***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: The purpose of this pilot study was to establish a model for r and omized controlled trial research , identify appropriate outcome measures , and address the effectiveness of sensory integration ( SI ) interventions in children with autism spectrum disorders ( ASD ) . Children ages 6 - 12 with ASD were r and omly assigned to a fine motor or SI treatment group . Pretests and posttests measured social responsiveness , sensory processing , functional motor skills , and social-emotional factors . Results identified significant positive changes in Goal Attainment Scaling scores for both groups ; more significant changes occurred in the SI group , and a significant decrease in autistic mannerisms occurred in the SI group . No other results were significant . The study discusses considerations for design ing future outcome studies for children with ASD This study evaluated a manualized intervention for sensory difficulties for children with autism , ages 4–8 years , using a r and omized trial design . Diagnosis of autism was confirmed using gold st and ard measures . Results show that the children in the treatment group ( n = 17 ) who received 30 sessions of the occupational therapy intervention scored significantly higher ( p = 0.003 , d = 1.2 ) on Goal Attainment Scales ( primary outcome ) , and also scored significantly better on measures of caregiver assistance in self-care ( p = 0.008 d = 0.9 ) and socialization ( p = 0.04 , d = 0.7 ) than the Usual Care control group ( n = 15 ) . The study shows high rigor in its measurement of treatment fidelity and use of a manualized protocol , and provides support for the use of this intervention for children with autism . Findings are discussed in terms of their implication s for practice and future research Enriched sensorimotor environments enable rodents to compensate for a wide range of neurological challenges , including those induced in animal models of autism . Given the sensorimotor deficits in most children with autism , we attempted to translate that approach to their treatment . In a r and omized controlled trial , 3 - 12 year-old children with autism were assigned to either a sensorimotor enrichment group , which received daily olfactory/tactile stimulation along with exercises that stimulated other paired sensory modalities , or to a control group . We administered tests of cognitive performance and autism severity to both groups at the initiation of the study and after 6 months . Severity of autism , as assessed with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale , improved significantly in the enriched group compared to controls . Indeed , 42 % of the enriched group and only 7 % of the control group had what we considered to be a clinical ly significant improvement of 5 points on that scale . Sensorimotor enrichment also produced a clear improvement in cognition , as determined by their Leiter-R Visualization and Reasoning scores . At 6 months , the change in average scores for the enriched group was 11.3 points higher than that for the control group . Finally , 69 % of parents in the enriched group and 31 % of parents in the control group reported improvement in their child over the 6-month study . Environmental enrichment therefore appears to be effective in ameliorating some of the symptoms of autism  in children OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to access whether there were any therapeutic effects of Thai Traditional Massage ( TTM ) on major behavioral and emotional disturbances in Thai autistic children . DESIGN This was a r and omized controlled trial study . SETTING S/LOCATION The study was conducted at the Rehabilitation Centre of the Thai Red Cross Society . SUBJECTS A total of 60 autistic children between the ages of 3 and 10 completed this study . INTERVENTIONS St and ard sensory integration therapy ( SI ) was compared to the SI with TTM treatments . OUTCOME MEASURES Parents and teachers assessed major behavior disturbances using the Conners ' Rating Scales at 0 and 8 weeks . Sleep Diary ( SD ) , recorded by the parents , assessed the patient 's sleeping patterns every week . RESULTS Sixty ( 60 ) autistic children , mean age 4.67 + /- 1.82 , were recruited . No statistical differences were seen in the demographic and baseline data among both groups . From both the Conners ' Teacher Question naire and SD , statistical improvement was detected for conduct problem , hyperactivity , inattention-passivity , hyperactivity index , and sleeping behavior . However , results from the Conners ' Parent Question naire revealed an improvement only for anxiety ( p = 0.04 ) in the massage group , whereas when both groups were compared , a significant improvement in conduct problem ( p = 0.03 ) and anxiety ( p = 0.01 ) was found . Results indicated that TTM may have a positive effect in improving stereotypical behaviors in autistic children . CONCLUSIONS Over a period of 8 weeks , our findings suggested that TTM could be used as a complementary therapy for autistic children in Thail and A mental health enterprise may be described by either ( a ) rather general philosophical total mental health goals , or ( b ) highly diverse and individualized patient-therapist goals . Goals a. have not provided a workable framework for program evaluation . This paper proposes that evaluation be done in the framework of goals b. by setting up , before treatment , a measurable scale for each patient-therapist goal , and specifying , for each patient , a transformation of his overall goal attainment into a st and ardized T-score . This method , together with r and om assignment of patients to treatment modes , was devised to permit comparison of treatment modes within a program , but it also provides a good basis for a judgmental evaluation of the total program This study investigated the effectiveness of a 20-week Simulated Developmental Horse-Riding Program ( SDHRP ) by using an innovative exercise equipment ( Joba ) on the motor proficiency and sensory integrative functions in 60 children with autism ( age : 6 years , 5 months to 8 years , 9 months ) . In the first phase of 20 weeks , 30 children received the SDHRP in addition to their regular occupational therapy while another 30 children received regular occupational therapy only . The arrangement was reversed in the second phase of another 20 weeks . Children with autism in this study showed improved motor proficiency and sensory integrative functions after 20-week SDHRP ( p < .01 ) . In addition , the therapeutic effect appeared to be sustained for at least 24 weeks ( 6 months ) The homeostatic theory of stereotyped behaviors assumes that these behaviors modulate arousal . Weighted vests are used to decrease stereotyped behaviors in persons with autism because the input they provide is thought to serve the same homeostatic function . This small-n , r and omized and blinded study measured the effects of wearing a weighted vest on stereotyped behaviors and heart rate for six children with autism in the classroom .  Weighted vests did not decrease motoric stereotyped behaviors in any participant . Verbal stereotyped behaviors decreased in one participant . Weighted vests did not decrease heart rate . Heart rate increased in one participant . Based on this protocol , the use of weighted vests to decrease stereotyped behaviors or arousal in children with autism in the classroom was not supported 
    Output:
    
Moderate evidence was found to support the use of ASI .