The effect of sensory integration exercises on the sensory profile of children with dyslexia and dysgraphia

The purpose of the present research was to examine the effect of sensory integration exercises on the sensory profile of children with dyslexia and dysgraphia. The statistical population included all the 7-10 year old primary students with dyslexia and dysgraphia in Behshahr, who had already referred to children’s learning disorder rehabilitation centers in the academic year 1390. Thirty students with dyslexia and 30 students with dysgraphia were randomly selected through (non-random) convenience sampling and assigned to experimental and control groups (15 students in each group). To collect the data, the researchers used the children’s sensory profile questionnaire, and to analyze the data, one-way covariance analysis was conducted. The results indicated that implementing sensory integration exercises enhance some factors of sensory profile (sensory seeking, emotional reaction, oral sensory sensitivity, inattention/distractibility, sedentary, fine motor / perceptual factors) in children with dyslexia. However, sensory integration exercises were found to have no effect on the low endurance/tone, poor registration, and sensory sensitivity of the children with dyslexia. Moreover, it was revealed that sensory integration exercises (as the independent variable) increased all factors of sensory profile significantly in children with dysgraphia.