Impact of Sensory Integration Therapy on Gross and Fine Motor Skills in Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pre-Post Interventional Study
Sensory integration therapy in autism spectrum disorder
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66347/ppj.v50i2&3.719Abstract
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of sensory integration therapy (SIT) on gross and fine motor skills in preschool children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Study Design: Quasi-experimental (Pre-post interventional) study.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Multan, from January to December 2025.
Methodology: Forty-four children with ASD, aged 36–60 months, were enrolled. Gross and Fine Motor skills were assessed at the time of enrollment and after six months of therapy, using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, Second Edition (PDMS-2). The children received individualized SIT, three times per week. Data were analyzed using the paired t-test, with p value less than 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: The study included 44 children (26 males; mean age 49.21 ± 6.25 months). Following 72 sessions of sensory integration therapy, significant improvements were observed in all PDMS-2 domains. Gross Motor Quotient improved by 19 points, Fine Motor Quotient by 15 points, and Total Motor Quotient by 17 points. The largest gains were observed in visual-motor integration (+25 raw score points) and grasping skills (+31 months’ age-equivalent gain). All improvements reached statistical significance (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Sensory integration therapy is associated with statistically significant improvements in gross and fine motor skills among preschool children with ASD. These findings support the inclusion of SIT within multidisciplinary rehabilitation protocols. Given the quasi-experimental nature of this study and the absence of a control group, further randomized controlled trials are required to validate these clinical facts.
Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder, Motor skills, PDMS-2, Sensory Integration Therapy.
