Adolescents' and Adults' Perceptions of Sensory-Based Interventions: A Qualitative Analysis.

IMPORTANCE: Adolescents and adults report that their sensory integration and processing differences affect their occupational performance and quality of life, thus requiring effective sensory-focused interventions. Researchers have yet to investigate this population's experience of occupational therapy interventions designed to remediate these challenges. OBJECTIVE: To explore the perceived experience of adolescents and adults with respect to (1) response to intervention, (2) strategies offered to manage sensory differences, and (3) need for services on completion of an intervention. DESIGN: Retrospective, qualitative study. SETTING: Zoom or phone call. PARTICIPANTS: Eleven adolescents and adults with sensory integration and processing differences who had previously completed occupational therapy interventions. INTERVENTION: Sensory-based intervention based on the principles of Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) and the Sensory Therapies and Research Frame of Reference. OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: A semistructured interview to obtain data, followed by an in-depth analysis using an inductive coding process to group initial open codes into themes and common subthemes Results: Open codes were grouped into three core themes: (1) therapist-related factors (what the therapist did in treatment); (2) client-related factors (what the client experienced); and (3) follow-up (future needs of the clients). Four main subthemes of the client-therapist relationship emerged: (1) therapeutic alliance; (2) education and knowledge; (3) strategies, tools, and resources; and (4) future needs. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This study provides a perspective on the experience of adolescents and adults specific to the impact of a sensory-focused occupational therapy intervention on their daily lives. This will help occupational therapists when designing interventions for current and future clients. What This Article Adds: This study highlights the need for further research addressing effective sensory-based interventions for adolescents and adults. It also captures which components of intervention clients deemed helpful and identifies potential targets for future intervention.

Interoception: A Multi-Sensory Foundation of Participation in Daily Life.

The purpose of this article is to examine evidence that broadens the clinical perspective on interoception as an imperative consideration for individuals with mental health and sensory processing challenges. The central supposition is that interoception is broader than just signals from the viscera. Rather, interoception refers to perceptions of bodily signals and bodily states that construct a subjective representation of the experience. These representations are then utilized for categorizing the sensory attributes and constructing meaning. Thus, this updated conceptualization presents interoception as a complex multidimensional system, with bidirectional features. The interplay between the brain and the body is necessary to maintain homeostasis as well as respond adaptively to the changes in one's internal and external environment. As a sensory capacity, interoceptive information must be processed and interpreted before it can be integrated into a personal experiential history. Interoception supports both body and mental functions and as such, interoceptive processes support health and wellness by establishing a felt sense of psychological and physiological safety that is foundational to meaningful participation in life. The information presented in this article is central to the pursuit of evidence-based best practices for any professional wishing to integrate consideration of interoception into their clinical practice.