title: A systematic review of sensory-based treatments for children with disabilities.
abstract: Sensory-based therapies are designed to address sensory processing difficulties by helping to organize and control the regulation of environmental sensory inputs. These treatments are increasingly popular, particularly with children with behavioral and developmental disabilities. However, empirical support for sensory-based treatments is limited. The purpose of this review was to conduct a comprehensive and methodologically sound evaluation of the efficacy of sensory-based treatments for children with disabilities. Methods for this review were registered with PROSPERO (CRD42012003243). Thirty studies involving 856 participants met our inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Considerable heterogeneity was noted across studies in implementation, measurement, and study rigor. The research on sensory-based treatments is limited due to insubstantial treatment outcomes, weak experimental designs, or high risk of bias. Although many people use and advocate for the use of sensory-based treatments and there is a substantial empirical literature on sensory-based treatments for children with disabilities, insufficient evidence exists to support their use.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University, United States. Electronic address: erin.e.barton@vanderbilt.edu.
authors.forename: Erin E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, United States; University of Connecticut Health Center, United States.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reichow
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University, United States.
authors.forename: Alana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schnitz
authors.affiliation: Yale Child Study Center, United States; University of Connecticut Health Center, United States.
authors.forename: Isaac C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University, United States.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sherlock
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*
keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Childhood developmental disorders; Intellectual disability; Systematic review