Sensory Integration Education

Let's continue to hear from SensorNet Editor Gina Evans on the International Sensory Integration Congress (ISIC) 2024, Day 2, Tuesday 30th October. 

On behalf of Sensory Integration Education, I tuned in virtually to hear about practice and research developments and share in the learning with colleagues from across the world. The agenda for Tuesday included a wide range of diverse topics including comprehensive assessment, Patterns of Sensory Integration Dysfunction in South African Children, ASI With Therapy Dogs, ASI Intervention - What Works and Why? and using the EASI in adult mental health. Today’s keynote, entitled “Why Assess? How Comprehensive Assessment Can Elevate Practice Around the Globe”, was delivered by Zoe Mailloux and we'll will summarise this in due course. 

It was interesting to hear more about the application of the EASI by Dr Thalina Annandale from South Africa. While you may not be using this assessment in your practice currently, it is important to stay informed of how the test can be used and how research is continuing on the use of this test. Dr Annandale’s two presentations focused on her doctoral work which she completed as part of her programme, where she has researched the use of the EASI in adult mental health. 

The first presentation focused on “Exploring the recommendations of occupational therapists using the EASI with adults diagnosed with psychotic disorders within a developing socio-economic context”. The research question was whether the EASI could be used within the adult mental health population, more specifically with people diagnosed with psychotic disorders. This presentation focused on phase one of the three-phase study – which explored the recommendations of occupational therapists using the EASI with adults diagnosed with psychotic disorders within a developing socio-economic context. Data was gathered by three rounds of interviews with nine South African testers who were trained in the EASI. Data collection involved two semi-structured group interviews, an online interview with an international expert and a semi-structured group interview with four selected therapists from the first round of therapists. 

Three main themes emerged: 

1.  Recommendations 
2.  Affordances 
3.  Experiences 

The following tests of the EASI had recommendations which would make these more suitable for an adult population; Praxis: Ideation, Praxis: Positions, Praxis: Following Directions, Praxis: Sequences, Postural Control, Proprioception: Force, Vestibular Nystagmus, Visual Praxis: Construction, Proprioception: Joint Positions, Balance. There was feedback and suggestions given under each of these tests on how these could be adapted for this population. 

This phase of the study contributed to the adaptations and recommendations that were made in the guidelines of the EASI for adults with psychotic disorders. It also identified the necessary research that is needed in the future to allow application of the EASI to an adult mental health population. 

Presentation 2 byDr Thalina Annandale looked at “Describing the ability of the guideline of the EASI to discriminate between a typical and an individual diagnosed with a psychotic disorder within a developing socio-economic context”. This presentation focused on phase two of the three-phase study. Phase two of this study looked at how the guidelines of the EASI for adults with psychotic disorders were used to discriminate between those with and without a psychotic disorder. The study design was mixed methods – using an explanatory sequential study design. Forty-six participants were included, which were divided into 23 participants diagnosed with psychotic disorder and 23 participants with no mental health disorder. There were nine EASI-trained testers involved in the study. The study provided possible proof that the EASI could be used as an ASI assessment within mental health. The results also indicated that those diagnosed with a psychotic disorder presented with possible SI difficulties and therefore the use of ASI is warranted within this field. 

The authors recommend more research is completed on the following tests of the EASI: Sensory Reactivity, Auditory localisation and Vestibular Nystagmus. 

This study recommends standardisation of the guidelines of the EASI for adults with psychotic disorders. 

Reference to check out: 

Annandale, T.C., Jaarsveld, A.V., Heerden, R.V., & Nel, R. (2017). The incidence of sensory integration problems in a distinct sample of individuals with disorders characterised by symptoms of psychosis. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 47, 30-35.

http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2016/v46n3a6 

If you wish to find out more this work about this email: [email protected]

There is so much more to cover on Day 2 and we will continue to bring you updates and insights as they become available. Our aim is to give you a flavour of some of the day’s events and bring you along on the developments occurring within the field of ASI!