Investigating the Effect of Sensory Diet on ADHD Children's Hyperactivity and Impulsivity

Introduction: ADHD children, in addition to problems with attention deficit, hyperactivity and impulsivity, also have basic problems in sensory processing. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of sensory diet on ADHD children's hyperactivity and impulsivity. Methods: The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design along with the control group and the follow-up test was done after one month. From the statistical population of ADHD children, aged ۶ to ۱۲, who referred to the rehabilitation clinics of Tehran in ۲۰۲۲, ۳۰ children were selected by available sampling method and were randomly assigned to two intervention and control groups. Then, the family-centered sensory diet program according to the sensory condition of each child and based on Wilberger's sensory protocol, ۱۲ sessions, ۳ days a week and each session of ۴۵ minutes, was conducted for the intervention group. Wechsler children's intelligence scale and Connors parent form scale were used to measure the variables and to check the sensory status of children, the sensory profile questionnaire was used. The statistical tests used included analysis of variance with repeated measures and Ben Feroni's post hoc test. Results: According to the findings of the research, the mean scores of the post-test and the follow-up test of hyperactivity and impulsivity decreased in the experimental group, and the results of variance analysis with repeated measurements showed that this decrease was significant and stable (p<۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: Family-centered sensory diet intervention is a new and effective intervention in ADHD children and improves hyperactivity, impulsivity and performance of these children in different social environments, and it can be used as a new, efficient and free method along with other therapeutic interventions used.