Effectiveness of sensory integration therapy on smooth pursuits and organization time in children

In this study the effect of sensory integration (SI) therapy on smooth pursuit eye movements, tracking and learning time was evaluated in 21 children diagnosed with sensory integration dysfunction. A control group of 11 normal children, matched for age and sex was also tested. Electrooculograph (EOG) recordings were inspected for number of saccadic intrusions during smooth pursuit movements. Prior to therapy the children in the SI treatment group exhibited significantly more saccadic intrusions during smooth pursuit movements and took significantly longer to perform the task than the normal control group. After 6-9 months of SI therapy one hour a week, there was a significant reduction in the number of saccades in the treatment group. The treatment group demonstrated a reduction in the time necessary to accomplish smooth pursuits and organizational time. The etiology of these improvements may be related to the subcortical substrated utilized in SI therapy as well as in the generation of smooth pursuit eye movements.