On 17 Nov 2005 at 12:08, DeVolder Carol L wrote: > Do any of you know anything about Sensory > Integration Dysfunction? When I look for information, I findmany > enthusiastic reports on how successful it is in treating autism, and > how it is an essential component of occupational therapy. It seems > like pseudoscience to me, but I haven't been able to support my > position yet.
Carol: Yes, the name alone shouts "pseudoscience", doesn't it? I think your problem in finding studies may be that you were looking under "sensory integration dysfunction" rather than "sensory integration therapy", although the results are still thin, nonetheless. Among the references already supplied by TIPSters, I particularly liked this one (from the abstract): "Results of this critique raise serious doubts as to the validity or utility of SI therapy...and..for any other groups diagnosed as having "sensory integrative dysfunction". It is concluded that the current fund of research findings may well be sufficient to declare SI therapy not merely an unproven, but a demonstrably ineffective primary or adjunctive remedial treatment for learning disabilities and other disorders" (Hoehn and Baumeister, 1994). You might also check out the website of the Association for Science in Autism Treatment (I like _that_ name) on the topic (at http://www.asatonline.org/about_autism/autism_info12.html). They conclude: " Current research _does not support_ SI as an effective treatment for children with autism, developmental delays or mental retardation; nor has the limited research to date been able to identify SI as an independent variable responsible for positive change in a child's behaviors or skills. In at least one study, SI was shown to actually increase self-injurious behaviors." Stephen Hoehn, T., & Baumeister, A. (1994). A critique of the application of sensory integration therapy to children with learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 6, 338-50. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Department of Psychology Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Lennoxville, QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Dept web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy TIPS discussion list for psychology teachers at http://faculty.frostburg.edu/psyc/southerly/tips/index.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
