Occupational therapy with children with pervasive developmental disorders

Objective. Although the prevalence of children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) has increased empirical data about the role and practices of occupational therapists have not been reported in the literature. This d escriptive study investigated the practice of occupational therapists with children with PDD. Method. A survey was mailed to 500 occupational therapists in the Sensory I ntegration Special Interest Section or School System Special Interest Secti on of the American Occupational Therapy Association in eastern and midweste rn United States. The valid return rate was 58% (292 respondents). The surv ey used Likert scale items to measure frequency of performance problems obs erved in children with PDD, performance areas addressed in intervention, pe rceived improvement in performance, and frequency of use of and competency in intervention approaches. Results. The respondents primarily worked in schools and reported that in t he past 5 years they had served an increasing number of children with PDD. Most respondents provided direct services and appeared to use holistic appr oaches in which they addressed multiple performance domains. They applied s ensory integration and environmental modification approaches most frequentl y and believed that they were most competent in using these approaches, Res pondents who reported more frequent use of and more competence in sensory i ntegration approaches perceived more improvement in children's sensory proc essing. Respondents who reported more frequent use of and more competence i n child-centered play perceived more improvement in children's sensory inte gration and play skills.