From a truly scientific perspective, there has not been a good evidence base for use of sensory strategies. Yet most people with autsim, their families, and those who work with them acknowledge that some sensory-based strategies (e.g., providing strong proprioceptive input such as jumping or deep pressure prior to a work task, allowing individuals to wear hats to block out fluorescent lights flashing, or having earplugs/earphones to reduce noise) know with certainty that many individuals benefit from such interventions. A just-published review of the literature in the journal, Autism, offers this thought to explain the disparity: Studies of sensory-based interventions suggest that they may not be effective; however, they did not follow recommended protocols or target sensory processing problems. In other words, these interventions are not likely to work unless they actually address the sensory challenges that the individual has. If youve met one form of sensory challenge, youve met one form of sensory challenge... One size does not fit all.
Posted on: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 21:52:30 +0000