Sensory-based intervention in improving sensory processing, social, and play skills among children on the autism spectrum: a systematic review

Abstract

Introduction: Sensory-based intervention (SBI) is commonly implemented by occupational therapists for children on the autism spectrum. Despite its widespread use, evidence regarding its effectiveness remains mixed and inconclusive. Objective: This review aimed to evaluate the clinical evidence and effectiveness of SBI in improving sensory processing, social interaction, and play skills in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methodology: A systematic search was conducted across five databases: EBSCOhost, Web of Science, OT Seeker, PubMed, and Scopus. From 1345 identified articles, six met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. The review followed PRISMA guidelines, with methodological quality assessed using the PEDro scale and risk of bias evaluated through the RoB 2 tool. Results: The included studies reported SBI activities targeting tactile, vestibular, proprioceptive, visual, auditory, and olfactory systems. Interventions were delivered two to seven times weekly, with durations ranging from 15 to 60 minutes per session. Outcomes were measured across eleven domains, including sensory processing, social skills, play, sleep, cognition, autism symptomology, behaviour, adaptive functioning, language, goal attainment, and quality of life. Discussion: While some studies showed improvements in specific areas, the findings were inconsistent. Variations in intervention frequency, duration, assessment tools, and participant characteristics contributed to the lack of consensus in the literature. Conclusions: This review revealed limited and conflicting evidence on the effectiveness of SBI for children with ASD. Further rigorous research is needed to clarify its clinical value in addressing sensory processing challenges.