Abstract
Purpose This paper aims to investigate if a sensory intervention of moderate pressure touch of children with sensory processing disorder (SPD) affects sleep behaviours and sensory processing behaviours. Design/methodology/approach A total of 50 children, aged 5–11 years with both SPD and sleep difficulties in Israel, were randomly divided into an experimental and a control group, nonblinded. Participants in the experimental group received three weeks of nightly massage by their parents, with a baseline week on both ends. Parents filled out questionnaires reporting on sensory and sleep behaviours and filled out a nightly sleep log. Parents determined outcome goals using goal attainment scoring. The assessment tools used were the short sensory profile and the child sleep habits questionnaire (Dunn, 1999; Owens et al., 2000). Findings Significant improvement was found in the total and subgroup scores of sleep participation measures including sleep onset, sleep anxiety, parasomnias, sleep duration, daytime sleepiness, as well as the total sleep score (F (1,48) = 24.71, p < 0.001). Originality/value Results of this study suggest that consistent application of moderate pressure touch as advised or trained by an occupational therapist may be used in clinical practice to improve sleep participation in children with SPD.
Highlights
This paper aims to investigate if a sensory intervention of moderate pressure touch of children with sensory processing disorder (SPD) affects sleep behaviours and sensory processing behaviours
The experimental group had two children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and four whose parents suspected ADHD
The control group had one child diagnosed with ADHD and two whose parents suspected ADHD
Summary
This paper aims to investigate if a sensory intervention of moderate pressure touch of children with sensory processing disorder (SPD) affects sleep behaviours and sensory processing behaviours. Design/methodology/approach – A total of 50 children, aged 5–11 years with both SPD and sleep difficulties in Israel, were randomly divided into an experimental and a control group, nonblinded. Originality/value – Results of this study suggest that consistent application of moderate pressure touch as advised or trained by an occupational therapist may be used in clinical practice to improve sleep participation in children with SPD. Children with special needs diagnoses such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have an even greater reported prevalence of sleep difficulties, ranging from 40% to 80% (Cortesi et al, 2010; Krakowiak et al, 2008; Richdale and Schreck, 2009). Leland et al (2014) concur, stating that occupational therapy (OT) intervention can target the “context and environment, performance patterns” and sleep hygiene routines . Milton and Lovett (2014) suggest sensory-based strategies to promote calm sleep which include nighttime routines, provision of sensory input and
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