An intervention for sensory difficulties in children with autism: A randomized trial

Roseann C. Schaaf; Teal Benevides; Zoe Mailloux; Patricia Faller; Joanne Hunt; Elke Van Hooydonk; Regina Freeman; Benjamin Leiby; Jocelyn Sendecki; Donna Kelly

doi:10.1007/s10803-013-1983-8

An intervention for sensory difficulties in children with autism: A randomized trial

Roseann C. Schaaf, Teal Benevides, Zoe Mailloux, Patricia Faller, Joanne Hunt, Elke Van Hooydonk, Regina Freeman, Benjamin Leiby, Jocelyn Sendecki, Donna Kelly

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

138 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study evaluated a manualized intervention for sensory difficulties for children with autism, ages 4-8 years, using a randomized trial design. Diagnosis of autism was confirmed using gold standard measures. Results show that the children in the treatment group (n = 17) who received 30 sessions of the occupational therapy intervention scored significantly higher (p = 0.003, d = 1.2) on Goal Attainment Scales (primary outcome), and also scored significantly better on measures of caregiver assistance in self-care (p = 0.008 d = 0.9) and socialization (p = 0.04, d = 0.7) than the Usual Care control group (n = 15). The study shows high rigor in its measurement of treatment fidelity and use of a manualized protocol, and provides support for the use of this intervention for children with autism. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for practice and future research.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1493-1506
Number of pages	14
Journal	Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Volume	44
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1983-8
State	Published - Jul 2014
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Autism spectrum disorders
Intervention
Sensory functions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Developmental and Educational Psychology

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10.1007/s10803-013-1983-8

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title = "An intervention for sensory difficulties in children with autism: A randomized trial",

abstract = "This study evaluated a manualized intervention for sensory difficulties for children with autism, ages 4-8 years, using a randomized trial design. Diagnosis of autism was confirmed using gold standard measures. Results show that the children in the treatment group (n = 17) who received 30 sessions of the occupational therapy intervention scored significantly higher (p = 0.003, d = 1.2) on Goal Attainment Scales (primary outcome), and also scored significantly better on measures of caregiver assistance in self-care (p = 0.008 d = 0.9) and socialization (p = 0.04, d = 0.7) than the Usual Care control group (n = 15). The study shows high rigor in its measurement of treatment fidelity and use of a manualized protocol, and provides support for the use of this intervention for children with autism. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for practice and future research.",

keywords = "Autism spectrum disorders, Intervention, Sensory functions",

author = "Schaaf, {Roseann C.} and Teal Benevides and Zoe Mailloux and Patricia Faller and Joanne Hunt and {Van Hooydonk}, Elke and Regina Freeman and Benjamin Leiby and Jocelyn Sendecki and Donna Kelly",

note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgment This Grant was funded by an Autism Speaks Foundation Treatment Grant (#3797). The authors wish to thank the Jefferson School of Health Professions and the Children{\textquoteright}s Specialized Hospital for their support of this project, and the families and children who participated in this Project. The authors also with to thank the Sensory Integration Research Collaborative for their contributions to the manual used in this study: Teal Benevides, Erna Blanche, Stephanie Bodison, Janice Burke, Ellen Cohn, Jane Koomar, Shelly Lane, Teresa May Benson, Lucy Jane Miller, Diane Parham, Stacey Reynolds, Roseann Schaaf, Sarah Schoen, Susanne Smith Roley.",

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AU - Hunt, Joanne

AU - Van Hooydonk, Elke

AU - Freeman, Regina

AU - Leiby, Benjamin

AU - Sendecki, Jocelyn

AU - Kelly, Donna

N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgment This Grant was funded by an Autism Speaks Foundation Treatment Grant (#3797). The authors wish to thank the Jefferson School of Health Professions and the Children’s Specialized Hospital for their support of this project, and the families and children who participated in this Project. The authors also with to thank the Sensory Integration Research Collaborative for their contributions to the manual used in this study: Teal Benevides, Erna Blanche, Stephanie Bodison, Janice Burke, Ellen Cohn, Jane Koomar, Shelly Lane, Teresa May Benson, Lucy Jane Miller, Diane Parham, Stacey Reynolds, Roseann Schaaf, Sarah Schoen, Susanne Smith Roley.

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An intervention for sensory difficulties in children with autism: A randomized trial

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