Motor Skills Disorders, Sensory Processing Disorder
Conditions
Keywords
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Integration, Motor Skills, Sensory Processing Disorders
Brief summary
This study will adopt a quasi-experimental design, featuring assessments before and after the intervention for both the experimental and control groups. We plan to recruit thirty children aged 9 to 11 years, all diagnosed with ASD, from a local clinical setting. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a treatment group, which will undergo 12 sessions of sensory-motor integration exercises, or a control group that will receive standard care. Each session will include structured sensory-based activities based on Ayres Sensory Integration® principles.
Detailed description
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is increasingly affecting children around the globe, bringing with it a variety of behavioral, social, and developmental hurdles. One of the more subtle yet significant challenges faced by many children with ASD is trouble with sensory modulation and motor coordination. These kids often find it hard to process sensory information in a way that allows them to engage meaningfully with their surroundings. As a result, they may experience behavioral issues, struggle with motor planning, and have a harder time participating in daily activities. To help with this, sensory-motor integration exercises are designed to enhance how the nervous system interprets and reacts to sensory input, leading to smoother and more coordinated physical responses. While these therapies have been looked into in various parts of the world, their application in structured and culturally relevant ways in South Asia is still quite limited. This project seeks to explore how a sensory-motor integration intervention can impact sensory responsiveness and motor skill development in children with ASD. This study will adopt a quasi-experimental design, featuring assessments before and after the intervention for both the experimental and control groups. We plan to recruit thirty children aged 9 to 11 years, all diagnosed with ASD, from a local clinical setting. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a treatment group, which will undergo 12 sessions of sensory-motor integration exercises, or a control group that will receive standard care. Each session will include structured sensory-based activities based on Ayres Sensory Integration® principles. We will utilize tools TGMD and Sensory Modulation Assessment Tool to evaluate outcomes. The quantitative data collected will be analyzed to compare improvements in sensory and motor skills between the two groups. The goal is to support the incorporation of sensory-motor strategies into rehabilitation programs for children with ASD, especially in low-resource settings.
Interventions
Ayres' Sensory-Motor Integration Exercises are play-based therapeutic activities designed to improve how children process sensory information. They target tactile, proprioceptive, and vestibular systems through tasks like swinging, balancing, crawling, and object manipulation. Sessions are individualized and child-centered to promote adaptive responses, motor coordination, and functional skills.
Sponsors
Study design
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
* Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) confirmed by a psychiatrist/psychologist. * Children aged 9-11 years. * Moderate severity of ASD.
Exclusion criteria
* Use of any sedative/hypnotic drugs. * Comorbid psychological or neurological disorders (e.g., epilepsy). * Withdrawal of consent at any point during the study.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| TGMD-2 | 3rd Day | The Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2) is a standardized assessment used to evaluate gross motor skills in children aged 3-10 years. It measures locomotor and object control skills, with each performance criterion scored as 1 (present) or 0 (absent). The raw score for each subtest ranges from 0 (lowest) to 48 (highest), while the overall Gross Motor Quotient (GMQ) ranges from 46 to 160, with higher scores indicating better motor performance. |
Countries
Pakistan
Contacts
Riphah International University