Brief Report: Parent Perspectives on Sensory-Based Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Moira Peña, Yvonne Ng, Jacquie Ripat and 1 others
PMID 32852638WHAT IT FOUND
Parents valued sensory interventions for their children with autism, but many found them difficult to use due to cost, access, and child resistance.
They preferred low-tech, home-based items over specialized equipment. This reflects parental experience, not proof that these treatments work.
Key findings
01About three quarters of parents viewed sensory-based interventions as important or very important for addressing challenging behaviours.
02Parents identified barriers including difficulty using interventions at home or in the community, lack of access to equipment, high cost, and the child's decreased motivation.
03Parents were more likely to use items already found in the household and less clinical-looking equipment, suggesting a preference for low-cost, accessible strategies.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study used a convenience sample, so results may not represent all parents of children with autism. The survey did not evaluate the children's actual sensory processing needs, so it is unclear if the recommended interventions were appropriate for each child. The study relied on parent self-report and did not measure clinical outcomes or efficacy of the interventions. Parents who chose to participate may have had a stronger interest in sensory interventions than the general population.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation. No other conflicts of interest were declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret high parental acceptance and perceived helpfulness as evidence that these sensory-based interventions are effective. The study reports parent experiences and barriers, not clinical outcomes or controlled comparisons.