Occupational Therapy Using Ayres Sensory Integration®: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Brazil

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Occupational Therapy
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Occupational therapy utilizing Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) is an established intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the United States.
• Further research is needed to validate ASI's effectiveness in diverse cultural contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of ASI-based occupational therapy on Brazilian children diagnosed with ASD.
• To evaluate improvements in self-care, socialization, and goal attainment.

Main Methods:

• A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted in an occupational therapy clinic setting.
• Seventeen children (ages 5-8) with ASD were divided into an intervention group (n=9) receiving ASI therapy and a control group (n=8) receiving usual care.
• Outcomes were measured using the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory and individualized goal ratings, assessing self-care and socialization pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• The ASI intervention group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in self-care (p = .046) and social function (p = .036) compared to the control group.
• Parents reported significantly higher goal attainment in the intervention group (p < .001).
• Effect sizes (rb) for self-care, social function, and goal attainment were .57, .61, and .94, respectively.

Conclusions:

• Occupational therapy with Ayres Sensory Integration is an effective intervention for enhancing self-care, socialization, and goal attainment in Brazilian children with ASD.
• This study provides cross-cultural evidence supporting ASI as a beneficial therapy for children with ASD.
• Findings support the broader applicability of ASI as an evidence-based practice for improving functional outcomes in children with ASD globally.