How are sensory integration theory, sensory integration dysfunction, Sensory Processing Disorder, and Sensory Modulation Disorder related?
Sensory integration theory was formulated by A. Jean Ayres, PhD, OTR, an occupational therapist who practiced from the mid-1950s until 1988. Based on neuroscience principles, the theory describes an underlying rationale for the diagnosis and treatment approach that Dr. Ayres founded to evaluate and intervene with children who have particular sets of sensory and/or motor symptoms and who may have learning disabilities. Her basic concept was that the individual had a deficit in the central nervous system’s ability to receive, filter, organize, and integrate stimuli, which resulted in a non-adaptive response. Sensory integration dysfunction (DSI) was the term used by Dr. Ayres to refer to this broad theory, as well as to the diagnosis and the treatment (e.g., sensory integration treatment) of children who have the dysfunction. These terms and the relationships between them have been clarified for the purposes of this web site. The current terminology is explained below. “Sensory integrati
