Information on Sensory Processing Disorder Therapies
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) affects the brain's processing of sensory information, impacting one or more senses: sight, taste, touch, smell, hearing, proprioception (body movement), and vestibular sense (body awareness). The primary goal of treatment is to foster appropriate responses to sensory information and improve the child's ability to participate and function in daily activities.
Effectiveness
Sensory Integration Therapy (SIT) / Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI)
One of the most studied approaches for treating SPD is Sensory Integration Therapy (SIT), particularly Ayres Sensory Integration. Research indicates that SIT, when personalized and delivered intensively, can improve sensory regulation, occupational performance, social skills, and behavioral responses in children with SPD and autism. Controlled trials show SIT combined with evidence-based home programs enhances goal attainment and functional outcomes compared to controls. SIT also demonstrates comparable effectiveness to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in improving individualized goals and daily living skills for autistic children. However, systematic reviews note that while improvements are often reported, the evidence base requires more large-scale, rigorous studies for definitive long-term efficacy.
Sensory-Based Interventions (SBI)
These encompass techniques similar to SIT but may be less structured. Evidence suggests SBI can aid sensory modulation and behavioral regulation but tends to show mixed results and less consistent long-term benefit than SIT.
DIR/Floortime Model
While not detailed extensively in the search results, DIR/Floortime focuses on emotional and relational development through play. Its effectiveness for SPD per se is less clearly established in the literature found, but it supports social and communication domains relevant to children with sensory processing challenges.
Hippotherapy (Therapeutic Horseback Riding)
Evidence from broader literature suggests hippotherapy may improve balance, posture, and sensory processing through rhythmic movement, but high-quality trials are limited, and effects may vary.
Vision Therapy
Vision therapy addresses visual integration, a skill often impaired in people with ASD, and targets visual skills, visual processing skills, visual-motor skills, hand-eye coordination. However, no direct evidence was found in the results referring to vision therapy for SPD.
Therapeutic Listening
This auditory-based intervention designed to improve sensory processing showed mixed evidence. Some auditory approaches lack strong support for core autism behaviors and SPD symptoms, with inconsistent benefits noted in research.
Potential Risks
Most therapies such as SIT and SBI are considered low-risk when delivered by qualified occupational therapists. Risks primarily involve discomfort from sensory activities or behavioral distress if improperly applied. Some interventions, like vestibular or proprioceptive inputs, could pose risks of overstimulation or injury if not tailored carefully. Lack of standardized protocols and the variability of interventions can lead to inconsistent outcomes and the possibility of ineffective or misapplied treatment. Approaches without robust evidence, such as some auditory therapies, may lead to wasted resources and parental frustration if expected benefits do not materialize.
Summary
The strongest evidence supports the use of Occupational Therapy with Sensory Integration (SI/ASI) for children with SPD and autism, showing improvements in function and sensory regulation with few risks when properly implemented. Other sensory-based and complementary therapies have variable or limited evidence and should be applied cautiously, ideally as adjuncts within comprehensive, individualized treatment plans. Continued research with large-scale, controlled studies is needed to clarify long-term effectiveness and establish standardized guidelines for therapies like DIR/Floortime, hippotherapy, vision therapy, and therapeutic listening.
In clinical practice, a personalized, multidisciplinary approach supervised by experienced therapists helps maximize benefits and minimize risks for children with SPD. Parents who are married, have a lower income, have a higher knowledge of the DIR/Floortime model, and used the model for more than 1 hour per day were more likely to engage with the child and receive better outcomes.
- Sensory Integration Therapy (SIT) and Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI), when personalized and delivered intensively, have shown potential in improving sensory regulation, occupational performance, social skills, and behavioral responses in children with SPD and autism.
- While Sensory-Based Interventions (SBI) can aid sensory modulation and behavioral regulation, their evidence base tends to show mixed results and less consistent long-term benefit compared to SIT.
- The DIR/Floortime Model, focusing on emotional and relational development through play, may support social and communication domains relevant to children with sensory processing challenges, but its effectiveness for SPD specifically is less clearly established.
- Hippotherapy, therapeutic horseback riding, has been suggested to improve balance, posture, and sensory processing through rhythmic movement, but high-quality trials are limited, and effects may vary. Furthermore, some interventions like vestibular or proprioceptive inputs could pose risks of overstimulation or injury if not tailored carefully.
