title: Effects of sensory integration intervention on self-stimulating and self-injurious behaviors.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Function Laboratory, Department of Occupational Therapy, Temple University, 3307 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, USA. sinclair.smith@temple.edu
authors.forename: Sinclair A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Bracha
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Press
authors.forename: Kristie P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.forename: Moya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kinnealey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002648:Child; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012112:Residential Facilities; D012653:Self Stimulation; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012677:Sensation; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014743:Videotape Recording