased self-harming behaviour.
Which professionals offer sensory integration therapy?
Occupational therapists trained in sensory integration therapy can use this approach.
Where can you find a sensory integration therapist?
You can find an occupational therapist by going to Occupational Therapy Australia – Find an OT. Check that the occupational therapist is trained in sensory integration therapy.
If you’re interested in sensory integration therapy, it’s a good idea to talk about it with your GP or one of the other professionals working with your child. You could also talk about it with your NDIA planner, early childhood partner or local area coordinator, if you have one.
How are parents involved in sensory integration therapy?
If your child is having sensory integration therapy, you might do activities at home as part of the program. The occupational therapist might prepare a written plan and teach you techniques to use at home.
How much does sensory integration therapy cost?
The cost of this therapy depends on the number of sessions the child has with an occupational therapist. You can expect to pay around $195 for a session with an occupational therapist.
You can contact the NDIS to find out whether you can include the cost of sensory integration therapy in your child’s NDIS plan.
Therapies and supports for autistic children range from behavioural therapies and developmental approaches to medicines and alternative therapies. When you understand the main types of therapies and supports for autistic children, it’ll be easier to work out the approach that will best suit your child.