Occupational therapy and sensory integration for children with autism: a feasibility, safety, acceptability and fidelity study.

Authors

Roseann C Schaaf, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Teal W. Benevides, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Donna Kelly, Children's Specialized Hospital, Tom's River, New Jersey, USA
Zoe Mailloux-Maggio, Pediatric Therapy Network, Torrance, CaliforniaFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-2012

Comments

This article has been peer reviewed. It is the authors' final version prior to publication in Autism

Volume 16, Issue 3, May 2012, Pages 321-327.

The published version is available at DOI: 10.1177/1362361311435157. Copyright © Sage

Abstract

Objective: To examine the feasibility, safety, and acceptability of a manualized protocol of occupational therapy using sensory integration principles for children with autism. Methods: Ten children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder ages 4-8 years received intensive occupational therapy intervention using sensory integration principles following a manualized protocol. Measures of feasibility, acceptability and safety were collected from parents and interveners, and fidelity was measured using a valid and reliable fidelity instrument. Results: The intervention is safe and feasible to implement, acceptable to parents and therapist, and therapists were able to implement protocol with adequate fidelity. These data provide support for implementation of a randomized control trial of this intervention and identify specific procedural enhancements to improve study implementation.

Recommended Citation

Schaaf, Roseann C; Benevides, Teal W.; Kelly, Donna; and Mailloux-Maggio, Zoe, "Occupational therapy and sensory integration for children with autism: a feasibility, safety, acceptability and fidelity study." (2012). Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers. Paper 13.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/otfp/13

PubMed ID

22318118