TOPIC

Sensory integration research

Everything we have read on sensory integration. Each paper is summarised from the full article rather than its abstract, so the limitations are in there too, and the funding wherever the paper declares it.

135 PAPERS · PAGE 2 OF 3 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTRCT2022The impact of external and internal focus of attention on visual dependence and EEG alpha oscillations during postural control.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn healthy young adults balancing on a rocker board with misleading visual cues, focusing attention on the board itself reduced sway and visual reliance. Focusing on the feet did not improve balance compared to standard instructions.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2021Relation of sensory processing and stomatognical system of oral respiratory children.CoDASMouth-breathing children showed significantly more sensory processing dysfunction than nasal-breathing peers, especially in balance and movement. This may contribute to head movements and food escape during eating. Screen for sensory issues in mouth-breathers who struggle with mealtimes.
• PTOTPilot2021Changes in Cortical Activity in Stroke Survivors Undergoing Botulinum Neurotoxin Therapy for Treatment of Focal Spasticity.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesNine stroke survivors showed increased brain activity in motor areas after botulinum toxin injections. However, the average improvement in arm function was smaller than the threshold considered clinically meaningful. This suggests the brain changes may not translate to noticeable functional gains for most patients.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Exploring sensory phenotypes in autism spectrum disorder.Molecular autismParent reports grouped autistic participants into five sensory patterns. The broad sensory difference group had lower daily living and social scores, while the most typical group had higher scores. IQ and sex did not differ across the groups.
• OTSLPOther2022Sensory profile of children with Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD).CoDASCaregiver reports did not distinguish children with CAPD from children with typical auditory processing. A moderate visual sensory difference appeared, but the groups were not separated.
• OTSurvey2021Preparing Advanced Clinicians and Practitioners: A Model for Mentorship in Occupational Therapy Practice.Occupational therapy internationalPediatric OTs rated a week-long sensory integration mentorship highly, citing better clinical reasoning and networking. Most wanted more time for specific topics and smaller groups. The study reports satisfaction with the course format, not evidence that the mentorship improved patient care or clinical skills.
• OTCohort2022Effectiveness of sensory modulation for people with schizophrenia: A multisite quantitative prospective cohort study.Australian occupational therapy journalSensory modulation did not improve outcomes more than standard care in 41 people with schizophrenia. Both groups improved similarly, so SM is not proven superior to usual treatment, though it may offer short-term distress relief as a complementary option.
• OTPilot2022Exploring Effects of Sensory Garments on Participation of Children on the Autism Spectrum: A Pretest-Posttest Repeated Measure Design.Occupational therapy internationalChildren who tolerated wearing sensory garments improved on their specific goals for sleep and dressing. However, parent stress and sense of competence did not change. The study lacked a control group, so improvement may have come from the goal-setting process itself.
• OTCohort2022Atypical sensory processing features in children with autism, and their relationships with maladaptive behaviors and caregiver strain.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchSensory avoidance was the strongest predictor of caregiver strain, even after accounting for maladaptive behaviors. Identifying specific sensory patterns, rather than just behavior problems, helps clinicians understand which families are at highest risk for stress and where to target support.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023A Qualitative Exploration into the Sensory Experiences of Autistic Mothers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSeven autistic mothers described how pregnancy and childcare intensified sensory overwhelm, making touch and sound painful. Late diagnosis prevented them from understanding these reactions. They relied on downtime and online peer support, often feeling misunderstood by healthcare professionals.
• OTSLPCohort2022The Mediating Effects of Alexithymia, Intolerance of Uncertainty, and Anxiety on the Relationship Between Sensory Processing Differences and Restricted and Repetitive Behaviours in Autistic Adults.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSensory processing differences were linked to restricted and repetitive behaviours in autistic adults. This link was partly explained by difficulty identifying emotions and intolerance of uncertainty, but anxiety did not mediate the relationship with insistence on sameness.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Patterns of sensory processing in young children with autism: Differences in autism characteristics, adaptive skills, and attentional problems.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceMost young autistic children showed mixed sensory patterns rather than uniform severe differences. Children with definite sensory differences across all modalities had lower social and daily living skills and more attention problems. Those with mostly typical sensory profiles had fewer such difficulties.
• OTCohort2022Sensory processing in 16p11.2 deletion and 16p11.2 duplication.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with 16p11.2 deletion or duplication often had sensory differences similar to autistic children, especially body position and not noticing sensory input. Scores varied widely, so assess each child's sensory profile rather than assume one pattern.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Dietary intake in children on the autism spectrum is altered and linked to differences in autistic traits and sensory processing styles.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with autism ate lower-quality diets than their siblings and unrelated peers, with less variety and more nutrient-poor foods. However, siblings shared some poor habits, and sensory hypersensitivity or seeking was linked to healthier eating, suggesting family and sensory factors drive diet more than diagnosis alone.
• OTSLPOther2022Brainstem white matter microstructure is associated with hyporesponsiveness and overall sensory features in autistic children.Molecular autismIn autistic children, higher sensory features linked to lower brainstem water diffusion, while non-autistic children showed the opposite. This suggests brainstem differences in autism are distinct from typical development. These findings do not yet change clinical interventions.
• OTSLPCohort2023Short report: The role of oral hypersensitivity in feeding behaviors of young autistic children.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceYoung autistic children with oral hypersensitivity showed more food acceptance problems and caused caregivers more negative feelings, but their mealtime behaviors and oral motor skills did not differ from non-hypersensitive peers. Screening for taste and texture sensitivity helps identify which feeding issues to target.
• PTOTRCT2023Contextual sensory integration training vs. traditional vestibular rehabilitation: a pilot randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationBoth traditional vestibular rehab and an immersive VR headset program improved dizziness and walking balance equally. The VR approach was not superior to standard care in this small pilot, though both groups saw clinically important gains over eight weeks.
• OTOther2023Sensory Processing and Autistic Traits: Mediation Effect of Frontal Alpha Asymmetry.Occupational therapy internationalIn 73 neurotypical adults, sensation avoiding predicted autistic traits directly and indirectly through relative right-sided cortical activity. This brain pattern partially mediated the link, suggesting withdrawal motivation may underpin how sensory avoidance relates to autistic features.
• OTOther2023Sensory processing, autonomic nervous function, and social participation in people with mental illnesses.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTIn people with mental illness, lower parasympathetic activity was linked to higher sensory avoidance, which in turn was associated with reduced social participation. This suggests assessing sensory processing patterns before interventions aimed at increasing social engagement.
• OTOther2023An Observed Assessment of Sensory Responsivity in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Associations with Diagnosis, Age, and Parent Report.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAn observed sensory test found children and adolescents with ASD showed more over-responsivity and sensory craving than typically developing peers. Scores did not match parent report, so both sources may add information.
• OTOther2024Brief Report: Characterization of Sensory Over-Responsivity in a Broad Neurodevelopmental Concern Cohort Using the Sensory Processing Three Dimensions (SP3D) Assessment.Journal of autism and developmental disorders44 of 82 children with neurodevelopmental concerns had auditory or tactile over-responsivity. Auditory over-responsivity was more common than tactile over-responsivity, and rates did not differ by ASD status.
• OTSLPOther2024Caregivers' Assessment of the Sensory Processing Patterns Exhibited by Children with Autism in the Gulf Region.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregiver ratings showed children with mild or high-functioning autism had widespread sensory differences, especially touch, body position, movement, hearing and oral input. Visual processing was typical. Older age was linked to slightly fewer symptoms.
• OTSurvey2024Examining a model of anxiety in autistic adults.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceThe proposed anxiety model was not supported across both groups together. In autistic adults, an adjusted model linked uncertainty, emotion regulation and sensory differences to anxiety. In non-autistic adults, uncertainty and difficulty identifying emotions linked to anxiety, but emotion regulation did not.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024An observational study of parental language during play and mealtime in toddlers at variable likelihood for autism.Journal of child languageParents spoke more and used more directives during play, while mealtime drew out more questions and descriptive adjectives. For toddlers at elevated likelihood for autism, parental language did not differ from lower-likelihood peers based on status alone, but varied with the child's specific skills.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Hearing Aid Amplification Improves Postural Control for Older Adults With Hearing Loss When Other Sensory Cues Are Impoverished.Trends in hearingOlder adults with hearing loss and impaired balance systems stood more steadily on foam when wearing hearing aids. The improvement was not linked to how long they had used the devices, suggesting the benefit comes from immediate access to environmental sound cues rather than long-term adaptation.
• PTOTSLPRCT2024Enhancing touch sensibility with sensory electrical stimulation and sensory retraining.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSub-threshold electrical stimulation improved texture discrimination within the treated group, but the difference versus sham failed significance after correction. Stimulation increased scanning speed and brain activity, yet no direct clinical benefit was proven for patients.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Associations between Executive Functions and Sensorimotor Performance in Children at Risk for Learning Disabilities.Occupational therapy internationalPoor standing balance and weak sentence repetition were the strongest predictors of being at risk for learning difficulties in preschoolers. These two factors predicted risk better than IQ or age, suggesting clinicians should screen for balance and verbal working memory alongside cognitive tests.
• OTOther2023Sensory modulation interventions for adults with mental illness: A scoping review.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTMost studies included in this review were pilot, qualitative, mixed-method or single-case reports. They described reduced distress, anxiety or agitation, but did not prove the interventions work.
• OTOther2023Is Birth Method Associated with Sensory Hyperreactivity in Children 3-4 Years in an Upper-Middle-Income Country?Occupational therapy internationalChildren born vaginally had significantly more sensory hyperreactivity than those born by caesarean section. This contradicts the hypothesis that birth method causes the condition. The finding is likely confounded by socioeconomic status, as most vaginal births occurred in lower-income groups with higher baseline rates of sensory issues.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Sensory experiences questionnaire unravels differences in sensory profiles between MECP2-related disorders.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with MECP2 duplication show significantly higher sensory hypersensitivity and seeking than those with Rett syndrome, especially in tactile and vestibular areas. Both groups score above typical ranges, but Rett scores are more homogeneous and closer to typical levels.
• OTOther2024Ayres Sensory Integration® Intervention for Autistic Children: A Telehealth Adaptation.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationEight experienced telehealth and occupational therapy experts reviewed a new manual for delivering Ayres Sensory Integration via video. They rated it feasible and clear, but asked for better parent coaching tools and simpler assessment guides before it could be used in practice.
• OTQualitative2024Adaptation of a Sensory Reactivity Assessment for Use With Children in the Western Cape Province, South Africa.Occupational therapy internationalCaregivers and therapists found American sensory questionnaires hard to read and some balance tasks frightening. Adapted wording and tasks were accepted by caregivers, but the assessment still needs testing before diagnostic use.
• PTOTSLPOther2024ICF-based hearing and functioning assessment: validation and research outcomes of utilizing the HEAR-COMMAND tool for patients with mild to moderately severe hearing loss and individuals with normal hearing.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThe HEAR-COMMAND tool reliably captures hearing and daily functioning challenges across English, German, and Arabic speakers. It identifies communication difficulties in noisy environments that standard audiometry often misses, offering therapists a comprehensive view of patient-reported disability beyond pure tone thresholds.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Innovative approaches for managing patients with chronic vestibular disorders: follow-up indicators and predictive markers for studying the vestibular error signal.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn 62 patients with chronic vestibular disorders who failed conventional therapy, integrative vestibular rehabilitation improved near visual acuity, fusion, and stereoscopic vision. It also reduced dizziness handicap and improved quality of life. Because multiple treatments were combined, we cannot isolate which specific technique caused these changes.
• OTOther2024The Gestalt of functioning in autism revisited: First revision of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Core Sets.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceUpdated autism ICF Core Sets add sensory, fine hand use, daily activity, and environment codes; the common brief set is not recommended until further notice.
• OTSurvey2024Camouflaging, not sensory processing or autistic identity, predicts eating disorder symptoms in autistic adults.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIn 180 autistic adults, camouflaging (hiding autistic traits) uniquely predicted eating disorder symptoms. Sensory processing was related but did not uniquely predict, and autistic identity showed no association.
• OTSLPCase-Control2024Changes in Autism and Co-Occurring Conditions from Preschool to Adolescence: Considerations for Precision Monitoring and Treatment Planning.Journal of autism and developmental disorders85.5% of children diagnosed with autism in preschool still had it by adolescence. Children with autism also gained ADHD, DD, sensory integration and speech-language conditions more often than children with other developmental or mental health diagnoses.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Clinical utility and psychometric properties of tools for early detection of developmental concerns and disability in young children: A scoping review.Developmental medicine and child neurology67 validated tools are recommended for screening and assessing children from birth to 5 years 11 months. The ASQ-3 is best multi-domain screen; GMA is strongest early CP screen; SACS-R is best autism screen.
• OTSLPCase-Control2024Prenatal exposure to hypoxic risk conditions in autistic and neurotypical youth: Associated ventricular differences, sleep disturbance, and sensory processing.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic youth with prenatal hypoxic risk conditions had significantly larger third ventricles than those without. This structural difference correlated with more sleep disturbances and sensory overresponsivity, suggesting a potential biological link between early oxygen deprivation and specific clinical symptoms.
• OTRCT2025Telerehabilitation for visual field defects with a multisensory training: a feasibility study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 26 adults with chronic homonymous visual field defects, home-based audio-visual scanning training improved visual search accuracy and speed, reading, and daily vision-related difficulties, with gains persisting to 6 months. It did not enlarge the visual field.
• OTSLPNarrative Review2024How auditory processing influences the autistic profile: A review.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic people’s auditory challenges are heterogeneous and linked to reduced filtering, adaptation, and increased distress in noisy settings. Noise-canceling headphones may increase participation. Music and repetitive behaviors can be pleasurable, so avoid assuming all sensory reactivity is negative.
• PTOTCase Report2024Non-surgical reduction in thoracolumbar kyphosis and sagittal vertical axis corresponding with improved sensorimotor control in an older adult with spinal deformity: a Chiropractic Biophysics® case report.Journal of physical therapy scienceOne older man with spinal deformity improved his standing balance and reduced his forward lean after four months of chiropractic exercises, traction and whole-body vibration. Because this was a single patient, it shows what happened to him, not that the treatment works.
• PTOTCohort2025Relationship between post-stroke trunk function and brain lesion locations: A support vector regression lesion-symptom mapping study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineRight hemisphere damage to specific motor and sensory pathways predicted poor trunk control at stroke admission. This link disappeared by discharge because most patients recovered trunk function. Lesions in the right hemisphere may signal a need for early trunk-specific training.
• PTOTCase-Control2025Cortical adaptations in Tai Chi practitioners during sensory conflict: an EEG-based effective connectivity analysis of postural control.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationYoung, experienced Tai Chi athletes swayed less than non-practisers on a rotating platform under visual-vestibular conflict. Their EEG showed stronger right somatosensory outflow and weaker right parietal outflow. This links long-term training to sensory re-weighting, not to Tai Chi as a treatment.
• OTSLPCohort2025Age-Related Trajectories of Autistic Traits in Children With Angelman Syndrome.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic traits and sensory issues in Angelman syndrome remain stable from childhood through adolescence, but do not necessarily indicate ASD. Deletion genotypes show more traits than other types. Clinicians should interpret ADOS scores cautiously, as severe intellectual disability often drives these behaviors.
• OTQualitative2024Research Knowledge Translation in Sensory Integration-Based Therapy: Exploring Subjectivity of Clinical Expertise.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieSix UK occupational therapists said they chose sensory integration work because they personally saw clients improve, ranking that lived experience above published trials. They relied on mentors, peers and conferences, and worried their sources only confirmed what they already believed.
• OTQualitative2025Mothers' Perspectives: Daily Life When Your Child Has Sensory Differences.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthMothers of children with sensory differences described changing jobs, moving house and restricting family life to manage meltdowns and sensory overload. They felt blamed by schools and health services, but found relief through peer support, family help and small environmental adaptations like soundproofing.
• OTOther2024Convergent validity of two adult self-report sensory scales: Comparing the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile and the Sensory Processing Measure 2-Adult Form.Australian occupational therapy journalIn 42 Australian adults, scores on the newer Sensory Processing Measure 2-Adult Form correlated with the established Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile. This supports using either scale for adult sensory assessment, depending on whether you need system-specific details or sensation-seeking scores.
• OTOther2025The Impact of Cerebral Visual Impairment on Social Skills and Sensory Processing.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthToddlers with cerebral palsy and cerebral visual impairment had the lowest parent-reported social competence scores. Cerebral visual impairment was not linked to sensory processing differences beyond cerebral palsy itself.
• OTCohort2025Participation in health promoting occupations among mothers of children aged 3-8 years with and without difficulties in sensory processing.Australian occupational therapy journalMothers of children with sensory modulation difficulties reported feeling less competent and participating less frequently in health-promoting activities than mothers of typically developing children. These lower scores were associated with reduced quality of life across all domains.