Sensory Integration Therapy: How It Helps Children at Cadabam's CDC
Sensory integration therapy is a specialised, evidence-based approach that helps children process and respond to sensory information from their environment and their own bodies. Originally developed by occupational therapist A. Jean Ayres in the 1970s, SI therapy addresses the neurological foundations of sensory processing — the ability to take in, organise, and use sensory input for learning, behaviour, and daily functioning. It is widely used for children with sensory processing disorder, autism, ADHD, and other developmental conditions.
If your child struggles with sensory sensitivities, coordination, or responses to everyday sensory experiences, contact us today to learn how sensory integration therapy at Cadabam's CDC can help.
What Is Sensory Integration Therapy?
Sensory integration therapy is a clinical intervention delivered by trained occupational therapists in a specially designed environment. Unlike general sensory play, an SI therapist assesses the child's specific sensory processing patterns, identifies which sensory systems are affected, and designs graded challenges that target those systems with therapeutic precision.
The core goal is to improve the brain's ability to process and integrate sensory input so the child can respond more adaptively. This includes reducing overreaction (such as covering ears at everyday sounds or gagging at food textures), increasing response to input the child underregisters, and improving motor planning and coordination. Children with sensory processing disorder often experience the world as either too intense or insufficiently stimulating. Research suggests that 80–90% of children with autism and approximately 40–60% of children with ADHD also experience sensory processing difficulties.
How Sensory Integration Therapy Works
SI therapy takes place in a sensory gym — a purpose-built space equipped with specialised equipment targeting the vestibular (movement and balance), proprioceptive (body awareness and pressure), and tactile (touch) systems. Equipment typically includes suspended swings, crash pads, climbing walls, tactile bins filled with rice or sand, and therapy balls and scooter boards.
The therapist guides the child through "just-right challenges" — tasks that are neither too easy nor too overwhelming, pushing the child's sensory processing capacity in a controlled way. A session might involve swinging to stimulate the vestibular system while reaching for objects, followed by crashing into cushions for proprioceptive feedback, and then a tactile exploration activity.
To an observer, SI therapy looks like play — and that is by design. Children are most receptive to sensory input when intrinsically motivated. However, every activity is selected based on clinical reasoning, and the therapist continuously adjusts the intensity and type of input in real time. For home strategies, explore our guide to sensory activities.
Conditions That Benefit from Sensory Integration Therapy
SI therapy is most commonly recommended for children with sensory processing disorder, but its benefits extend to several conditions. Children with autism frequently present with sensory processing differences — the DSM-5 explicitly includes hyper- or hypo-reactivity to sensory input as a diagnostic criterion. SI therapy helps these children tolerate everyday environments and participate more fully in learning and social activities.
Children with ADHD often have co-occurring sensory processing difficulties that contribute to restlessness and sensory-seeking behaviour. SI therapy can improve self-regulation and attention by addressing these underlying sensory needs. Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) also responds well to SI-based intervention, as its motor difficulties are closely linked to proprioceptive and vestibular processing. Children with sensory-triggered anxiety may also benefit as part of a broader treatment plan.
What to Expect in a Session
A sensory integration therapy session at Cadabam's CDC typically lasts 45 minutes and is scheduled 1–2 times per week, depending on the child's needs and goals. Before therapy begins, the occupational therapist conducts a comprehensive sensory assessment using standardised tools such as the Sensory Profile-2 (Dunn, 2014), which evaluates sensory processing patterns across auditory, visual, tactile, vestibular, and proprioceptive domains.
Based on the assessment, the therapist develops an individualised treatment plan with specific goals — for example, "Riya will tolerate messy play for 10 minutes without distress" or "Arjun will maintain seated attention for 15 minutes following a vestibular activity." Sessions follow a flexible structure that responds to the child's state on any given day.
Parent coaching is a core component. The therapist provides a "sensory diet" — a home programme of specific sensory activities to be performed daily between sessions. This carryover is essential, as the benefits of SI therapy are amplified when sensory strategies are integrated into daily routines across home and school settings.
Is Sensory Integration Therapy Evidence-Based?
Yes. The Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) model, when delivered with fidelity by trained therapists, is supported by a growing body of research. A landmark randomised controlled trial by Schaaf and colleagues, published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy in 2014, demonstrated that children with autism who received ASI therapy showed significantly greater improvements in goal attainment and reduced caregiver assistance compared to a control group receiving standard care.
Subsequent reviews have confirmed the strongest evidence for autism and SPD, with moderate evidence for ADHD and DCD. The evidence supports SI therapy delivered according to the Ayres model — with fidelity criteria including a trained therapist, appropriate equipment, and child-directed "just-right challenges" — rather than loosely defined "sensory activities." At Cadabam's CDC, our therapists adhere to ASI fidelity criteria, ensuring every session meets the standards required for effective outcomes.
Sensory Integration Therapy at Cadabam's CDC
Cadabam's CDC offers sensory integration therapy across all three Bangalore centres, each equipped with a fully outfitted SI gym featuring suspended equipment, climbing structures, crash pads, tactile stations, and proprioceptive tools — all meeting ASI model requirements.
Our occupational therapists hold specialised certifications in Ayres Sensory Integration. Therapy is delivered within a multidisciplinary framework, coordinated alongside speech therapy, behavioural therapy, or special education as needed. We work with children aged 18 months to 16 years. Visit our occupational therapists page to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my child needs sensory integration therapy? Signs include extreme reactions to sounds, textures, or lights, difficulty with balance or coordination, constant need for movement or deep pressure, avoidance of messy play, and frequent meltdowns in busy environments. A formal sensory assessment by an occupational therapist can determine whether SI therapy is appropriate.
How long does sensory integration therapy take to show results? Many parents notice initial changes within 8–12 sessions. More significant improvements in self-regulation, motor planning, and daily functioning typically emerge over 6–12 months of consistent therapy. Progress depends on the severity of difficulties, session frequency, and consistency of home strategies.
Can sensory integration therapy be done at home? A full SI session requires specialised equipment and clinical expertise and cannot be replicated at home. However, the "sensory diet" — a tailored programme of activities such as jumping on a trampoline, weighted blanket use, or brushing protocols — is designed specifically for home implementation between sessions.
Is sensory integration therapy the same as sensory play? No. Sensory play provides general sensory exposure and is beneficial for all children. SI therapy is a clinical intervention based on neurological principles, delivered by a trained therapist who targets specific sensory processing deficits using specialised equipment and graded challenges.
Why Choose Cadabam's CDC?
At Cadabam's CDC, sensory integration therapy is delivered with clinical rigour, specialised equipment, and genuine warmth. Our occupational therapists combine ASI certification with years of hands-on experience, and our sensory gyms are among the most comprehensively equipped in Bangalore. With a multidisciplinary team, individualised treatment plans, and a strong emphasis on parent involvement, we ensure that every child receives the support they need to thrive.
Contact us today to schedule a sensory assessment, or visit one of our centres in Bangalore to tour our sensory integration facilities.
