Sensory Integration

and Autism: The Body-

Centered Senses

Alexandra M. Himes, MOT, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist
[email protected]
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Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Center for Autism and Related

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ASHA Disclosure Slide

Financial Disclosures: Employee of Kennedy Krieger Institute

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Objectives

1. Define the body-centered senses

2. List common dysfunctions related to each body-centered sense
3. Understand best assessment/evaluation practices for the body-centered
senses
4. Learn evidence-based interventions and strategies to develop functional
outcomes in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder who have
challenges with body-centered senses
Slido Poll 1

• Who is attending this webinar today? Type in your profession (OT, COTA,
SLP, educator, etc.)
Who is attending the webinar today? Share whether you are an
OT, COTA, SLP, educator, parent, family member, or something
else!

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What is a word or phrase that comes to mind when you think of
sensory-integration and autism?

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 Sensory Integration Theory

• Established by Jean A. Ayres

• She defines SI as “the organization of

sensation for use”

• Focused on the age groups of 4-9

Ayres, 1972, 1979/2005

What are the Body-Centered Senses?

1. Tactile
Somatosensory System
2. Proprioceptive

3. Vestibular
 Tactile Sensory System
• Perception of information from touch receptors on the skin

• Functions include:
• Emotional and arousal regulation
• Object perception
• Contributes to body scheme and praxis
• Associated with fine motor skills

Lederman & Klatsky, 2009

Dijkerman & deHaan, 2007
 Proprioceptive Sensory System

• Perception of information regarding body/limb position and movement

• Functions include:
• Detection of joint position and movement
• Force sensations related to muscle contraction
• Sensations related to conscious timing of motor action
• Orientation of body parts to each other for effective movement

Gandevia, Refshauge, & Collins, 2002

Giummarra, Gibson, Georgiou-Karistianis, & Bradshaw, 2008
Grob, Kuster, Higgins, Lloyd, & Yata, 2002
 Vestibular Sensory System

• Enables us to navigate our physical world so

our head and body position are oriented
appropriately to the pull of gravity

• Functions include:
• Muscle tone that supports holding us up
against gravity
• Posture, equilibrium, and balance
• Contributes to a stable visual field
• Emotional and physical security

Ayres, 1978
True or false: Gravitational insecurity is considered a sensory
dysfunction.

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 Sensory-Related Dysfunctions

There are two main patterns of sensory dysfunction:

Sensory modulation  impacts arousal (emotional responses and attention)

Perception/Discrimination  impacts motor control

Ayres, 1972, 1979/2005

 Tactile-Related Dysfunctions

1. Tactile Defensiveness
• Difficulty modulating tactile input affects an
individual’s state of arousal

2. Tactile Discrimination Deficit

• Often associated with praxis and fine motor
challenges

Ayres, 1972
 Proprioceptive-Related Dysfunctions

1. Proprioceptive-Seeking Behaviors
• Initiating actions that elicit intense proprioceptive input

2. Poor Proprioceptive Discrimination

• Difficulty interpreting what the proprioceptive input is telling the brain

Blanche & Schaaf, 2001

 Vestibular-Related Dysfunctions

1. Modulation of Vestibular Sensations

• Gravitational insecurity
• Vestibular under-responsiveness

2. Vestibular-Bilateral Difficulties
• Postural control and bilateral coordination

Ayres, 1972
 Postural Control and Bilateral Coordination

1. Vestibular-Ocular Functions
2. Vestibular-Spinal Functions
3. Bilateral Motor Coordination and
Sequencing

Ayres, 1972
True or false: Using a Sensory Profile or Sensory Processing
Measure is the only way to assess for sensory deficits.

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Evaluation and Assessment Tools

• Parent interview and sensory histories

• Unstructured clinical observations
• Structured clinical observations
• Standardized Tests
 Tactile System Assessments

Parent Interviews and Sensory Histories

• Sensory Profile and Sensory Processing Measure

Unstructured Clinical Observations

• Play choices with various tactile experiences
• Awareness and reaction to these experiences
• Various body areas tactile input is sought versus avoided
• Tolerance to both unexpected and self-initiated tactile input

Dunn, 1999
Parham & Ecker, 2007
 Tactile System Assessments, Part 2

Structured Clinical Observations

• Localization/identification of sensation
• Play with various textures
• Stereognosis
• Manipulation of objects

Standardized Testing
• Touch Inventory for Preschoolers
• Touch Inventory for Elementary School-Aged Children
• Tactile subtests of the SIPT
Royeen, 1987
Royeen & Fortune, 1990
 Proprioceptive System Assessments

Parent Interviews and Sensory Histories

• Sensory Profile and Sensory Processing Measure

Unstructured Clinical Observations

• Weight-bearing and weight-shifting
• Joint alignment and muscle tone
• Force exertion
• Sensory and movement preferences
• Play choices

Blanche & Schaaf, 2001

 Proprioceptive System Assessments, Part 2

Structured Clinical Observations

• Finger to nose
• Slow ramp movements
• Supine flexion

Standardized Testing
• Clinical Observations of Motor and Postural Skills (COMPS)
• Clinical Observations of Proprioception (COP)
• Structured Observations of Sensory Integration-Motor (SOSI-M) and
Comprenesive Observation of Proprioception (COPr)
Blanche, Bodison, Chang, & Reinoso, 2012
Blanche, Reinoso, & Keifer (2021)
Wilson, Pollock, Kablan, Law, & Faris, 1992
 Vestibular System Assessments

Parent Interviews and Sensory Histories

• Sensory Profile and Sensory Processing Measure

Unstructured Clinical Observations

• Movement play choices or avoidance
• Extensor tone and neck stability
• Stabilization of visual field
• Balance
• Activity level
• Bilateral coordination

Blanche, Reinoso, & Keifer (2021)

 Vestibular System Assessments, Part 2

Structured Clinical Observations

• Postural control with vision occluded
• Eye tracking
• Single foot balance and heel-toe
• Jumping down from a chair
• Postrotary nystagmus
• Forward/backward roll on yoga ball

Standardized Testing
• Parts of the Movement Assessment Batter for Children-2 (MABC-2)
• Parts of Bruininiks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2

Blanche, 2002
 Sensory-Related Assessments in Development

• Evaluation of Ayres Sensory Integration

• Sensory Processing Three Dimensions Scale (SP-3D)
• Screening Assessment of Sensory Integration (SASI)

Mailloux, et al, 2014

Schoen, Miller, & Green, 2008
Schoen, Miller, & Sullivan, 2014
Evaluating Sensory Integration in Autism

The varying levels of Autism are why it is important to perform multiple types
of sensory assessments to get a true picture of sensory integration within
this population
• Focus on parent questionnaires and unstructured clinical observations
if engagement and imitation are limited
• Modeling
• Patience and time
• Get creative
• Establish trust or rapport
• Involve the parents
 A six-year-old child was referred for an OT evaluation due to
difficulties getting dressed, avoidance of playground equipment,
slouching in his desk chair, and engaging with novel adults.
Which would be an appropriate combination of sensory
assessments?

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Sensory Integration Interventions and Autism

• True SI interventions based on Ayres SI Theory are individualized and

long-term
• Focus on active rather than passive engagement to promote change
• Overall goal – provide opportunities for sensory experiences to create an
adaptive response
• We want to keep a child within an optimal threshold when considering
modulation interventions

SI Intervention is NOT the same as sensory strategies.

Variety of Intervention Strategies

• Ayres SI Intervention
• Environmental modification
• Sensory stimulation protocols
• Specific sensory strategies
• Sensory-focused group interventions
 Things to Consider During Intervention

• Safe environment with adequate space and multiple sensory materials to

access
• Build on a child’s inner drive, motivation, and interests
• We want the child to feel successful
• Establish a rapport
• Child and therapist collaborate together to create tasks

Blanche, 2002
 Tactile Interventions

Modulation
• Provide opportunities for graded tactile input while pairing with inhibitory
input
• Tactile bins
• Light touch, deep touch, vibration
• Textures on sensory equipment

Discrimination
• Full body tactile experiences while navigating space

Blanche & Bodison, 2016

 Proprioceptive Interventions

• Activities that provide muscle co-contraction

• Tasks that require graded force
• Heavy work tasks

Blanche & Bodison, 2016

 Vestibular Interventions

Modulation
Gravitational Insecurity:
• Choose tasks close to the ground
• Always allow for vision
• Encourage linear vertical input

Under-Responsiveness:
• Providing the child with opportunities for angular, orbital, and linear
movement paired with inhibitory input if necessary

Blanche & Bodison, 2016

 Vestibular Interventions, Part 2

Vestibular-Bilateral
• Activities that require symmetrical and asymmetrical patterns
• Tasks that facilitate coordinated hand and eye movements
• Postural control tasks

Blanche & Bodison, 2016

Conclusion

• We have three body-centered senses

• Multiple dysfunctions can come from these
senses
• Use multiple types of assessment tools for a
comprehensive evaluation of sensory
integration challenges
• Consider a collaborative approach and
provide meaningful activities for the best
outcomes
References

• Ayres, A. J. (1972). Sensory integration and learning disorders. Los Angeles, CA: Western
Psychological Services.
• Ayres, A. J. (1978). Learning disabilities and the vestibular system. Journal of Learning
Disabilities, 12, 18-29.
• Ayres, A. J. (1979/2005). Sensory integration and the child: 25th anniversary edition. Los
Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.
• Ayres, A. J. (1989). Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests. Los Angeles: Western Psychological
Services.
• Blanche, E. I. (2002). Observations based on sensory integration theory (video/workbook).
Torrance, CA: Pediatric Therapy Network.
• Blanche, E. I., Bodison, S., Chang, M., & Reinoso, G. (2012). Development of the
comprehensive observations of proprioception (COP): Validity, reliability, and factor analysis,
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66(6), 691-698.
• Blanche, E. I., Keifer, D., & Surfas, S. (2010). A Jean Ayres: The Pioneer Behind Sensory
Integration. Torrance, CA: Pediatric Therapy Network (DVD)
References, Part 2
• Blanche, E. I., Reinoso, G. & Keifer, D. (2021). Clinical observations as a important component in the
evaluation process. In A. Bundy & S. Lane (Eds). Sensory integration: Theory and practice (3rd ed.).
Philadelphia: F. A. Davis.
• Blanche, E. I., & Schaaf, R. C. (2001). Proprioception: A cornerstone of sensory integration intervention.
In S. S. Roley, E. I. Blance, & R. C. Schaaf (Eds.), Understanding the nature of sensory integration with
diverse populations (pp 109-124). San Antonio, TX: Harcourt Assessment.
• Dijkerman, H.C., & de Haan, E. H. F. (2007). Somatosensory processing subserving perception and
action: Dissociations, interactions, and integration. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 30(2), 224-230.
• Dunn, W. (1999). Sensory Profile manual. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation.
• Gandevia, S. C. Refshauge, K. M., & Collins, D. F. (2002). Proprioception: Peripheral inputs and
perceptual interactions. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 508, 61-68.
• Giummarra, M. J., Gibson, S. J., Georgiou-Karistianis, N., & Bradsaw, J. L. (2008). Mechanisms
underlying embodiment, disembodiment, and loss of embodiment. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral
Review, 32, 143-160.
• Grob, K. R., Kuster, M. S., Higgins, S. A., Lloyd, D. G., & Yata, H. Lack of coorelation between different
measurements of proprioception in the knee, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 84, 614-618.
• Klemm, W. R. (1996). Understanding neuroscience. St. Louis, MO: Mosby.
References, Part 3
• Lederman, S. J. & Klatsky, R. L. (2009). Haptic perception: A tutorial. Attention Perception &
Psychophysics, 71(7), 1439-1459.
• Mailloux, Z., Leoa, M., Becerra, T. A., Mori, A. B., Soechting, E. Roley, …Cermak, S. (2014). Modification
of the Postrotary Nystagmus Test for evaluating young children. American Journal of Occupational
Therapy, 68, 514-521.
• Parham, L D., & Ecker, C. (2007). Sensory Processing Measure-Home Form. Los Angeles, CA: Western
Psychological Services.
• Royeen, C. B. (1987). TIP-Touch Inventory for Preschoolers: A pilot study. Physical and Occupational
Therapy in Pediatrics, 7(1), 29-40.
• Royeen, C. B. & Fortune, J. C. (1990). Touch Inventory for Elementary School Aged Children. American
Journal of Occupational Therapy, 44(2), 155-159.
• Schoen, S. A., Miller, L. J., & Green, K. E. (2008). Pilot study of the Sensory Over-Responsivity Scales:
Assessment and inventory. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62, (393-406).
• Schoen, S. A., Miller, L. J., & Sullivan, J. C. (2014). Measurement in Sensory Modulation: The Sensory
Processing Scale Assessment. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68, 522-530.
• Wilson, B. N., Pollock, N., Kaplan, B. J., Law, M., & Faris, P. (1992). Reliability and construct validity of
the Clinical Observations of Motor and Postural Skills. American Journal of Occupational Therpay, 46,
775-783.
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