Effects of multisensory stimulation on attention and sensory integration in children and young people with autism: Literature review

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effects of multisensory stimulation on the attention and sensory integration of children with autism through a comprehensive review of available scientific literature. Materials and methods: A literature review was conducted with publications corresponding to the observation period from 2010 to 2023, in Spanish and English languages. The databases used for the search included PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Scopus, WoS, CINAHL, ScienceDirect, EBSCOhost, and Clinical Trials. The keywords were derived from the Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information (BIREME). DeCS/MeSH: Health Science Descriptors, and the following terms were used: “Autistic disorder”, “Behavior”, “Cognition”, “Interactive interior design”, “Multisensory space, skills”, “Cognitive functions”. “Finally”, 10 studies were selected for analysis and inclusion in this systematic review. Results: The studies generally found a decrease in atypical responses to sensorimotor stimuli and an improvement in the physical and cognitive abilities of the studied population after the application of various multisensory stimuli. Conclusions: It is suggested that the design, implementation, and evaluation of intervention processes based on multisensory stimulation constitute a fertile field for the production of new research proposals, and, therefore, more effective and comprehensive intervention strategies for children and youth diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).