1. Vision In Action
Effective Mind-body Interventions for Improving Emotional Self-regulation in Children with Sensory Processing Disorder
Jenny Eubank, OTS

2. Presentation Outline Personal interest in Mind-Body-Spirit
Define Sensory Processing Disorder
Describe the research
Discuss clinical experience
Apply evidence to current practice

3. Sensory Processing Disorder- SPD
Difficulty processing and acting upon information received through the senses
Sensory signals don't get organized into appropriate responses
Motor clumsiness, behavioral problems, anxiety, depression
High risk for emotional, social, and educational problems
These difficulties are chronic and disrupt everyday life.
Unique diagnosis from ADHD & autistic spectrum disorders

4. Which mind-body OT interventions result in improved emotional self-regulation in children with Sensory Processing Disorder?

5. Evidence Supporting Mind-Body Interventions
Very few studies on mind-body interventions in occupational therapy journals
Small sample sizes
Self-report & subjective outcome measures
Limited clinical diagnosis of SPD
Researchers as stakeholders

6. Yoga & Nei Yang Gong Improved behavior (Koenig, 2012)
Reduction in ADHD symptoms (Jensen, 2004)
Reduced anxiety and improved self-care, socialization, and emotional regulation (Stoller, 2012)
Improved self-control, a reduction in temper outbursts, and enhanced EEG activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (Chan, 2013)

7. Qigong Sensory Training (QST)
Chinese medicine manual technique
Parents were trained to give their child the QST massage daily.
Noticeable improvement in self-control across contexts
Teachers observed significant improvements in autistic behavior.
Parental outcome measures found a decrease in maladaptive behavior and improved social and communication skills. (Silva, 2009)

8. Meditation & Mindfulness Awareness
Executive functioning (EF)- management of cognitive processes
Improvements in behavioral regulation, metacognition, & global executive control in children with lower EF scores (Flook, 2010)
Strategies to control behavior and manage anger
Feeling calm, strong, and focused at school (Case Smith, 2010)

9. Clinical Application- Level II Fieldwork
Louisville Pediatric Therapy Center
The Medical Center- Bowling Green, KY

10. References
Case­ Smith, J., Sines, J. S, & Klatt, M. (2010). Perceptions of children who participated in a school ­ based yoga program.  Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 3, 226–238.  doi: /
Chan, A. S., Sze, S. L., Siu, N. Y., Lau, E. M., & Cheung, M-c. (2013). A Chinese mind-body exercise improves self-control of children with autism: A randomized controlled trial. PLoS ONE, 8, e doi: /journal.pone
Flook, L., Smalley, S. L., Kitil, M. J., Galla, B. M., Kaiser-Greenland, S., Locke, J., Kasari, C. (2010).  Effects of mindful awareness practices on executive functions in elementary school children.  Journal of Applied School Psychology, 26,  doi: /
Jensen, P. S., & Kenny, D. T. (2004). The effects of yoga on the attention and behavior of boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).  Journal of Attention Disorders, 7,  doi: /
Koenig, K. P., Buckley-Reen, A., & Garg, S. (2012). Efficacy of the Get Ready to Learn yoga program among children with autism spectrum disorders: A pretest–posttest control group design.  American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66, 538–
Silva, L. M. T., Schalock, M., Ayres, R., Bunse, C., & Budden, S. (2009). Qigong massage treatment for sensory and self-regulation problems in young children with autism: A randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63, 423–432. doi: /ajot
Stoller, C. C., Greuel, J. H., Cimini, L. S., Fowler, M. S., & Koomar, J. A. (2012). Effects of sensory- enhanced yoga on symptoms of combat stress in deployed military personnel. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66, 59–68. doi: /ajot

11. What questions do you have?