Occupational Therapy Using Ayres Sensory Integration ^® : A Randomized Controlled Trial in Brazil

IMPORTANCE: Research conducted in the United States has found that occupational therapy using Ayres Sensory Integration® is an effective evidence-based intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Replication of this research in other cultures is needed. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes of occupational therapy using Ayres Sensory Integration in a sample of Brazilian children with ASD. DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Occupational therapy clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Seventeen children with ASD ages 5-8 yr (n = 9 in the intervention group, n = 8 in the usual-care control group) recruited from a local hospital via flyers and word-of-mouth. Completed pretreatment characterization and baseline measurement. INTERVENTIONS: The intervention group received occupational therapy using Ayres Sensory Integration, and the control group received usual therapeutic and educational services only. OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: We conducted a pre-post assessment of self-care and socialization using the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory and individualized goal ratings. RESULTS: Participants in the intervention group scored significantly higher on outcome measures of self-care (p = .046, rb = .57), social function (p = .036, rb = .61), and parent-identified goal attainment (p < .001, rb = .94) compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Occupational therapy using Ayres Sensory Integration was effective in enhancing self-care, socialization, and goal attainment for children with ASD in a Brazilian cohort. What This Article Adds: This study contributes further support from outside the United States that occupational therapy using Ayres Sensory Integration is an effective evidence-based intervention to improve self-care, socialization, and parent-identified goal attainment in children with ASD.