What is Ayre's Sensory Integration®
Sensory integration, a term originated by A. Jean Ayres, is a theory and Evidence-Based Practice1 approach that focuses on improving one's ability to receive, sort, process, and make use of the information originating from the body and the environment and perceived by our senses (touch, gravity, body position and movement, sight, smell, hearing, taste).
Ayres' Sensory Integration ® (ASI) uses individually tailored active-sensorimotor activities contextualized in PLAY, presented in“just right” challenges to support adaptive response and child's participation in daily life activities. ASI® incorporates specialized equipment and materials in purposeful and playful activities in order to improve adaptive behavior. ASI® is implemented by therapists with specialized training, most often occupational therapists (OT) and takes place in specially designed clinical settings that offer a safe and sensory-rich experience.
Reference:
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1. Evidence-Based Practices for Children, Youth, and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum DisorderSteinbrenner, J. R., Hume, K., Odom, S. L., Morin, K. L., Nowell, S. W., Tomaszewski, B., Szendrey, S., McIntyre, N. S., Yücesoy-Özkan, S., & Savage, M. N. (2020). Evidence-based practices for children, youth, and young adults with Autism. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice Review Team.
is ASI right for my child?
Does your child:
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Avoid certain textures (e.g., clothing tags, sand, or playdough).
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Resist grooming activities like hair brushing or nail cutting.
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Appear clumsy or bump into things often.
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Use too much or too little force (e.g., breaking toys or struggling to hold a pencil).
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Seek out deep pressure (e.g., crashing into furniture or hugging tightly).
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Avoid movement activities like swinging or climbing.
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Get dizzy easily or seem fearful of heights.
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Constantly seek movement (e.g., spinning, rocking, or running).
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Constantly touch objects, spin, jump, or crash into things.
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Have trouble sitting still or focusing.
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Struggle with tasks like tying shoes, using utensils, or riding a bike.
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Avoid trying new physical activities.
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Have trouble planning and completing multi-step tasks.
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Avoid group play or social interactions.
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Have trouble understanding personal space.
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Struggle to interpret social cues or engage in conversations.
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If you answer yes to any of these above, ASI is likely strongly beneficial for your child!
An ASI session includes:
• Active engagement of the child
• Naturalistic intervention (meaning... LOTS OF PLAYING) approaches for arousal, attention, motor planning, including arrangement of the intervention environment
• Individualized treatment that is one-on-one with a trained therapist
• Clinic-based services
• Time intensity - multiple treatment sessions within a week • Treatment delivered by occupational therapists who are trained in this approach
*Note that not all autistic individuals have sensory integration challenges and therefore, ASI® would not be appropriate for all. Speak with your therapist to discover if ASI is for your child
