Sensory Strategies Appear to Improve Classroom Behaviours and Attention in Children with Psychiatric Disabilities

CLINICAL SCENARIO : Children with psychiatric disabilities such as Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD), Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and learning disabilities often have difficulties processing and interpreting sensory information. These difficulties may contribute to problems attending to schoolwork, behavioural problems or overall decreased productivity in a given task. Occupational therapists within the school system can provide sensory strategies to compensate for sensory difficulties. These strategies often appear as odd or strange to those unfamiliar with sensory awareness and modulation such as teachers and classroom support workers. Teachers may view the strategies as difficult to implement if little information and evidence is provided regarding the benefits on a child’s behaviour and attention.