Sensory Integration Therapies

As shown, the overall efficacy of sensory integration therapies is a contentious issue. However, there are a number of studies documenting the positive changes that can accompany SI treatments. One study by Smith, Press, Koenig, and Kinnealey (2005) examines these changes in comparison with a control treatment.
Smith et al. look into the role of SI therapies in reducing self-stimulating and self-injurious behaviors in children and adolescents with developmental delays and intellectual disability. For the purposes of the study, self-injurious and self-stimulating behaviors were grouped together, and defined as a repetitive behavior that serves no particular purpose, with the potential to cause harm to the individual. Examples of such behaviors include biting or hitting oneself, chewing objects, and making repetitive vocal sounds.

Each participant was evaluated based on the self-stimulating behaviors they exhibited, and a corresponding, individualized treatment plan was developed. These SI treatments focused primarily on the tactile, proprioceptive, and vestibular senses. As the study progressed, these treatments were continually modified based on the perceived desires of the participant and the preferred outcome. These modifications were made to optimize the sensory input of the participants, and to prevent any participant from being over- or under-stimulated. In comparison, the control therapies, referred to as tabletop activities, were less stimulating to the senses, yet still individualized based on specific educational goals. These activities included sorting objects based on shape and color, completing puzzles, and writing