Occupational Therapists’ Perspectives on Family-Centered Practices in Early Intervention

Background: Early intervention (EI) requires service provision in natural settings while incorporating interventions based on family-centered practice (FCP). This study sought to understand (a) how occupational therapists define and implement FCP in their daily interventions and (b) therapists’ perspectives on using this model of practice in EI. Method: This study used a qualitative, phenomenological approach. Nine licensed occupational therapists from six states with a minimum of 3 years of working experience in the area of EI participated. Semi-structured interviews were recorded, transcribed, and subsequently coded and analyzed for emergent themes. Results: The therapists had an average of 12.6 years of experience in EI. Four themes were identified: (a) confusion on meaning and implementation of FCP, (b) FCP creates feelings of insecurity, (c) FCP requires therapists to assume roles and engage in activities or practices for which they are not prepared, and (d) systemic issues affect the ability to implement FCP in EI. Conclusion: The participants reported limited evidence-based practice guidelines on FCP models and emphasized the need for training to have a commonality in defining and implementing FCP. Findings indicate a need to address systemic issues affecting how services are approved, delivered, and funded

Connected Rhythm: A Scoping Review of Therapeutic Drumming as an Intervention for Autistic Individuals

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurologically-based developmental disorder representing a subdomain of neurodivergence. Occupational therapy intervention for ASD typically incorporates sensory modalities, addressing a multitude of challenges, including mental health outcomes. This scoping review analyzes available evidence of the sensory-based intervention of therapeutic drumming (TD) to improve mental health in autistic clients. Method: Following the Johanna Briggs methodological framework, Proquest, Ebsco, Scopus and OTseeker databases were searched with the key and related words of “autism,” “therapeutic drumming,” and “mental health,” yielding 448 articles. After removal of duplicates and application of inclusion criteria, seventeen articles were included in the final analysis. Results: Analysis revealed strong consistency in delivery and implementation of TD intervention. Instrumentation of outcome measures, in contrast, was not well-synchronized; therefore, efficacy of the intervention was difficult to assess. Conclusion: Limitations included a general lack of research, limited research of TD with autistic people in occupational therapy literature, and a dearth of strongly instrumented research. This review revealed valuable contributions of TD interventions as a neurodiversity-affirming practice to support mental health and inform future studies of implementation of TD for people with ASD across the lifespan within the scope of occupational therapy