The effect of ayres sensory integration therapy on adaptive behavior, temperament, sensory reactivity, attachment, and play skills in children with autism spectrum disorder: A randomized controlled trial with one month follow-up

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) therapy, which is one of the most frequently used interventions by occupational therapists, on adaptive behavior, temperament, sensory reactivity, attachment and play skills in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Sixty children with ASD, aged between 48-59 months, were included in the study. Children included in the study were randomly divided into intervention (n:30) and control (n:30) groups. While fine motor skills training was applied to the intervention and control groups under an individual training program, one hour a week for 12 weeks, in addition to fine motor activities, ASI therapy was applied to the intervention group for one hour a day, three days a week for 12 weeks, according to ASI fidelity measure. Evaluation tests were applied to the participants three times before the intervention, at the end of the intervention after 12 weeks, and one month after the intervention. In the study, Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales was used to evaluate adaptive behavior skills, Sensory Profile was used to evaluate sensory reactivity disorders, Children's Behavior Questionnaire Short Form was used to evaluate temperament profiles, Attachment Q-Set Version 3 was used to analyze attachment styles, Revised Knox Preschool Play Scale was used to evaluate play skills. At the end of the study, it was determined that children with ASD in the intervention group who received ASI therapy had better skills in daily living skills, communication, social participation which are among the subtests of adaptive behavior, in the areas of sensory processing and modulation, which are among the subtests of sensory reactivity disorders, in the subtests of temperament, surgency and effortful control, secure and avoidant subtests attachment, compared to the children in the control group who received only individual training (p<0.05). In conclusion, it was concluded that ASI can have multifaceted positive effects on children with ASD