None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Sensory-based intervention (SBI) aims to improve undesirable behaviours of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Proprioceptive input is one type of SBI that is hypothesised to organise the central nervous system and aid sensory regulation. Proprioceptive input arises as a result of an individual’s own movement, specifically, active muscle contraction against resistance. However the research on SBI is inconclusive as it remains unclear how to effectively use proprioceptive input to improve behaviour of children with ASD. This study aims to understand how undesirable behaviours of children with ASD and co-occurring sensory over-responsiveness change following parent-facilitated proprioceptive input. The research uses an ABA single-case design (SCD) research over a 9 week period. Five children, aged 4-14 years, with ASD and co-occurring sensory over-responsiveness will participate in the study. Following training from the researcher (occupational therapist), their parents will facilitate responsive, proprioceptive input during play and tasks in the home environment. The parents will score their target behaviour prior to intervention (A1), during the proprioceptive intervention (B), and following the intervention period (A2) on a visual analogue scale. Visual analysis of the VAS data for each participant will be used to establish preliminary evidence of a causal relationship between parent-facilitated, responsive proprioceptive input and undesirable behaviours for children with ASD and co-occurring sensory over-responsiveness.
Interventions
The A-B-A design will be used in this study: a baseline phase (2 weeks), the intervention phase (5 weeks) and post-intervention (or return-to-baseline) phase (2 weeks). Before the baseline phase, the researcher and parent will identify a target undesirable behaviour (that is a result of sensory over-resposiveness) from a sensory domain of Sensory Profile - 2nd edition. In the baseline phase, the parent will rate their child’s target undesirable behaviour using a visual analogue scale (See 'Met
The A-B-A design will be used in this study: a baseline phase (2 weeks), the intervention phase (5 weeks) and post-intervention (or return-to-baseline) phase (2 weeks). Before the baseline phase, the researcher and parent will identify a target undesirable behaviour (that is a result of sensory over-resposiveness) from a sensory domain of Sensory Profile - 2nd edition. In the baseline phase, the parent will rate their child’s target undesirable behaviour using a visual analogue scale (See 'Methods of VAS rating' attachment in original ANZCTR record) at the conclusion of each day for 2 weeks. After the 5-week intervention phase, the post-intervention phase will involve the parent ceasing proprioceptive activities (intervention) and continuing to score the target behaviour daily at the conclusion of each day for 2 weeks. The intervention phase includes a sensory-based intervention. The intervention has been developed to reflect real world occupational therapy with an aim of being easily embedded into regular routines, with minimal additional demands for participants. Furthermore, each participant is able to work towards an outcome meaningful to them. Each child has their own target behaviour that is measured using the visual analogue scale and their own set of proprioceptive activities that work for their family. On the first day of the intervention phase the researcher, who is an experienced and practising occupational therapist, will visit the parents and child, to provide a 1-hour instruction session that includes education, programming, modelling. Education will involve the researcher (occupational therapist) explaining the fundamentals of sensory over-responsiveness to parents and how to be responsive through understanding the signs of over-responsiveness and triggers for the child’s target behaviour. The researcher will work with the parent to develop a program of activities that primarily provide proprioceptive input to the body. These activities will be those that can easily be implemented by the parent in the home environment and in the child’s established routine, typically embedded within play or jobs around the house. Please see the attached parent handout that will be used in the instruction session. The recommended activities do not involve expensive equipment or specialised training to administer. However, the researcher will model how to engage the child in these activities and how to perform the activities correctly in order to provide proprioceptive input. After the instruction and during the intervention phase, the parent will then facilitate the chosen proprioceptive activities to the child in daily life when triggers of the child’s target behaviour are present or when they observe the child showing signs of over-responsiveness. The parent will facilitate the activities for 10-15 minutes each time, or until a positive change is shown in the child’s face and body language. The researcher will visit the home once each week during the intervention phase, which takes approximately 30 minutes, to follow up and provide further guidance to the parents.
Sponsors
Yu-Wei Chen
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
3 Years to 14 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Children have a diagnosis of ASD. While ASD is commonly paired with a mild cognitive impairment and/or mental health conditions, children with a diagnosis of mild global developmental delay (GDD), mild intellectual disability (ID), mild anxiety and/or ADHD will be eligible for the study. Parents and children will be required to reside in South Eastern Sydney. Due to practical reasons, parents will be required to speak fluent English.
Exclusion criteria
Children with co- morbidities (e.g., physical disabilities, moderate-profound cognitive impairments, severe mental health disorders) will not be eligible for the study.
Outcome results
None listed