Data_Sheet_1_Wireless Measurement of Sympathetic Arousal During in vivo Occupational Therapy Sessions.pdf

PurposeOne goal of occupational therapists working with children who have sensory processing challenges is the regulation of arousal. Regulation strategies have not been evaluated using an empirical measure of physiological arousal.ObjectiveTo establish the feasibility of using an objective physiologic measure of sympathetic arousal in therapeutic settings and explore the relation between therapeutic activities and sympathetic arousal. To evaluate changes in electrodermal activity (EDA) during occupational therapy sessions.MethodsTwenty-two children identified with sensory modulation dysfunction (SMD) wore a wireless EDA sensor during 50 min occupational therapy sessions (n = 77 sessions).ResultsAll children were able to wear the sensor on the lower calf without being distracted by the device. The five insights below are based on a comparison of EDA recordings in relation to therapists’ reflections describing how sympathetic arousal might correspond to therapeutic activities.ConclusionObjective physiological assessment of a child’s sympathetic arousal during therapy is possible using a wireless EDA measurement system. Changes in EDA may correspond directly with therapeutic activities. The article provides a foundation for designing future therapeutic studies that include continuous measures of EDA.

旨在探讨职业治疗师协助处理儿童感觉加工挑战时，调节唤醒水平的目标。调节策略尚未通过生理唤醒的实证测量方法进行评估。研究目标在于确立在治疗环境中使用客观生理指标测量交感神经唤醒的可行性，并探讨治疗活动与交感神经唤醒之间的关系。评估职业治疗过程中皮肤电活动（EDA）的变化。研究方法：22名被诊断为感觉调制功能障碍（SMD）的儿童在50分钟的职业治疗过程中（共77个治疗时段）佩戴无线EDA传感器。研究结果：所有儿童均能在小腿下佩戴传感器，且未被设备所分心。以下五个洞见基于EDA记录与治疗师对交感神经唤醒可能如何与治疗活动相对应的反思描述的比较。结论：使用无线EDA测量系统对儿童在治疗过程中的交感神经唤醒进行客观生理评估是可行的。EDA的变化可能与治疗活动直接相关。本文为设计未来包括持续EDA测量的治疗研究奠定了基础。