This study examined the relationship between auditory, visual, touch, and oral sensory dysfunction in autism and their relationship to multisensory dysfunction and severity of autism. The Sensory Profile was completed on 104 persons with a diagnosis of autism, 3 to 56 years of age. Analysis showed a significant correlation between the different…

Examined children's and adolescents' ability to identify male sweat and other odors and their rating of odors for liking. Found that only female adolescents could identify and disliked male sweat. When cued about odor identity, both male and female adolescents disliked male sweat more than children. Concluded that dislike for male sweat odor may…

Analyzed postural oscillations in six-, eight-, and 10-year-olds in four visual and two somatosensory conditions. Found that children were more stable with than without vision and more stable with a normal than with an altered support surface. Overall, there was no effect of age. The relative influence of peripheral and central vision on postural…

Discusses evidence for experience-dependent reorganization of adult and developing brains, examining changes in the mature brain as a result of experience, reorganization in the developing brain, and mechanisms of change. The paper notes that there is general agreement that experience can have a profound effect on the organization of the brain.…

There have been many efforts to conceptualise literacy, both in terms of its essence and component parts, but it has proved difficult to define. This paper considers work that is undertaken with children and older learners with sensory needs in order to promote the early stages of literacy. Recent government initiatives aimed at fostering literacy…

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that the neural efficiency of the human brain as measured by parameters of sensory evoked potentials varies depending on the sensory input used within the same subject. The subjects were 213 children aged eight to 16 years, selected randomly. Computer analysis of EEG data was performed in order to…

This paper discusses environmental preference, particularly related to the design of children's museums. It explains that preference for an environment leads to motivation to interact with the environment, which leads to learning. It lays out several design principles: (1) involve children in the process of children's museum design in a way that…

A study compared the sensory responses of 70 children aged 3-15 whose primary diagnosis was Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and 70 children without disabilities. Children with ADHD had significantly difference responses to sensory events. The Sensory Profile was supported as an assessment tool. (Contains 62 references.) (JOW)

Investigated the role of sensory reinforcement in motivation of rituals. Assessed the effect of sensory extinction for two children. Results showed light-switching rituals decreased when a certain sensory consequence was removed, then increased when that consequence was reintroduced. Different sensory consequences were functional for the children.…

An intermodal preference task, which presents 2 events side-by-side with a single sound track appropriate to 1 event, and measures subjects' visual preferences, was presented to 23 children with autism. Subjects showed the intermodal matching effect demonstrated with normal infants and young children; subjects did not demonstrate primary…

The author applies the Stanislavski theories on acting to the training of children in dramatics. She bases the book on what she terms the "magic question" that can awaken a child's imagination: "What would I do if . . .?" The opening chapters are designed to assist the student in developing an awareness of his senses for the…

Research supported by grants from Social Science Research Council, Spencer Foundation, and Harvard University Project Zero. (DS)

Seventeen students with severe disability (ages 5 to 18) were assessed on Foundation Outcome Statement (FOS) Skills and subsequently exposed to an interactive multi-sensory environment which included equipment for light and visual stimulation and touch/tactile activities. Students increased in their number of FOS Skills immediately following…

This study attempts to investigate the role of sensorimotor impairments in the reading disability that characterizes dyslexia. Twenty-three children with dyslexia were compared to 22 control children, matched for age and non-verbal intelligence, on tasks assessing literacy as well as phonological, visual, auditory and motor abilities. The dyslexic…

The arts should be part of the core curriculum because human cognition is wider than discourse and because the forms one is able to use define the scope of the reality that one can know. (Author/IRT)