Introduction:
Despite growing recognition of the importance of obtaining direct input from children, traditional sensory processing differences (SPD) assessments and interventions primarily rely on proxy reports. Children's perspectives offer invaluable insights for the development of effective interventions. Integrating those perspectives can provide understanding that may not be captured through external observations, especially given the subjective nature of SPD.
Objectives:
To offer practitioners a means of understanding children's sensory experiences, enabling data-driven treatment planning that integrates with standardized assessment measures for enhancing clinical reasoning and informing personalized treatment and promotes child-centered practice.
Approach:
My Sensory Book (MSB) Is a globally accessible digital platform, offering an innovative, artificial intelligence (AI) -powered sensory journaling tool that guides children to communicate their sensory experiences. This platform features a structured modular program, delivered and documented by occupational therapy practitioners (OTP) in clinical settings and utilizes AI image generation to create personalized visual representations, accessible for children with varying abilities.
Practice Implications:
MSB is a strengths-based practice that positions clients as experts on their own lives,
providing practitioners with qualitative data for clinical reasoning and facilitates motivating treatment goals. The AI-assisted method enhances accessibility by accommodating children with diverse challenges and providing multilingual support.
Contribution to the occupational therapy profession:
MSB addresses a critical gap in SPD evaluation by incorporating children's voices into standardized assessments. OTPs can benefit from engaging children in sensory assessments and harnessing AI to inspire changes and create innovative futures where client-centered care is enhanced through cutting-edge technologies.