The Effectiveness of Sensory Integration Procedure on Reduction of Stereotypical Behaviors in Autistic Children

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of sensory integration procedure on reduction of stereotypical behaviors among autistic children. Twenty autistic children from 8 years and 2 months to 14 years of age were selected by purposive sampling from Ordibehesht Autistic Center located in Isfahan. The participants were assigned randomly into either experimental or control groups. The experimental group received eleven sessions of sensory integration therapy. The study design was quasiexperimental with pretest-posttest control group. The participants completed the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (Bodfish et al. 2000). The results of analysis of covariance indicated that the sensory integration procedure was effective in reducing stereotypical behaviors, compulsive behaviors, ritualistic behavior, sameness behavior, restricted behavior and self-injurious behaviors. Given the findings of the present study, it is suggested that the sensory integration procedure apply to the treatment of other disabilities of autistic children.