The Evidence Base
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Why is Sensory Research Important?
Sensory research is essential to advance our understanding of the processes involved in sensory integration and enable evidence-based decision-making around helpful environmental adaptations and therapies.
How to Understand and Navigate Research: A Guide for Parents
Identifying high-quality, reputable research that addresses your family’s immediate needs can help parents to make better-informed decisions. This guide to navigating research provides parents with easy-to-understand explanations of the different kinds of research and how to interpret that research. Although the guide is aimed at parents of autistic children, the information provided concerning sourcing and evaluating research also applies to sensory integration and sensory processing topics.
What Evidence is There to Support Sensory Integration?
There is growing evidence supporting the underpinning theory of sensory integration and the effective use of sensory integration-based therapy.
For the most current SI research, subscribe to our EmphaSIze Newsletter for monthly research digests.
Sensory Integration Recognised as Evidence-Based Practice by US Child Development Research Body
Research Supporting Sensory Integration
The studies below are grouped by research type and ordered with the strongest forms of evidence first — beginning with systematic reviews, which synthesise findings across many individual studies, and ending with single-case research. This reflects the recognised hierarchy of research evidence and is intended to help you weigh each study appropriately.
Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
The highest tier of evidence. Each one evaluates and synthesises the findings of multiple individual studies; meta-analyses go further by statistically pooling their results.
Effects of Sensory Integration Therapy in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
This systematic review and meta-analysis pooled data from 23 randomised controlled trials to examine the effects of sensory integration therapy in children aged 1–18 with a range of conditions and sensory integration difficulties. The authors found that sensory integration therapy was associated with statistically significant improvements in motor skills, daily functioning, and the attainment of individualised goals, adding further weight to the evidence base across a broad child population.
Occupational Therapy Interventions Using Ayres Sensory Integration® for Children and Youth (2015–2024): A Systematic Review
This systematic review brief, produced through the American Occupational Therapy Association's Evidence-Based Practice Program, evaluated the effectiveness of Ayres Sensory Integration for children and youth aged 0–21 with sensory integration and processing challenges. Twelve studies met inclusion criteria (four randomised controlled trials, four non-randomised group designs, and four single-subject designs). The authors found strong strength of evidence supporting ASI for individual goal attainment and occupational performance, and moderate strength of evidence for improvements in daily living and self-care skills and in social, communication and play skills. They concluded that there is good evidence to support occupational therapy practitioners' use of ASI to improve participation for children with sensory integration and processing challenges.
Ayres Sensory Integration® With Children Ages 0 to 12: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
This review evaluated the efficacy of Ayres Sensory Integration for children aged 0–12, focusing exclusively on randomised controlled trials in which the intervention was delivered under the ASI Fidelity Measure™ — addressing the inconsistent definitions of "sensory integration" that have complicated earlier reviews. Following PRISMA guidelines, the authors found strong evidence from five RCTs that ASI supports autistic children in achieving their individualised goals relating to occupational performance, function and participation. They also reported moderate evidence that ASI does not benefit behaviours of concern such as irritability or non-compliance, and noted that further research is needed to determine its benefits for other child populations.
A Systematic Review of Ayres Sensory Integration Intervention for Children With Autism
This review used the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Standards for Evidence-Based Practices in Special Education to evaluate effectiveness research published between 2006 and 2017 on Ayres Sensory Integration intervention for children with autism. Of the studies assessed against the CEC quality indicators, two randomised controlled trials met 100% and 85% of the criteria respectively. On this basis, the authors concluded that ASI can be considered an evidence-based practice for children with autism aged 4–12 years.
Randomised Controlled Trials
Experimental studies that randomly allocate participants to compare an intervention against a control — the strongest single-study design for testing whether a treatment works.
Occupational Therapy Using Ayres Sensory Integration®: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Brazil
Occupational therapy using Ayres Sensory Integration® was effective in enhancing self-care, socialisation, and goal attainment for children with ASD in a Brazilian cohort.
Occupational Therapy Using an Ayres Sensory Integration® Approach for School-Age Children – A Randomized Controlled Trial
This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of occupational therapy, with ASI® interventions, for school-age children with SI problems through randomised controlled trials in Hong Kong. The results indicate that the ASI® intervention is effective in treating children with SI problems.
An Intervention for Sensory Difficulties in Children With Autism: A Randomized Trial
This study evaluated a manualised intervention for sensory difficulties for children with autism, ages 4-8 years, using a randomised trial design. Diagnosis of autism was confirmed using gold standard measures. Results showed that the children who received 30 sessions of the occupational therapy intervention scored significantly higher on Goal Attainment Scales. They also scored significantly better on measures of caregiver assistance in self-care and socialisation than the usual care control group. The study shows high rigour in its measurement of treatment fidelity and use of a manualised protocol, and provides support for the use of this intervention for children with autism.
Effectiveness of Sensory Integration Interventions in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Pilot Study
This pilot study aimed to establish a model for randomised controlled trial research, identify appropriate outcome measures, and address the effectiveness of sensory integration (SI) interventions in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Results identified significant positive changes in Goal Attainment Scaling scores for both groups; more significant changes occurred in the SI group, and a significant decrease in autistic mannerisms occurred in the SI group.
Cohort and Group Studies
Studies of groups of participants without randomisation, together with structured expert-consensus methods.
Use of Sensory Modulation Approaches to Improve Compression Garment Adherence in Adults After Burn: An E-Delphi Study
This study sought expert consensus on the usefulness of, and recommendations for, sensory modulation strategies to improve compression garment adherence in sensory over-responsive adults after burn. The authors concluded that, with adequate therapist training and individualised assessment and treatment, sensory modulation strategies may be a useful clinical approach to improving compression garment adherence in those who are sensory over-responsive after burn.
Effectiveness of Sensory Modulation for People With Schizophrenia: A Multisite Quantitative Prospective Cohort Study
This study provides evidence to suggest that sensory modulation interventions can be complementary to standard care when utilised appropriately in clinical settings. Findings also suggest that the sensory profile of people with schizophrenia differs from that of the general population, which may have clinical implications.
Case Studies and Single-Subject Research
In-depth studies of individuals or very small groups. These are valuable for exploring emerging areas and showing how an approach works in real-world practice, but sit at the lower end of the hierarchy for demonstrating effectiveness.
Therapy Based on Sensory Integration in a Case of Autism Spectrum Disorder With Food Selectivity
This study aimed to analyse the relationship between food selectivity and sensory processing dysfunction in children with autism spectrum disorder and monitor their evolution with a therapeutic approach to sensory intervention. The authors found that the occupational therapy treatment with a sensory integration approach obtained favourable results in terms of food acceptance and decreased selectivity.
Case Report: ASI Intervention on a Child With Autism in Saudi Arabia
This study documented the barriers associated with ASI in Saudi Arabia and assessed whether the intervention could improve process and participation skills. The authors found that despite the limited availability of resources (e.g., toys, treatment spaces) and Arabic measures, improvements were observed on motor and sensory tasks and in occupational performance.
Sensory Integration Based Program Developed According to the Model of Creative Ability in an Individual with Schizophrenia: An Occupational Therapy Case Report
This study demonstrated that a developmental occupational therapy program, including sensory integration-based behaviours and abilities, can improve sensory processing skills, positive and negative symptoms, cognitive symptoms, and creative ability levels in individuals with schizophrenia who receive support.
Sensory Integrative-Based Occupational Therapy and Functional Outcomes in Young Children With Pervasive Developmental Disorders: A Single-Subject Study
This single-subject study explored the effects of sensory integrative-based occupational therapy provided in an outpatient clinic on the functional behaviours of two young children with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) at home. The study's findings support the application of sensory integrative-based occupational therapy as a part of the services provided to some children with PDD.
The Effects of Occupational Therapy With Sensory Integration Emphasis on Preschool-age Children With Autism
Researchers examined the effects of an occupational therapy intervention that emphasised sensory integration on five preschool children with autism using a single-subject research design. The results support descriptions in the literature regarding the behavioural changes that children with autism can make when participating in intervention using a sensory integration approach.
Sensory Processing in Specific Populations
Research into the nature and prevalence of sensory processing differences, rather than into the effectiveness of a particular therapy.
Systematic Review of Sensory Processing in Preterm Children Reveals Abnormal Sensory Modulation, Somatosensory Processing and Sensory-Based Motor Processing
This review aimed to systematically identify assessments, incidence, and nature of sensory processing disorder in preterm-born infants and children. The authors concluded that preterm-born children exhibited elevated risk for sensory processing disorder from infancy into school age. Routine screening of sensory processing, intervention intervals and parental consultations should be considered in ameliorating sensory processing and neurocognitive development.
What Tests Are Available for Sensory Assessment?
Clinicians use various sensory integration assessment tools to gather evidence to help make data-driven decisions when working with clients with sensory integration or sensory processing difficulties. Check out our page on Sensory Integration Assessment Tools.
How Can I Keep Up-To-Date With Sensory Research?
The principles underpinning a sensory integration approach build on research from diverse fields of study, including neurophysiology, psychology, and child development. Research in these areas (and sensory integration and processing research more specifically) is moving forward with speed. As the body of knowledge evolves and expands, our duty as educators and therapists is to critically examine and take the learning points into our research and practice.
Sensory Integration Education has supported and shared research into sensory integration and sensory processing, for more than three decades. Here are the easy ways that you can keep up to date with sensory research:
Lifelong Learning Programme
Our Lifelong Learning Programme can be your trusted companion, supporting and informing you with expertise and peer support.
SI Research Digests
SIE produces a monthly summary of recent and topic-related peer-reviewed papers via our monthly newsletter EmphaSIze. You can subscribe for free to EmphaSIze here or view previous Research Digests here.
SensorNet
SensorNet Magazine, established in 1996, is a twice-yearly free publication. It features in-depth interviews with the practitioners and researchers pushing the frontiers of sensory integration theory and practice.
SIE Annual Conference
Join us at our free virtual conference each year to watch presentations from leading international practitioners and experts by experience. Our popular conference includes updates from research authors and poster presentations from early career researchers. If you are not a member, join SIE for free and look out for emails about the upcoming free conference. Find out more about the free SIE Annual Conference here.