The effects of sensory integration on stereotypy of preschool students with autism

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to systematically replicate the independent variable used in Moore et al.'s (2015) experiment using sensory integration therapy (SIT) as a treatment for automatically maintained stereotypy. According to sensory integration theory, providing certain sensory experiences to individuals with autism can change their repetitive behavior. Despite the lack of research supporting SIT as a valid treatment to reduce episodes of stereotypy in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it remains a common treatment in most schools and centers designed for these individuals. The study was conducted with three preschool students with ASD using a multiple baseline design across participants to test for a functional relation between the independent variable, the participants' individualized, prescribed sensory diets and the dependent variable, their episodes of stereotypy in morning and afternoon sessions. The results do not support the use of a sensory diet as a treatment for stereotypy.