Limited evidence suggests that sensory integration therapy may have a positive effect on individuals with autism.

Sensory integration therapy, also referred to as Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI), is a therapeutic approach that’s used to improve symptoms of sensory integration dysfunction. ASI utilizes:

  • assessment tools used to measure someone’s sensory integration
  • therapeutic tools used to improve symptoms of sensory dysfunction

With ASI, trained occupational therapists aim to help people improve their sensory symptoms by using various therapeutic tools in a clinical setting, with the goal of:

  • stimulating the senses through sensory input
  • challenging fine and gross motor planning
  • encouraging movement of the body
  • developing new adaptive behaviors and responses

Sensory integration therapy is performed by specially trained occupational therapists to help improve immediate sensory symptoms and manage long-term symptoms.

It is important to note that a majority of the available research on sensory integration therapy focuses on children with autism, so there’s limited research on the benefits of sensory integration therapy outside of this population.

Sensory integration may help:

  • increase the ability to focus in educational, therapeutic, and social environments
  • reduce inappropriate behaviors, such as those that cause harm to oneself
  • improve neural functioning that occurs in activities such as language and reading

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations

In 2019, the AAP published an article in which they found the research about the effectiveness of sensory integration therapy for autistic children to be inconclusive. They said that this therapy might be helpful for this population, but noted that the support for it is based primarily on personal accounts.

Sensory integration — or sensory processing — is the way in which we gather and process information about the world around us through our senses. Sensory integration includes not only our sense of sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound, but also how our body is oriented and moves in space.

Sensory integration comprises eight total systems. Five of these systems include the five senses mentioned above. The remaining three sensory systems include:

  • The tactile system: This system is responsible for recognizing touch sensations, like pressure or temperature, through the skin.
  • The proprioceptive system: This system is responsible for informing us of where we are in space through our muscles and joints.
  • The vestibular system: This system is composed of a complex organ in the ear, responsible for determining our movement and balance.

It is important to note that sensory integration dysfunction can look different for everyone.

For example, people who have sensory modulation challenges may experience an underreaction or overreaction to sensory input, while people with sensory discrimination challenges may have trouble distinguishing between senses. And in people with sensory-based motor challenges, it can be difficult to move or stabilize the body.

Research suggests that anywhere between 90% and 95% of autistic children experience difficulties with sensory integration. Because of this, sensory integration therapy, specifically ASI, is one of the approaches that may be considered for helping manage sensory symptoms in children with ASD.

However, while research on sensory integration therapy for ASD does exist, it’s still quite limited.

A systematic review from 2019 analyzing the available research on ASI found only three major studies from 2006 to 2017 that met the criteria for being evidence-based research.

Even though these three studies did show potential improvements in sensory, motor, verbal, and social symptoms in children with ASD, they were also limited, with a total of only 69 participants between them.

A 2023 study in 72 children with autism between the ages of 5 and 12 found that sensory integration occupational therapy with Ayres theory improved:

  • communication skills
  • socialization
  • daily living skills

Ultimately, while ASI specifically may be a helpful option for certain people with ASD, more research is needed.

Although ASI has been used for over 50 years as a treatment for sensory integration challenges, the research remains limited and the results mixed.

A recent review of the available literature found that current studies on sensory integration therapy are limited.

In the review, the researchers mention that not only do most smaller scale studies show mixed results, but also many of the systematic reviews also lack conclusive evidence on the effectiveness of sensory integration therapy.

Ultimately, while some research shows that there may be a benefit to using sensory integration therapy for people with sensory challenges, we just don’t know enough about its long-term effectiveness.

Before starting sensory integration therapy

If you’re considering sensory integration therapy for yourself or a loved one, the AAP recommends making sure that you have a way to track whether it’s effective. So, this means creating specific treatment goals with a trained occupational therapist and checking in to see if the therapy is helping to meet those goals.

If you’re interested in learning more about other treatment options for sensory integration challenges outside of sensory integration therapy, consider reaching out to your pediatrician or occupational therapist to learn about your other options.

Despite the popularity of sensory integration therapy as a treatment option for sensory processing challenges, the research is still limited. Only a small number of studies show that it can be an effective treatment.

However, that doesn’t mean sensory integration therapy cannot be effective at helping some people manage their sensory symptoms.

If you want to try sensory integration therapy, talk with your doctor or your child’s doctor. They can make a recommendation based on your specific needs or refer you to someone who can.