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Occupational Therapy Interventions Using Ayres Sensory Integration® for Children and Youth (2015-2024): A Systematic
Aimee Piller1, Tara J Glennon2, Lauren Andelin3
1Aimee Piller, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, FAOTA, is Director, Piller Child Development, LLC, Phoenix, AZ; Aimee.piller@pillerchilddevelopment.com.
Importance:
Pediatric occupational therapy practitioners often use Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) as part of their intervention process for children and youth with sensory integration and processing challenges that affect occupational participation.
Objective:
To provide occupational therapy practitioners with current evidence on the effectiveness of ASI.
Data Sources:
Searches were performed in MEDLINE, CINAHL Complete, PsycINFO, OTseeker, Cochrane Reviews, and ERIC.
Study Selection And Data Collection:
Inclusion criteria included studies published in English between May 2015 and January 2024 with participants ages 0-21 yr with sensory processing challenges. Studies with Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model evidence Levels I and II were included. All studies had to have occupation- or participation-based outcomes. The review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
Findings:
Twelve studies (four randomized controlled trials, four nonrandomized group designs, and four single-subject designs) met the inclusion criteria. Strong strength of evidence supports ASI for individual goal attainment and occupational performance. Moderate strength of evidence supports ASI in improving daily living and self-care skills and social, communication, and play skills.
Conclusions And Relevance:
Occupational therapy practitioners should consider using ASI when working with children and youth with sensory integration and processing challenges to improve occupation- and participation-based outcomes. Plain-Language Summary: Children and youth may be referred to occupational therapy services to address sensory integration and processing challenges that affect their ability to perform daily occupations. This review evaluated the evidence for using Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) as an intervention to improve participation in everyday activities. The authors found that there is good evidence to support occupational therapy practitioners' use of ASI to support and improve participation for children with sensory integration and processing challenges.
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