Topic 3: Perceptual Development Application Flashcards
What affects the development of perception?
Exposure to stimulation and an individual’s ability to process and make sense of sensory information.
What can explain abornormal perception?
Sensory deprivation (e.g. Kittens by Gibson and Walk, 1960) and developmental disorders (e.g. ADHD and ASD) as they struggle to process information provided by the senses.
What is a strategy used to help people cope with sensory and perceptual difficulties?
Sensory Integrative Therapy
Where did SI therapy originate?
The work of A.Jean Ayres, a psychologist and OT, who rejected the idea that sensory systems processed independently. She believed that if an individual had sensory problems, they would have developmental delay, emotional and behavioural problems and thus recommended a therapeutic intervention, SI Therapy.
What does SI Therapy aim to do?
Improve learning, visual and auditory perception and advanced motor skills by helping to combine and interpret sensory information.
What is the role of an SI Therapist?
- Conduct an initial assessment of the child’s sensory issues using standardised tests
- Develop a personalised treatment programme which uses feedback from the child and is based on needs of child .
- Ensure the therapy uses intrinsic motivation.
What are examples of some of the activities used in SI Therapy and what are they for?
- using brushes on the skin (touch and hand-eye coordination)
- sitting or rolling on a bouncy ball (vision and balance)
- wearing a weighted vest (pressure and movement)
- dancing to different types of music (sound and movement)
How is the effectiveness of SI Therapy measured?
Through behavioural outcomes e.g. attention-building.
What is intrinsic motivation?
Chidren should love the activities and it should be their own reward.
In a study by Fertel-Daly et al (2001), what was the findings related to a weighted vest?
A weighted vest was used on children with developmental difficulties and it increased the children’s attention to tasks and reduced the level of self-injuries that took place.
What did Fazliogu & Baran et al (2008) find regarding the effectiveness of SI therapy?
SI therapy positively influenced children with ASD as compared to children who didn’t participate.
Why does SI therapy remain controversial (Lang et al, 2012)?
There are not enough studies that clarify whether the therapy works or not. A meta-analysis of 25 SI therapy studies found few clear positive results, using small, non-randomized samples.
Why was the meta-analysis of SI therapy by Lang et al (2012) criticised?
It was criticised because the research included studies which did not meet the criteria of true, accurate SI therapy.
What might SI therapy not be effective?
SI therapy and other interventions are often used out of context by unqualified practitioners which means that the child may not be fully engaged in the activity and will not benefit from it.
