The effect of ayres sensory integration therapy on sensory, motor, cognitive, behavioral skills and social participation in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Randomized controlled trial

This study was planned to examine the effect of Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) therapy on sensory, motor, cognitive, behavioral skills and social participation in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A total of 94 children aged 6-8 years, 47 in the intervention group and 47 in the control group, participated in the study. Conners Parent and Teacher Rating Scales, Sensory Profile, Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT), Goal Attainment Scale, Bruininks-Oseretsky Motor Proficiency Test-2 Brief Form (BOT-2BF), Childhood Executive Functioning Inventory, STROOP-TBAG, Emotion Regulation Checklist, Participation and Environment Scale-Children and Youth (PEM-CY) were used. The assessment tools were administered to both groups at the first assessment and again after 10 weeks. While the control group was placed on a waiting list, the intervention group received ASI therapy for 60 minutes (total 30 hours) 3 times a week for 10 weeks. In intergroup comparisons, the intervention group showed a statistically and clinically significant improvement in all assessment results after ASI therapy (p<0.001, η²>0.1379). In intragroup comparisons, a statistically significant difference was found in all scales in the intervention group. In the control group, there was no statistically significant difference in all scales except SIPT Oral Praxis and Finger Identification, BOT-2BF Balance, PEM-CY Community-Support Number. The results of the study showed that ASI therapy is an important approach to improve sensory, motor, cognitive, behavioral skills and participation in children with ADHD. Therefore, it is recommended that occupational therapists apply ASI therapy as an evidence-based occupational therapy approach in children with ADHD.