Brown,

N. B., & Dunn, W. (2010). Relationship between context and sensory

processing in children with autism. American Journal of Occupational

Therapy, 64, 474-483. Retrieved April 2, 2018.

Brown and Dunn studied the relationship between context and sensory

processing. They discussed the four sensory processing patterns: registration,

seeking, sensitivity, and avoiding. This helps explain how children process sensory

information and will help guide the intervention for students. The article used the

Sensory Profile School Companion for evaluating students in the study. Students in

the study were from ages 3-11 and there were 56 total participants all having been

diagnosed with autism in the United States. Caregivers were given a questionnaire

and were asked to describe a child’s response to sensory experiences and teachers

were also given a questionnaire evaluating the child in the same way, but at school

rather than at home. Results showed that there are universal sensory processing

patterns for students. The location of where the student is does not matter. The

underlying patterns are still either avoiding behavior or seeking behaviors. This

shows a need for sensory processing interventions, because students would benefit

from an intervention in all areas of life, whether that is at school, at home, or in a

community setting.

One of the researchers Winnie Dunn is a leading expert in the area of autism

and is a very popular researcher in the specific field of sensory processing. She is an

expert in the field of occupational therapy and has written many articles on sensory
processing with autistic children. She also created data collection tools for

researching purposes. This establishes the articles credibility.

This article was very beneficial to my research. Winnie Dunn is an expert in

this area and the article was great. Her research confirmed my thoughts towards

sensory processing with autistic students and she also provided me with an

explanation behind the sensory behaviors students show in the classroom. I found

her tools helpful and useful. The article also made note of how important sensory

interventions are to help reduce a child’s avoiding behaviors and outbursts, creating

a more ideal learning environment for students with autism.

Katai, Z., Toth, L., & Adorjani, A. (2014). Multi-Sensory informatics

education. Informatics in Education, 13(2), 225-238. Retrieved February 12,

2018.

A journal article from the Informatics in Education discussed the importance

of multi-sensory approaches. This article defined multi-sensory and the role that

sensory plays in the educational environment. Multi-sensory means students are

using all senses when learning. They are using their touch, hearing, smelling, seeing,

and tasting. When all of these or some of these senses are used in learning students

are gaining more information in various ways. Using multiple senses creates a more

efficient learning process. The study in the article used technology to involve

sensory uses and specifically piano music during math lessons. The music played in

the background playing distinct musical patterns and loops. This music was

memorizing resulting in students being more calm and focused throughout math

lessons and learning activities.

The author gave great resources and definitions to support the study, but

more in-depth research is needed. The author should have been more specific when

describing the study. The author did not state what exact music was being played, at

what volume, or how long. The article stated that students listened to the music

twice a day. Research showed that the idea of music was helpful, but the study was

not specific enough. More research is needed.

This article was helpful to me, because it stated the definition of sensory. It

had a different outlook on sensory, by focusing on the definition and the thought of
senses to aide in learning. The article used sensory as an aide rather than as a break,

which is also a great perspective and teaching style to use when implementing

sensory into the classroom. This informed my research by specifically defining what

sensory is and all the roles it plays on learning in a classroom.

Kirby, A. V., Dickie, V. A., & Baranek, G. T. (2015). Sensory experiences of children

with autism spectrum disorder: In their own words. Autism, 19(3), 316-326.

Retrieved April 5, 2018.

This research article was unique. Researchers interviewed students with

autism about their sensory experiences. All interviews were video recorded and

then transcribed and coded to collect data. There were 12 participants, ages 4-13

and to participate they had to be able to answer open-ended questions or they were

eliminated. Children were interviewed in their homes for 25-50 minutes by

researchers. In the interviews children talked about likes and dislikes, for example

one child only wears short sleeve shirts, he/she does not like sleeves. They talked

about changes over time, “whistles are loud, but now they do not bother me” one

child stated. Some told stories, hair brushing is painful. Findings showed that these

children, when listening to them are telling others their sensory needs. All of the

answers children gave hinted at a sensory feeling, if people took the time and paid

attention to the children, they are actually telling you what they need.

The researchers and authors of this article are experts in the field of

occupational therapy. This research article took a different perspective and

approach to their study. There are many articles out there about sensory, but not

any articles about the children’s own thoughts and perspectives. This showed the

need for more studies similar to this and the need for future research. Implications

of replicating this study could occur with the population size, these children
diagnosed with autism were able to answer open-ended questions, not all children

with autism have that ability.

This article was helpful to my research. It was proof that there is a need for

sensory interventions for children with autism to assist them in functioning in the

world and help them in the learning environment. The article also showed me that

the children try to tell people what exactly it is that is bothering them and what the

underlying issues are, which is causing them to behave in various ways. An outburst

is the child’s form of explaining what is wrong. Children with autism typically do not

have the social skills to explain it as a result of their disability. Overall this article

was relatable, because it confirmed my problem of practice in my classroom.

Lane, A. E., Young, R. L., Baker, A., & Angley, M. T. (2010). Sensory processing

subtypes in autism: Association with adaptive behavior. Autism Development

Disorder, 40, 112-122. Retrieved February 20, 2018.

Four women researched the subtypes in sensory processing issues with

autistic learners. All children diagnosed with autism struggle with sensory in

various forms. The research study was designed to first describe patterns shown

through sensory processing difficulties and to define the relationship between

sensory processing patterns and adaptive behaviors. 54 students with autism and

their parents/caregivers participated in the study. Parents/caregivers first took a

short profile questionnaire to measure behaviors and sensory problems. Then

throughout the study parents/caregivers took continuous surveys to outline the

behaviors they were seeing throughout a 12-month time frame. Researchers then

evaluated the results and came to various conclusions about three subtypes to

students with sensory processing problems.

At the end of the article, there was a great reference and resource page for

more information. This helped established the articles credibility. The research

study was also set up very thoroughly. The parents were included, because they

know the children best and this study involved a great sample size with all children

ranging from ages 3 to 11. Errors are less likely to occur, because of the consistency

in the questionnaires and since the parents/caregivers were the ones identifying

behaviors and qualifying what they were seeing.

 This research study was constructive to my research. I found it helpful in the

aspect that the sample size was bigger than most and it also had students in the age

category of elementary. This relates very well to the age group of students I educate.

The three subtypes in sensory processing problems were very well defined and gave

beneficial strategies to help assist students in coping with their unique sensory

difficulties. This article was very assistive in my continuing research.

Murray, M., Baker, P. H., Murray-Slutsky, C., & Paris, B. (2009). Strategies for

supporting the sensory-based learner. Preventing School Failure, 53(4), 245-

251. Retrieved January 30, 2018.

Four women wrote an article discussing three types of sensory interventions

to support the sensory-based learner in the educational environment. Learners

falling into the category of autism spectrum disorder typically struggle with four

core areas: social, communication, repetitive or restrictive behaviors, and sensory.

The sensory area is what the main focus of the article was, breaking it up into three

categories of sensory developmental issues being: sensory seekers, under-

responders, and over-responders. Then going into detail about various

interventions that work for each of those three types of sensory students. All

touched on using frequent breaks and physical activity ranging in various styles. All

of the interventions mentioned applied directly to these students following the

common idea of “Best Teaching Practices.”

The article was written very knowledgeable women. They have all studied

various interventions and are experts in the area of interventions for students with

special needs and exceptionalities. The article was informational, but would have

been helpful if it had gone into more specific details about the interventions. The

article listed multiple ideas, but not a detailed plan on how to implement the

interventions. It also did not give any statistics on if the interventions were

successful, because it did not give a detailed intervention.

 I found this article helpful in the sense that it further defined autism along

with sensory processing issues that are a part of the autism diagnosis. I also liked

how the authors defined sensory and broke it up into three different categories. This

article gave me great ideas on further research in this area of sensory in helping

manage behaviors with autistic students in mind. This informed my topic by

defining sensory and breaking sensory processing disorders into three categories.

Smith, A. L. (2010). Sensory integration used with children with asperger's

syndrome. JAASEP, 62-74. Retrieved February 20, 2018.

Analisa Smith created a literature review involving a parenting

implementation for children diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome suffering from

sensory processing problems. One of the characteristics used to diagnose a child

with Asperger’s Syndrome is to view the child’s distinctive behaviors like: arm

flapping or other repetitive body movements. This is showing that the child is

suffering from a sensory issue. Analisa went on to explain hypersensitivity to senses

and hyposensitivity to senses. She continued going into detail about all aspects of

sensory integration and coping strategies.

The information in this article provided me with an explanation of the effect

sensory has on a developing child. The article did not discuss particular issues in a

school setting. It was more focused on the home aspect and the parent’s views.

Analisa Smith is an expert in the field of Asperger’s Syndrome, not necessarily

autism, although characteristics in the two disabilities are very similar. At the end of

the article there was discussion about the need of more research in this particular

area, especially in the area of sensory-based approaches.

This research study involved students diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome,

not autism, but both diseases have many similar characteristics, which is how I

found the article beneficial to my research. This also assisted my research by

providing myself with more resources and by elaborating on hypersensitivity and

hyposensitivity. Both of these concepts need to be understood to be able to form

decisions about appropriate sensory interventions for students.

Sweet, M. (2010). Helping children with sensory processing disorders: Role of

occupational therapy. Odyssey, 20-23. Retrieved March 13, 2018.

Margarita Sweet wrote an article to explain the role that occupational

therapists play in the educational setting for students. Occupational therapists in the

school setting have two specific roles. First occupational therapists are a resource

for teachers in providing them with various strategies to help students with sensory

processing disorders. Second they provide students with sensory processing

disorders strategies to help in calming themselves also with teaching students self-

regulation strategies to help with coping. The author briefly discussed a particular

intervention students received immediately following arrival to school daily for a

year. These students had positive results throughout the day after having received

this intervention for a year.

This article’s results are questionable, because the sample size was small.

The study involved three students from one elementary school. It also only involved

one occupational therapist. To generalize findings the study needs to involve more

occupational therapists and to also involve more students in the elementary setting,

middle school setting, and also the high school setting. At the end of the author

mentioned a need for further research on the topic of sensory interventions.

This article further helped my research by describing one specific sensory

intervention for three autistic children. The article also generalized particular

sensory tools to help all students, which is helpful to my research to know more

about the sensory tools available. The other helpful aspect from this article was the
section that outlined sensory in a scientific definition. This will help me define

sensory for my continuing research.