Effects of sensory integration intervention on self-stimulating and self-injurious behaviors

• Published in: The American journal of occupational therapy Vol. 59; no. 4; p. 418
• Main Authors: Smith, Sinclair A, Press, Bracha, Koenig, Kristie P, Kinnealey, Moya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.07.2005
• Subjects: Adolescent; Analysis of Variance; Autistic Disorder - diagnosis; Autistic Disorder - rehabilitation; Child; Developmental Disabilities - psychology; Developmental Disabilities - rehabilitation; Female; Humans; Intellectual Disability - psychology; Intellectual Disability - rehabilitation; Male; Occupational Therapy - methods; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Residential Facilities; Self Stimulation; Self-Injurious Behavior - psychology; Self-Injurious Behavior - rehabilitation; Sensation; Stereotyped Behavior; Treatment Outcome; Videotape Recording
• ISSN: 0272-9490
• DOI: 10.5014/ajot.59.4.418

This study compared the effects of occupational therapy, using a sensory integration (SI) approach and a control intervention of tabletop activities, on the frequency of self-stimulating behaviors in seven children 8-19 years of age with pervasive developmental delay and mental retardation. Daily 15-min videotape segments of the subjects were recorded before, immediately after, and 1 hour after either SI or control interventions performed during alternating weeks for 4 weeks. Each 15-min video segment was evaluated by investigators to determine the frequency of self-stimulating behaviors. The results indicate that self-stimulating behaviors were significantly reduced by 11% one hour after SI intervention in comparison with the tabletop activity intervention (p = 0.02). There was no change immediately following SI or tabletop interventions. Daily ratings of self-stimulating behavior frequency by classroom teachers using a 5-point scale correlated significantly with the frequency counts taken by the investigators (r = 0.32, p < 0.001). These results suggest that the sensory integration approach is effective in reducing self-stimulating behaviors, which interfere with the ability to participate in more functional activities.