Sensory Modulation Dysfunction in Child Victims of Trauma: a Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Occupational Therapy
• Pediatric Psychology
• Trauma Studies

Background:

• Global violence necessitates effective interventions for child victims of trauma.
• Trauma impacts children on a somatosensory level, leading to difficulties in regulating sensory responses.
• Sensory modulation dysfunction is linked to emotional and behavioral challenges in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the existing research on sensory modulation dysfunction in child victims of trauma.
• To determine the extent to which this dysfunction has been identified and treated.
• To highlight the need for further research in this area.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O'Malley (2005) framework.
• Searches were performed across five databases and three manual hand searches.
• Inclusion criteria were applied to identify relevant studies.

Main Results:

• A scarcity of research was confirmed, with only 13 studies meeting the inclusion criteria.
• The studies indicated that child victims of trauma (CVT) frequently present with sensory modulation disorders (SMD).
• Sensory modulation interventions, especially those aligned with Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI®), were found beneficial for CVT, often in conjunction with psychotherapy.

Conclusions:

• Child victims of trauma exhibit sensory modulation disorders.
• Sensory modulation interventions are valuable for CVT.
• There is a growing need and an increasing demand for research into the identification and treatment of sensory modulation dysfunction in CVT.