Understanding
Ayres Sensory Integration
Smith Roley et al. published an article with the same title in 2007, when the term Ayres Sensory Integration was trademarked. The trademark has an educational purpose, and the article provided the intended education about ASI®.
Sensory Integration theory was generated by Dr. Jean Ayres, a Californian occupational therapist (OT) and educational psychologist. She derived her research questions from her practical work with clients in her OT Clinic, The Ayres Clinic, in Torrance, CA.
Dr Ayres' SI theory and its clinical application provide an important evidence-based frame of reference for OT practitioners worldwide. A study found that 99% of OTs apply principles of SI in their work with children with autism. A survey by AutismSpeaks from 2012 identified OT-SI as one of the three most requested approaches by parents of autistic children, and as the most effective treatment for approximately 40% of the 8,000 participants in the survey. Until today, most research that develops ASI theroy further, stems from the field of occupational therapy.
Most countries, health and education professionals recognize OT as the go-to profession if expertise in Sensory Integration and sensory processing is needed.
See full references in the article "Understanding Ayres Sensory Integration"
The ASI® approach addresses and aims to remediate the underlying sensory issues that cause problems in daily occupations and participation. Research has established clear links between specific sensory integrative dysfunctions and problems in occupational performance.
In 1972, Dr Ayres wrote about one of the most important features of her theory: the aspect of sensory integration itself. She proposed that sensory systems do not develop independently of one another; rather, visual and auditory processing depends on the foundational body-centered senses.
According to Ayres, sensory information is not processed in isolation and, given this essential feature of the central nervous system, therapeutic intervention that incorporates sensation to affect multisensory perception will influence learning and behavior.
Ayres proposed that through the development of these sensorimotor functions and, specifically, by facilitating adaptive somatomotor responses, a person can develop improved learning, reading, math, visual and auditory perception, and
skilled motor tasks.
