Effects of Proprioception based Therapy on Sensory Processing and Problematic Behavior in Children With Developmental Delay

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of proprioceptive sensory-based therapeutic activities on sensory processing and problematic behavior in children with developmental delay. The participants of this study were two 5-year-old children diagnosed with developmental delay that was mediated through proprioceptive sensory-based therapeutic activities. The mediation done once a week for 50 minutes per session, for a total of 12 sessions. To examine the effects of proprioceptive sensory-based treatment activities, sensory processing was evaluated using the Sensory Profile and problematic behaviors were evaluated using the Korean Child Behavior Checklist before and after the intervention. Data analysis was performed by calculating the difference in values before and after the intervention, and visual analysis was done using graphs. After the proprioceptive sensory-based treatment activity, participant 1 was clear in the following items: sensory profile, sensory processing, visual processing, vestibular sensory processing, tactile processing, multisensory processing, oral sensory processing, endurance and muscle tone control, body posture movement control, and activity level control. The difference improved from that of the doubt difference, and the results showed improvement in atrophy, depression and anxiety, social immaturity, attention problems, aggression, internalization problems, and externalization problems in the child and adolescent behavior evaluation scale. Participant 2 showed an improvement in all items except the reaction threshold items in the sensory profile, and atrophy, depression/anxiety, social immaturity, thinking problems, attention problems, delinquency, aggression, internalization problems, and externalization in the child and adolescent behavior evaluation scale. Improved results were found on the problem scale. This study confirmed that proprioceptive sensory-based therapeutic activity had a positive effect on sensory processing and problematic behavior in children with developmental delay.