Date Presented 04/06/19 This study investigated sleep difficulties in Sensory Modulation Disorder (SMD). Parents of 105 typical children and 84 children with SMD completed both a sensory and a sleep questionnaire. Significant correlations were found. Too, tactile sensitivity, auditory filtering, seeks sensation, and low energy were significant predictors for 29% of the variance, p<.001. Knowledge of which sensory parameters are affected by poor sleep will enable practitioners to focus their interventions with efficacy. Primary Author and Speaker: Geela Spira Contributing Authors: Eyal Ben Mair, Dalia Schecter, Miriam Botzer

Purpose This paper aims to investigate if a sensory intervention of moderate pressure touch of children with sensory processing disorder (SPD) affects sleep behaviors and sensory processing behaviors. Design/methodology/approach A total of 50 children, aged 5–11 years with both SPD and sleep difficulties in Israel, were randomly divided into an experimental and a control group, nonblinded. Participants in the experimental group received three weeks of nightly massage by their parents, with a baseline week on both ends. Parents filled out questionnaires reporting on sensory and sleep behaviors and filled out a nightly sleep log. Parents determined outcome goals using goal attainment scoring. The assessment tools used were the short sensory profile and the child sleep habits questionnaire (Dunn, 1999; Owens et al., 2000). Findings Significant improvement was found in the total and subgroup scores of sleep participation measures including sleep onset, sleep anxiety, parasomnias, sleep duration, daytime sleepiness, as well as the total sleep score (F (1,48) = 24.71, p < 0.001). Originality/value Results of this study suggest that consistent application of moderate pressure touch as advised or trained by an occupational therapist may be used in clinical practice to improve sleep participation in children with SPD.

Oral defensiveness is a relatively newly discussed cluster of behavioral symptoms with a theorized physiological basis, which may manifest itself during a child“s dental visit. Dentists aware of oral defensiveness and its distinct manifestations will be able to discuss with their patient“s parents regarding this condition and if necessary modify their approach when treating children diagnosed with oral defen-siveness. The purposes of this paper are to acquaint dentists with this controversial disorder, to increase awareness of its occurrence, and to suggest possible interventions for alleviating aversive responses to typical dental experiences when no other cause is apparent. A review of pertinent literature is presented. A list of characteristics and a list of other types of sensory defensiveness are also presented. J Clin Pediatr Dent 29(2): 119-122, 2005

Date Presented Accepted for AOTA INSPIRE 2021 but unable to be presented due to online event limitations. This project brings to our attention OT's important role in meeting the ever-changing service needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as they transition into adulthood. Comparative analysis of pretest, posttest, and maintenance assessment scores offers insight into changes and begins an important discussion of how we can improve and sustain adaptive life skills in adolescents with ASD for the long-term goal of changing their trajectory for greater independence. Primary Author and Speaker: Elizabeth Grant Additional Authors and Speakers: Shirley O'Brien, Geela Spira Contributing Authors: Scott Tomchek

Basic Models of Interoception Allostatic load modelAllostasis is an expanded concept of homeostasis. Not only does the body regulate and maintain constancy within body systems, allostasis adaptively readjusts the regulatory levels in response to changing physiological demands, typically considered 'stressors' [6].