The Effects of a Sensory Motor Activities Protocol Based on the Theory of Sensory Integration on Children Diagnosed with Preprimary Impairments

Abstract

According to the theory of sensory integration (SI), when an infant successfully meets the challenges of his/her environment, the brain learns to organize the sensation for production of adaptive responses. Research studies have shown mixed results about the effects of the SI therapy and most studies have used single system designs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Sensory Integrative Treatment Protocol (SITP) in treating children with preprimary impairments. Two intact classrooms were used as experimental and control groups. The experimental group consisted of 15 children and the control group consisted of 16 children diagnosed with preprimary impairments. Descriptive statistics and a 2 (group) × 2 (time) repeated measures ANOVA were employed in data analyses. DeGangi-Berk Test of Sensory Integration (TSI) and the Miller Assessment for Preschoolers (MAP) were used as the instruments to measure change within and between the two groups before and after the intervention. TSI and MAP scores went up considerably for the children in the experimental group following the intervention. Based on the results, the researchers suggest that “Sensory Integration Treatment Protocol” based on the theory of sensory integration was effective in reducing sensory integration dysfunction and improving preschool performance in children diagnosed with pre-primary impairments.

KEYWORDS:

• Preschool performance
• quasi-experimental design