Importance: Sensory symptoms in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are commonly reported by researchers. However, an often overlooked sensory aspect of ASD is sensory discrimination in general, and somatosensory discrimination in particular. Objective: To examine what has and what has not yet been learned concerning the somatosensory discrimination abilities of people with ASD and to reveal gaps warranting further research. Design: Scoping review of clinical studies published 1995–2017 located through searches of PsycNET, PubMed, ERIC, and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria were English-language peer-reviewed studies with (1) participants diagnosed with ASD, (2) a specific somatosensory discrimination measure, and (3) a comparison group. No age or intellectual exclusion criteria were established; studies were excluded if they were theoretical or descriptive, did not incorporate a control group, focused only on neurology or genetics, or used simple threshold detection measures or somatosensory measures integrated with other measures. The final search yielded 12 comparative articles discussing tactile and proprioceptive discrimination in people with ASD. Results: Overall, most results showed atypical somatosensory discrimination in people with ASD, especially among young children. The relationship between sensory discrimination abilities and other sensory symptoms and ASD symptoms is briefly discussed. Conclusions and Relevance: Heterogeneous findings concerning somatosensory discrimination in people with ASD shed light on underlying mechanisms of these disorders and can contribute to improvement of occupational therapy intervention for this population. What This Article Adds: The occupational therapy evaluation of people with ASD can benefit from addressing somatosensory discrimination and its contribution to other clinical symptoms. This type of assessment can help improve intervention strategies for people with ASD by promoting a focus on the effect of discrimination deficits on daily function.

Date Presented 04/06/19 Children with vision or hearing impairment may suffer from sensory processing difficulties and limited participation. Understanding the outcomes of this relationship may assist in creating programs that enhance the inclusion of these children in the community and contribute to their quality of life. Primary Author and Speaker: Shaima Hamed-Daher Additional Authors and Speakers: Batya Engel-Yeger

Date Presented 4/7/2016 Sensory processing abilities and specifically greater sensory seeking predict better occupational engagement in older adults. Occupational therapists should refer to this relationship in research and practice to enhance meaningful engagement in real life among older adults. Primary Author and Speaker: Batya Engel-Yeger Additional Author and Speaker: Sara Rosenblum

Date Presented 4/17/2015 A virtual reality (VR) platform (Timocco) was found to be a reliable, valid, and enjoyable diagnostic tool in children aged 4 to 8 yr with typical motor development. The results may indicate that the VR platform can be used by clinicians as an assessment tool driven by evidence-based practice.

Date Presented 4/17/2015 This study used advanced technology of event-related potentials and aimed to elaborate the knowledge about central nervous system involvement in sensory processing disorders (SPDs). The results show overexcitation and lower adaptation to stimuli among people with SPDs, which may explain the difficulties in daily life performance.

OBJECTIVES. Our objectives were (1) to compare the differential effects of cultural and sociodemographic variables on the cognitive performance of Israeli and Palestinian children, (2) to examine validity of the Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (LOTCA) for kindergarten children, and (3) to determine the feasibility of using the LOTCA as a screening tool for assessing Palestinian children’s cognitive abilities. METHOD. Participants were 101 Jewish Israeli and 125 Muslim Palestinian children, ranging in grade from kindergarten to second grade. RESULTS. Israeli children achieved significantly higher scores than the Palestinian children on most LOTCA domains. We obtained significant Grade × Cultural Group interaction effects (F[10, 364] = 1.73, p < .001, effect size [ES] − η² = .045) and also found a significant Cultural Group × Mother's Education interaction (F[5, 184] = 2.49, p < .05, ES − η² = .064). CONCLUSION. Cultural and sociodemographic variables appear to affect cognitive performance. The LOTCA revealed cognitive differences between the cultural groups and school grades and may thus constitute an appropriate evaluation tool focusing on children’s school grade promotion.

OBJECTIVE. We examined the relationship between pain perception, as expressed by pain catastrophizing level, and sensory processing patterns among typical adults. METHOD. Two hundred ninety healthy adults participated in this study: 138 men and 152 women. Their ages ranged from 18 to 50 (mean age = 30.2 ± 6.8). All participants completed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). RESULTS. PCS scores significantly correlated with Low Registration, Sensory Sensitivity, and Sensation Avoiding. Women had higher sensory sensitivity and a higher pain catastrophizing level than did men. CONCLUSION. Sensory processing patterns may be related to individual pain perception, as expressed in pain catastrophizing level. Intervention programs should take these factors into account to be more focused on the specific needs of each client, facilitate his or her optimal engagement in daily living activities, and elevate well-being.

OBJECTIVE. This study examined the relationships between children's self-reports on their handwriting performance, their actual handwriting process and product, and wider motor-perceived self-efficacy. METHOD. Twenty-one children with dysgraphia and 21 typically developing children copied a paragraph on an electronic tablet as part of a Computerized Penmanship Evaluation Tool. Handwriting product was evaluated by the Hebrew Handwriting Evaluation. Participants completed the Children's Questionnaire for Handwriting Proficiency (CHaP) and the Perceived Efficacy and Goal Setting System (PEGS). RESULTS. The study group's CHaP scores significantly correlated with handwriting process, product measures (rs = .46–.59, ps = .034–.005), and PEGS scores, all of which were significantly poorer compared with those of the control participants. CONCLUSIONS. Children are aware of their handwriting deficits and are able to report them. Children's reports may contribute to the identification of dysgraphia and facilitate their participation in occupational therapy intervention and in class.

OBJECTIVE. To describe activity preferences of typically developing Israeli Jewish children; examine the effect of age, gender, and sociodemographic variables on these preferences; and add information about the construct validity and reliability of the Preference Assessment of Children (PAC; King et al., 2004). METHOD. A total of 310 typically developing Jewish Israeli children and youths ages 5–16 years completed the PAC. RESULTS. Differences in activity preferences were found between genders. Younger children preferred to participate in more PAC scales than did older children. Additional sociodemographic variables were correlated with specific activity preferences. CONCLUSIONS. Sociodemographic variables may affect children's activity preferences. However, the specific characteristics of the Israeli setting had additional effects on the results. Elaborating on knowledge about people's preferred activities and about the factors that affect those preferences may assist in occupational therapy evaluation and intervention. PAC was found to be a sensitive for examining the impact of sociodemographic variables on children's activity preferences.

OBJECTIVE. This study investigated the effects of cerebral palsy (CP) and gender on youth participation in activities outside of formal school. METHOD. Twenty-two participants with CP and 30 typically developing peers, ages 12–16 years, completed the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE; King et al., 2004). RESULTS. Typically developing youths engaged in a broader range of activities and did so more frequently than did youths with CP. Similar levels of enjoyment in activity were found in both groups. In some scales of the CAPE, youths with CP participated in proportionally more activities alone and at home. Gender differences and Group ×Gender interaction were found in some scales with respect to participation in and enjoyment of activities. CONCLUSIONS. Physical limitations associated with CP may affect the frequency of a child's participation in activity outside of school. However, youths with CP may express levels of enjoyment similar to those of typically developing peers while participating in activity.

OBJECTIVE. This study compared the participation in activities outside of formal school among Jewish and Druze Israeli children. It also examined the impact of gender and the interaction of culture and gender on participation. METHODS. Participants included 30 Jewish and 30 Druze children ages 8–10 years, who completed the Children’s Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE). RESULTS. On most of the scales measured, the Jewish children showed a significantly higher participation level than the Druze children, and the Druze children performed more activities alone. The Jewish children demonstrated a higher enjoyment level than the Druze children on half of the scales. Some scales revealed higher participation by girls than by boys as well as a significant cultural group by gender interaction. CONCLUSION. Culture may have an impact on children’s level of participation in the community. The CAPE was found to be a sensitive tool in elucidating differences between the Druze and Jewish children in community participation.

PURPOSE. This pioneer study examines the visual-motor and visual-perceptual performance of Israeli and Palestinian children, and makes comparisons among these respective populations according to age, place of residence, and parental education. In addition, the study evaluates the validity of standardized assessment tools for use with Palestinian children, with the view of establishing a sound assessment battery for this underserved population. METHODS. Participants included 101 Israeli and 125 Palestinian children from kindergarten, first grade, and second grade who underwent visual-motor and visual-perceptual tests. RESULTS. Significant differences were found between the two cultural groups in all assessments. Results also refer to grade, place of residence, and parents’ education variables. CONCLUSIONS. Although culture influences children’s performance, children from different societies should be screened and, when necessary, evaluated and treated in order to enable their optimal functioning at school. The validity of the assessment tools used, expressed in the ability to differentiate between Israeli and Palestinian children, should be further studied in order to suggest that these assessments may be considered as part of an evaluation battery for determining the school readiness and ability to advance in grade level among Palestinian children.