The Effects of Sensory Integration Treatment in Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Uvod: Poremećaji iz spektra autizma (PSA) karakterišu teškoće u socijalnim interakcijama, socijalnoj komunikaciji i repetitivno/stereotipno ponašanje uz izbegavanje promena. Najnoviji klasifikacioni sistem Američke Psihijatrijske Asocijacije (APA) DSM – 5 uključuje senzorne probleme kao dijagnostički kriterijum. Tretmani bazirani na senzornoj integraciji podrazumevaju aktivno učešće korisnika tretmana u multisenzornom okruženju - „Snoezelen“ sobi dizajniranoj da obezbedi višestruke mogućnosti za senzornu stimulaciju. Cilj: Utvrđivanje efekata tretmana na stereotipno/repetitivno ponašanje, socijalnu responzivnost i nivo senzorne integracije kao i na stepen izraženosti simptoma kod adolescenata i odraslih osoba sa PSA. Materijal i metod: Istraživanje je sprovedeno u periodu od 3 meseca u Beogradu, kod 40 ispitanika sa PSA, podeljenih u dve grupe, ekperimentalnu koja je imala 36 tretmana i kontrolnu bez tretmana. Studija se sprovodila u dve faze. Pre sesija: merene su funkcionalne oblasti skalama od strane defektologa i roditelja kod obe grupe ispitanika. Posle sesija: merenje je ponovljeno. Rezultati: Uticaj tretmana senzorne integracije u Snoezelen sobi kod PSA se pokazao u pogledu smanjenja stepena izraženosti simptoma i održanja i/ili smanjenja prisutnosti repetitivnog i stereotipnog ponašanja i poremećaja socijalne responzivnosti. Nije uspostavljena veza između disfunkcije senzorne integracije i izraženosti simptoma PSA. Zaključak: Ishodi istraživanja sugerišu da tretman senzorne integracije u Snoezelen sobi utiče na prevenciju pogoršanja uz poboljšanje osnovnih karakteristika PSA.Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by deficits in social interactions, social communication and repetitive/stereotyped behaviours with avoidance of changes. The latest classification system of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) DSM-5 includes sensory problems as a diagnostic criterion. Treatments based on sensory integration simply an active participation of users in a multisensory environment - Snoezelen room designed to provide multi-sensory stimulation opportunities. Objective: Determining the effects of the treatment on stereotyped/repetitive behaviour, social responsiveness and sensory integration level, severity degree of symptoms in adolescents and adults with ASD. Instruments and method: The research was conducted in the period of 3 months in Belgrade, involving 40 subjects with ASD, divided into two groups, the experimental had 36 treatments and the control had none. There were two stages - pre-session initial scales measurement of functional areas by therapists and parents for both groups; post-session measurement repeated. Results: The effects of sensory integration treatment in Snoezelen in individuals with ASD have shown symptom severity reduction and maintenance and/or decrease of repetitive/stereotyped behaviour and social responsiveness disorders. No relationship was found between sensory integration dysfunction and severity of ASD. Conclusion: The research outcomes suggest that the treatment of sensory integration in Snoezelen room has an impact on deterioration prevention while improving basic characteristics of ASD