The Effect of Sensory-Motor Integration Training on Gross Motor Skills of Children with Severely Mental Disability

The present paper mainly aims to investigate the effect of sensory-motor integration training on gross motor skills of children with severely mental disability. In this semi experimental research with purposive sampling method، 40 subjects from Golhaye Behesht rehabilitation and training center with the mean age 8. 48±2. 81 years and mean IQ 30. 62±6. 81 were studied. To assess gross motor، subscales of 1، 3 and 4 of motor proficiency Bruininks–Oseretsky Test were used. Initially pre-test was taken on all the children. Then، based on two factors: (IQ and pretest scores) were divided into two equal groups، and were considered randomly as experimental and control groups. Each group consisted of 10 girls and 10 boys. The experimental group practiced sensory-motor integration training in 50 sessions، 45 minutes، 6 times in a week. The control group used the educational programs classroom. Then both groups underwent post-test. By using independent T test (in SPSS19)، Statistical Analysis was done. There was a significant difference in posttest scores between experimental and control groups (p=0. 005). The experimental group earned higher scores. The current research indicated the effect of sensory-motor integration training on gross motor skills in children with severely mental disability.