SPD-SWG Participants

Schaaf, Roseann C., PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Title: Associate Professor
Department: Department of Occupational Therapy
Institution: Thomas Jefferson University
Mailing Address: 824 Edison Building, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
Phone: (215) 503-9609
Website: www.jefferson.edu

Research Interests

Dr. Schaaf researches physiological (autonomic nervous system) measures in children with sensory processing dysfunction and children with Autism; outcomes of occupational therapy interventions for children with disabilities, brain-behavior interactions; sensory processing; and play.

SPD Research Summary

Dr. Schaaf is studying parasympathetic functions in children with Sensory Processing Disorder and atypical sensory responsivity in children with autism. Specifically, they are recruiting 75 children with Sensory Modulation Disorder. These children will participate in the Sensory Challenge Protocol, a physiologic laboratory paradigm that exposes children to a series of approximately 50 sensory stimuli for three seconds each. The protocol will be adapted to include a prolonged administration of auditory stimuli to assess not only reactivity and recovery, but also sustained coping and self-regulation. In addition to the Sensory Challenge Protocol, a number of behavioral assessments will be administered including the Short Sensory Profile to assess behavioral responses to sensation, the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition, to assess adaptive behavior, and the Sensory Challenge Protocol to assess PsNS activity during the administration of sensory stimuli. To control for the heterogeneity within the group of SPD, they will be classified into three groups (over- responsive, under-responsive and seeking) using criteria developed by Miller, et al and these groups will be compared to the other two. A 4 (group) X 3 (condition) analysis of variance (ANOVA) will be conducted to determine any group differences between the groups during each condition. Next, building on work in collaboration with the Miller lab, a series of regression analyses will be used to determine whether VTi is a predictor of adaptive behavior or sensory reactivity. The primary dependent measure is vagal tone, although heart rate and heart period will also be evaluated.

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