Sensory Integration & ASD: The Evidence

Sensory hyper- and hypo-reactivity as well as sensory-seeking behaviors are common in children with an autism spectrum disorder.¹ As a result, parents often request that occupational therapists use a sensory integration approach for their children with ASD.²

But how do you know if this is the right intervention?

Established Research Evidence

As with other approaches, the existence of adequate evidence is a key consideration. A variety of research studies exist on this topic; however, there is also a significant range in what is called sensory integration as well as research quality, making it difficult to wade through the material.

Fortunately, an impressive set of clinical researchers recently evaluated these studies,³ conducting a systematic review of Ayres Sensory Integration® for children with ASD aged 4 to 12 years. Ayres Sensory Integration is clearly defined by its specific criteria for therapist qualifications and intervention elements.⁴

The authors determined that Ayres Sensory Integration has enough rigorous research to meet the Standards of the Council for Exceptional Children as an evidence-based practice for children with ASD. Specifically, it is supported by “two methodologically sound group comparison studies with random group assignment, positive outcomes, and a collective total of >60 participants.”⁵

Individual Clinical Evidence

Despite confidence from the research, you may still wonder if sensory integration is a beneficial intervention for a specific child with ASD. The American Occupational Therapy Association recently issued a clear statement on this matter. They advise that individuals be assessed for sensory processing and integration difficulties first in order to determine if a sensory integration approach would be beneficial.⁶ This was a critical factor present in the research supporting the approach.⁷

The therapist must determine the nature of the sensory processing difficulties in order to develop a targeted and individualized treatment plan based on the person’s specific challenges.^{8, 9, 10} The occupational therapy evaluation establishes evidence for using a sensory integration approach with individual children with ASD by linking sensory processing to functional needs in everyday activities.

Hopefully this summary of the evidence supporting sensory integration intervention puts to rest any concerns about whether this approach should be a part of your therapy approach for children with ASD. To learn more about this approach and how to individualize it for your clients, watch my MedBridge course, “Ayres Sensory Integration®: Application & Individualization for ASD.”