Program of Research in Sensory Integration at Thomas Jefferson University

Devoted to Increasing Knowledge of Sensory Integration/Sensory Processing in Children and Adults

The program of research in sensory integration/sensory processing is devoted to increasing knowledge of sensory integration/sensory processing and its effect on children and adults. We strive to improve awareness of sensory integration/sensory processing and how it impacts daily life.  We examine physiological reactivity to sensations, and behavioral markers of sensory reactivity through standardized questionnaires and interviews examining everyday activities and sensory preferences. We also examine the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions for sensory integration/sensory processing disorders.

Sensory integration dysfunction/sensory processing disorder exists when sensory signals don't get organized into appropriate responses. Pioneering occupational therapist and neuroscientist A. Jean Ayres, PhD, compared these conditions to a neurological "traffic jam" that prevents certain parts of the brain from receiving the information needed for daily events (Ayres, 1972 & 2005).

The lab’s primary investigator, Dr. Roseann Schaaf, has devoted her career to the study of the neuro-physiological mechanism of abnormal sensory processing in children and treatment of these disorders. She is an internationally recognized expert in sensory integration in occupational therapy and known academically for her research in pediatric occupational therapy. For more information about Dr. Schaaf, click here.

 
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