Children's Sensory Integration Disorders and their Interface to Developmental Disorders

Eglė Milkintaitė. Children's Sensory Integration Disorders and their Interface to Developmental Disorders. Master's Thesis. Supervisor Prof. Audronė Prasauskienė. Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Medical Academy, Faculty of Nursing, Clinic of Rehabilitation, Kaunas, 2020; 60 p. The aim. To investigate sensory integration disorders in children aged 7-35 months and their interface to developmental disorders. Objectives. 1) 1. To investigate children's reactions to environmental stimuli and their interface to developmental disorders. 2) To investigate disorders of children's tactile, vestibular and behavioral response systems and their interface to developmental disorders. 3) To investigate disorders of children's hearing, visual and taste systems and their interface to developmental disorders. Participants. The study involved 53 parents of children aged 7-35 months with developmental disorders. The methods. A quantitative one-moment survey method was used for this study. Research instruments: 1) questionnaire compiled by the author of the research to collect demographic data (child's age, diagnosis, etc.). 2) TODDLER Sensory Profile2 test to collect data of the child's senses, stimuli responses. The questionnaire and test were completed by the parents who agreed to participate in the study. Conclusions. 1. Children with Down syndrome had statistically significantly higher rates of normal reactions to environmental stimuli than children with other developmental disorders. 2. Children with developmental disorders have alterations in tactile system and behavioral responses to sensory stimuli: 2.1. Children with autism are statistically significantly more likely to have over-responsive reactions to tactile system stimuli. Children with Down syndrome have a statistically significantly more likely to have under-responsive reactions to tactile system stimuli. 2.2. Children with autism are statistically significantly more likely to have over-responsive behavioral reactions to sensory stimuli. Children with congenital malformations, deformities, and chromosomal abnormalities are statistically significantly more likely to experience under-responsive behavioral reactions to sensory stimuli. 2.3. Reactions to vestibular stimuli were not associated to developmental disorders. 3. Children with mixed specific developmental disorder have statistically significantly more likely to have under-responsive reactions to visual system stimuli. No significant differences were observed between developmental disorders and responses to stimuli of auditory and taste systems