Sensory integration: fact or fad.

Sensory integration more and more is becoming the panacea for many occupational therapists who treat a variety of disabilities and dysfunctions. The popularity of this treatment method is growing rapidly and was emphasized by Hightower-Vandamm in 1980. She noted that, in the early '70s, 90 percent of her students wanted to work in physical dysfunction and that presently 90 percent wish to work in sensory integration (I). Efforts have been made to relate sensory integration treatment to mentally retarded adults, blind adults, emotionally disturbed adolescents, and low-achieving college students. This increased interest has produced a plethora of articles on sensory integration in the literature. The December 1981 archival issue of AJOT indicates that, during 1981,15 articles were published in the Journal on sensory integration. The topic with the second largest number of articles. 9. was physical dysfunction/disabilities. In late 1980, an "Index of Sensory Integration Literature for Occupational Therapy and Related Professions" was compiled by Glover and Weed of the University of Alabama (2), containing 812 references, coded and cross-referenced under 32 subject headings; all related to sensory integration. The thrust of the following comments is selective and is not directed to sensory dysfunction in children nor to therapists using sensory integration treatment techniques with children.