Identifying Parental Needs for Sensory Interventions in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate and understand the sensory sensitivities in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), identify the challenges faced by their parents, assess the adequacy of current support services, and determine the specific needs of parents for additional guidance and support When a child has sensory sensitivity, it can have a big influence on their everyday life. It can change their comfort level, conduct, and capacity to do normal tasks. These sensitivity might make it difficult to handle day-to-day situations, which can have an impact on growth and general well-being. A quantitative survey design was employed with 125 parents (92 mothers, 33 fathers). Data were collected using a demographic information form and the need assessment Scale. Parents of children with ASD report moderate to high levels of sensory sensitivity, with average scores ranging from 1.98 to 2.32. They have low confidence in present management strategies, scoring between 1.38 and 1.69. They emphasize the need for a new intervention package and express a strong desire for it to be available in Urdu, with mean scores of 2.92 and 2.97, respectively. To effectively treat sensory sensitivity in children with ASD, the government should create user-friendly workshops and manuals, broaden access to professional counsel, and implement bilingual support packages.