Effect of Sensory Integration on Tactile Defensiveness

Tactile Defensiveness (TD) refers to a pattern of observable behaviour and emotional response which are aversive, negative and out of proportion to certain types of tactile stimuli that most people may find to be non painful. Sensory Integration (SI) is the neurological process that organizes sensations from one's own body and from the environment and makes it possible to use the body effectively within the environment.

To study the effect of planned Sensory Integration program on established cases of Tactile Defensiveness.

To prepare the child for other interventions by controlling the Tactile Defensiveness.

An interventional Clinical trial

A convenient sample of 18 (10 males and 8 females) Tactile Defensive children attending special schools were included in the study over a period of 1 year.

Purposive Convenient Sampling 1Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria: Children with tactile defensiveness who were identified by a team of Paediatrician, Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists were taken for the study.

They were screened with the help of Tactile Inventory for Elementary Questionnaire by a cut off score of 50%.

Different textures like fur, velvet, cotton, wool and body scrubber. Different tools like glue, water colour paints, blanket, carpet, sand, mud and grass.

Tactile Inventory for Elementary Questionnaire. (TIE)

A total of 24 subjects were taken. Out of which only 18 subjects could be chosen for the study. Out of these there were 10 boys and 8 girls.

Thus, Mean of pre treatment scores was 50.44 and post treatment scores was 44.5

Standard Deviation pre treatment was 5.04 and post treatment was 6.34

After collection of data and calculation of mean score and standard deviation, Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was applied. (P < 0.05)

Mechanism of Action is based on the Principle of Habituation. Learning the properties or characteristics of stimulus due to repeated exposure to gradually increasing levels of cutaneous input which leads to decrease in post synaptic potential leading to short term memory for habituation. With continuous presentation of stimulus, there is seen persisting changes in the efficacy leading to permanent changes representing Long term Memory for Habituation.

SI Therapy brought about a decrease in the levels of hypersensitivity to non noxious cutaneous stimuli. 1SI therapy proved to be helpful in treatment of Tactile Defensiveness