Sensory Integration Therapy in Autism: Mechanisms and Effectiveness
Completed · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Autism
In brief
A common feature of ASD is over or under sensitivity to the environment and difficulty putting sensory information together in an orderly way, referred to here as sensory issues. Building on previous work, this study will test the efficacy of Sensory Integration Therapy (SIT), a non-invasive intervention to improve functional skills in children with ASD, in comparison to commonly applied ABA behavioral treatments, in the treatment of ASD symptoms. A total of 180 children with ASD and sensory issues in the greater New York City Metropolitan area will complete this study.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT02536365
- Run by
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- People needed
- 135
- Starts
- 2015-09-01
- Expected to finish
- 2022-10-15
- Last updated by the study team
- 2023-08-29
Who can join
Age: 6 and older, up to 10. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Between the ages of 6.0 and 9.5 at the time of enrollment
- Have a diagnosis of ASD that is confirmed by our research certified licensed psychologist based on clinical impression, DSM-5 criteria, and cut off scores from the Autism Diagnostic Schedule -2 (ADOS) (or CARS; an adjustment made as a consequence of pandemic) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised (ADI-R)
- Has a non-verbal cognitive level of 70 or above (IQ cutoff is based on feasibility study data, and we make exceptions on a case-by-case basis to as low as 65)
- Demonstrate difficulty processing and integrating sensory information as measured by the Sensory Profile (SP; 3 or more subscales or total test score in the definite difference range; or the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test -SIPT-; score of -1.0 on 3 or more subtests)
- Guardians willing to attend 3 weekly sessions for the duration of the period and to refrain from initiation of any new behavioral, therapeutic or alternative treatments during the study period
- If on psychotropic medication, they are at a point where dosage and treatment are stabilized for the duration of the study.
You may not qualify if…
- Children who are receiving > 12 hours/week of ongoing ASD-related services(excluding their educational programing), or who are receiving more than one hour per week of services that closely approximate the experimental intervention, will be excluded. Additionally, for safety reasons, children with significant medical co-morbidities (e.g., major heart problems, blindness, deafness, cerebral palsy, Fragile X or Down Syndrome, or tuberous sclerosis) will not be allowed to participate.
Where it is running
- Children's Specialized Hospital — New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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