The impact of an in-class sensory activity schedule on task performance of children with autism and intellectual disability: A pilot study

Abstract

Introduction

There is limited evidence to support use of sensory interventions by teachers in the classroom. The purpose of this pilot study is to determine the effectiveness of sensory activity schedule intervention in supporting participation and increasing classroom task performance in students with autism.

Method

A non-concurrent, AB single system research design across multiple baselines was used with four students with autism who attended an autism-specific school. Students demonstrated atypical sensory processing, which negatively affected their school performance. Repeated baseline and intervention data were collected by school staff using video recording during classroom tasks. Tasks performed were designated by the child’s teacher. Stage one of the Perceive, Recall, Plan, Perform System of Task Analysis was used as a repeated measure of student performance. Ratings were carried out by independent raters who were blinded to the condition of performance.

Results

Results revealed three out of four students achieved significant improvements in classroom task performance following the use of sensory activity schedule intervention developed in consultation with an occupational therapist as measured by the task analysis.

Conclusion

This study provides emerging evidence for the use of sensory activity schedule intervention in the classroom for students with autism.

Keywords

Autism spectrum disorders intellectual disability sensory processing

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (2013) Definition of intellectual disability. Available at: http://aaidd.org/intellectual-disability/definition#.VQDQD_mUd_4 (accessed 10 March 2015).

American Psychiatric Association (2014) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, 5th ed (DSM-V), Washington, DC: APA.

Anzalone

Lane

(2011) Sensory processing disorders. In: Lane

Bundy

(eds) Kids can be Kids: A Childhood Occupations Approach, Philadelphia, PA: FA Davis, pp. 437–459.

Ashburner

Rodger

Ziviani

(2014) Optimizing participation of children with autism spectrum disorder experiencing sensory challenges: A clinical reasoning framework. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy 81(1): 29–38.

Ashburner

Ziviani

Rodger

(2008) Sensory processing and classroom emotional, behavioral, and educational outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorder. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 62(5): 564–573.

Aspect (2012) Aspect Comprehensive Approach for Education: Action research study and development of a user manual. Available at: https://www.autismspectrum.org.au/content/aspect-comprehensive-approach-education-action-research-study-and-development-user-manual (accessed 24 February 2014).

Aubin

Lamoureux

Gelinas

(2014) Daily task performance and information processing among people with schizophrenia and healthy controls: A comparative study. British Journal of Occupational Therapy 77(9): 466–474.

Barton

Reichow

Schnitz

(2015) Review article: A systematic review of sensory-based treatments for children with disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities 37: 64–80.

Ben-Sasson

Hen

Fluss

(2009) A meta-analysis of sensory modulation symptoms in individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 39(1): 1–11.

10.

Case-Smith

Weaver

Fristad

(2015) A systematic review of sensory processing interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders. Autism 19(2): 133–148.

11.

Chapparo

Lowe

(2011) School: Participating in more than just the classroom. In: Lane

Bundy

(eds) Kids can be Kids: A Childhood Occupations Approach, Philadelphia, PA: FA Davis, pp. 83–101.

12.

Chapparo C and Ranka J (2011) The PRPP System of Task Analysis: User’s Training Manual – Research Edition. Occupational Performance Network: School of Occupation and Leisure Sciences, The University of Sydney.

13.

DET Queensland (2011) Best Practice Guidelines for Department of Education and Training Occupational Therapists: Supporting Students with Sensory Processing Challenges. Department of Education and Training, Queensland, Australia.

14.

Greenwood

(2004) Single case experimental design. In: Minichiello

Sullivan

Greenwood

Axford

(eds) Research Methods for Nursing and Health Science, Sydney, Australia: Pearson Education, pp. 295–318.

15.

Happé

Frith

(2006) The weak coherence account: Detail-focused cognitive style in autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 36(1): 5–25.

16.

Hinder

Ashburner

(2010) Occupation centred intervention in the school setting. In: Rodger

(ed.) Occupation Centred Practice With Children: A Practical Guide for Occupational Therapists, Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 227–247.

17.

Kazdin

(2011) Single-Case Research Designs, 2nd ed. Methods for Clinical and Applied Settings, New York: Oxford University Press.

18.

Lang

O’Reilly

Healy

(2012) Sensory integration therapy for autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders 6(3): 1004–1018.

19.

Lecavalier

Leone

Wiltz

(2006) The impact of behaviour problems on caregiver stress in young people with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 50(3): 172–183.

20.

Losardo

Notari-Syverson

(2001) Alternative Approaches to Assessing Young Children, Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.

21.

Lowe S (2010) Cognitive Strategies and School Participation for Students with Learning Difficulties. Unpublished Doctoral Thesis. The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

22.

McGinnis

Blakely

Harvey

(2013) The behavioural effects of a procedure used by pediatric occupational therapists. Behavioral Interventions 28(1): 48–57.

23.

McIntosh

Miller

Shyu

(1999) Development and validation of the short sensory profile. In: Dunn

(ed.) The Sensory Profile examiner’s Manual, San Antonio, Texas: Psychological Corporation, pp. 59–73.

24.

Matson

Shoemaker

(2009) Review: Intellectual disability and its relationship to autism spectrum disorders. Research in Developmental Disabilities 30(6): 1107–1114.

25.

Mesibov

Shea

(2011) Evidence-based practices and autism. Autism 15(1): 114–133.

26.

Miller

Coll

Schoen

(2007) A randomized controlled pilot study of the effectiveness of occupational therapy for children with sensory modulation disorder. American Journal of Occupational Therapy 61(2): 228–238.

27.

Murdock

Dantzler

Walker

(2014) The effect of a platform swing on the independent work behaviours of children with autism spectrum disorders. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities 29(1): 50–61.

28.

Nott

Chapparo

Heard

(2009) Reliability of the Perceive, Recall, Plan and Perform System of Task Analysis: A criterion-referenced assessment. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal 56(5): 307–314.

29.

Ottenbacher

(1986) Evaluating Clinical Change: Strategies for Occupational and Physical Therapists, Philadelphia, PA: Williams & Wilkins.

30.

Schaaf

Benevides

Leiby

(2013) Autonomic dysregulation during sensory stimulation in children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorder 45(2): 461–472.

31.

Sniezyk

Zane

(2015) Investigating the effects of sensory integration therapy in decreasing stereotypy. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities 30(1): 13–22.

32.

Tate

McDonald

Perdices

(2008) Rating the methodological quality of single-subject designs and n-of-1 trials: Introducing the single-case experimental design (SCED) scale. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation 18(4): 385–401.

33.

Tomcheck

Huebner

Dunn

(2014) Patterns of sensory processing in children with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders 8(9): 1214–1224.

34.

Wilbarger P and Wilbarger J (2007) Sensory Defensiveness: A Comprehensive Treatment Approach: Course Materials. Santa Barbara, California: Avant Educational Programs Inc.

35.

Zhan

Ottenbacher

(2001) Single subject research designs for disability research. Disability and Rehabilitation 23(1): 1–8.