Hello Australia, from the Crew at ASI Wise & Sensory Project
While the team cannot be in Australia this year, we are very pleased to support ICE-ASI’s Conference “down under” – ISIC Sydney 2024 from afar. We are also so happy that colleagues from the UK and Ireland are presenting at ISIC2024, including a virtual presentation from our team. In this context, ASI Wise is keen to make an impactful contribution at ISIC2024.
Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) Care Pathway Development for Adult Mental Health within the NHS
Here’s a clear summary of the ISIC Sydney 2024 presentation on Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) Care Pathway Development for Adult Mental Health within the NHS, featuring insights from ASI Wise at ISIC2024:
Overview
- Presented by Katie Crowfoot & Kath Smith.
- Explored ASI’s history, application, and evidence base in adult mental health services.
- Focus on co-production with service users, data-driven approaches, and reducing health inequalities.
Key Learning Outcomes
- Understand ASI’s history and potential in mental health.
- Learn how Data-Driven Decision-Making (DDDM) supports interventions.
- Recognise ASI’s potential to improve participation, reduce hospital admissions, and enhance recovery.
History & Development
- Ayres’ Sensory Integration was initially developed for children and later expanded to adults.
- Early research connected sensory integration with schizophrenia, psychosis, trauma, and attachment difficulties.
- Since 2002, ASI models have been co-produced with service users to shape personalised care plans.
Clinical Evidence & Outcomes
- Be SMaRT Programme ( 2009 – 2003–2004 evaluation – Brown, Shankar and Smith, 2009):
- Reduced self-harm, substance use, and reliance on sedative medication.
- Improved interpersonal skills, coping with distress, therapy engagement, and discharge outcomes.
- Replicated study (Crowfoot 2023):
- Confirmed earlier positive outcomes.
- Showed reductions in admissions, expanded activities of daily living, and improved engagement.
Tools & Approaches
- Assessment Tools: Sensory Profile, SIPT, Sensory Ladders, Sensory Spiders, Structured Clinical Observations.
- Sensory Ladders (2021–2024): personalised co-produced strategies for self-regulation.
- Adapted DDDM (2010–2015): ensures evidence-based, targeted interventions.
Conditions Addressed
- PTSD, Schizophrenia, Dementia, Bipolar disorder, Psychosis, Depression, Anxiety, Autism, ADHD, Eating difficulties, Personality disorders, Learning Disabilities.
Impact & Future Direction
- Embedded within NHS frameworks, including the Long-Term Plan (2019) and sensory-friendly resource packs, the team from ASI Wise will be showcased at ISIC2024 with promising new developments.
- Evidence supports ASI’s role in reducing hospital readmissions, enhancing recovery, and improving quality of life.
- Ongoing work includes adapting fidelity measures for adults and co-developing new practice models. It’s clear that ASI Wise has established a promising future direction, showcased notably at ISIC2024.
In essence:
Our ISIC Sydney 2024 presentation highlighted that Ayres Sensory Integration, once rooted in paediatric practice, is now highly effective in adult mental health care. Through co-production, tailored sensory strategies, and robust evidence, ASI shows strong potential to reduce admissions, support recovery, and address inequalities within NHS pathways.
