Sensory Integration Disorder and Its Effect on Reading and Writing Skills among Children with Autism

Abstract

The research aimed to identify the impact of sensory integration disorder on reading and writing skills in children with autism, to clarify its types and disorders, and to explore its relationship with learning difficulties in reading and writing. The study also aimed to identify the main manifestations of reading and writing difficulties. The research relied on the descriptive-analytical method by presenting educational and psychological literature related to learning difficulties and sensory integration, and analyzing the relationship between sensory disorders on one hand, and reading and writing skills on the other. The results showed that sensory integration disorder is one of the factors affecting the emergence of reading and writing difficulties, as the disruption in receiving, organizing, and interpreting sensory information leads to weak attention, poor visual-motor coordination, spatial perception, and auditory and visual discrimination—all of which are essential skills for acquiring reading and writing. It also appeared that using sensory integration activities helps improve brain organization of sensory stimuli, increase the child's ability to concentrate, and develop fine motor skills, which positively reflects on reading and writing performance. The research concluded on the importance of employing therapeutic and educational programs based on sensory integration