Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Roberta Carrlson

Abstract

Purpose: Between 5%-16.5% of the general population are estimated to have a form of atypical sensory reactivity (Ahn et al., 2004). Atypical sensory reactivity or atypical sensory processing is described as when the brain processes sensory input differently than it typically would (Ark Support Coordination, n.d.). The rates of atypical sensory reactivity increase in children with additional diagnoses such as autism (ASD), developmental delays and disabilities, and neurodivergent children (AOTA, 2023). Sensory processing and integration difficulties negatively impact the quality and quantity of a child’s occupational participation, as symptoms often make various occupations more difficult for the child to participate in (Chien et al., 2016; Miller-Kuhaneck & Watling, 2018; Parham & Mailloux, 2020; Reynolds et al., 2017; Schoen & Miller, 2018; Silverman & Tyszka, 2017). The purpose of this Doctoral Experiential Capstone is to provide the author the opportunity to develop and gain advanced practice skills and knowledge in the area of sensory processing difficulties as well as to develop a product to meet the needs of the pediatric population and their caregivers. Knowledge gained through the literature review, needs assessment, and informal meeting was used to develop The Sensory Manual a caregiver education and home programming manual. Caregiver education is important when working with this population to ensure carry-over to the home setting, the child’s natural context.

Method: To assess the need for The Sensory Manual, a literature review, needs assessment, and informal meeting were completed to gain knowledge about the population. The Ecology of Human Performance (EHP) and Dunn’s Model of Sensory Processing were used to guide this experience and the development of the product (Dunn, 2001; Dunn, 2017). Both models were utilized in conjunction to form the search terms and search phrases used during the search for literature to develop The Sensory Manual (Dunn, 2001; Dunn, 2017). Various databases were searched during the literature review process. These databases included PubMed, Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINHAL), EBSCOhost, The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), The American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT), and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria for this literature review included: articles from 2014 or newer, peer-reviewed sources, and resources discussing pediatric clients with sensory processing challenges or symptoms. However, some resources older than this were included as these are original sources of prevalent material. After the focus of The Sensory Manual was determined based on the literature review, needs assessment, and informal meeting, a 14-week advanced clinical placement was completed at a pediatric outpatient therapy clinic to gain skills and knowledge related to this area of practice as well as to develop The Sensory Manual based on the site’s need.

Results: Through the completion of a 14-week advanced clinical placement, the author developed and gained advanced practice skills and knowledge of sensory processing difficulties as well as created The Sensory Manual. The occupational therapy practitioners, certified occupational therapy assistants, and the author observed improved tolerance to sensory stimuli during activities of daily living, improved tolerance to multi-sensory stimuli, and improved selfregulation to sensory stimuli as well as improved ability to educate caregivers of their clients and incorporate home programming into their intervention process more easily. Increasing caregiver knowledge of sensory processing difficulties and incorporating home programming with ease was the main priority of The Sensory Manual and the author observed improvement in these areas.

Conclusion: The intended result of The Sensory Manual was to increase caregiver knowledge of sensory processing difficulties and incorporate home programming into treatment with ease. Caregiver education is important when working with this population to ensure carry-over to the home setting. The Sensory Manual will aid in the carry-over of intervention to the home setting, a child’s natural context. Intended result of the experience was for the author to develop and gain advanced practice skills and knowledge in the area of sensory processing difficulties. The author observed improved tolerance to sensory stimuli during activities of daily living, improved tolerance to multi-sensory stimuli, and improved self-regulation to sensory stimuli. Improved ability of practitioners at the site to provide caregivers with education and home programming more easily was also observed.

Download

Share

COinS