Intervention to Improve Sensory Processing in Children with FASD

About This Grant

PROJECT ABSTRACT Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) can occur in a person when they are exposed to alcohol before birth and are characterized by impairments in physical, cognitive, and behavioral functions. Common signs and symptoms associated with FASD include low body weight, abnormal facial features, poor coordination, hyperactive behaviors, difficulty with attention, and difficulty in school. There is also growing research that individuals with FASD have sensory processing deficits that can impact self-regulation and adaptive behavior. Sensory enriched occupational therapy intervention may improve the neurological sensory processing deficits experienced by individuals with FASD, which may lead to lifelong improvements in self-regulation and adaptive behavior. Here, we propose a Phase 1 clinical trial to assess the following: 1) characterize changes in brain white matter microstructure of sensory integration in 6 to 8-year old children with FASD following intervention; 2) characterize changes in sensory processing, self-regulation, and adaptive behavior; and 3) develop a conceptual model of mediation, whereby a sensory enriched intervention alters brain sensory white matter networks, leading to improvements in sensory processing, self-regulation, and adaptive behavior in children with FASD. We predict that children with FASD who receive a sensory enriched intervention will demonstrate positive changes in white matter neural architecture when compared to controls, and that we will see improvements in sensory processing, self-regulation, and adaptive behaviors. This two phase R61/R33 will allow us the time to adapt and assess the study procedures and intervention to inform the development of future larger clinical trials.