Sensory Processing Characteristics and the Effectiveness of Sensory-Based Interventions in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Türkiye: A Meta-Analytic Systematic Review
KAFKAS EĞİTİM ARAŞTIRMALARI DERGİSİ, cilt.13, sa.2, ss.616-629, 2026 (TRDizin)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 13 Sayı: 2
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.30900/kafkasegt.1734217
- Dergi Adı: KAFKAS EĞİTİM ARAŞTIRMALARI DERGİSİ
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Central & Eastern European Academic Source (CEEAS), EBSCO Education Source, Directory of Open Access Journals, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM), Education Source Ultimate (EBSCO)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.616-629
- İnönü Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This study aims to examine the sensory processing characteristics of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Türkiye and the effectiveness of sensory-based interventions through a meta-analytic systematic review, given the limited and heterogeneous nature of the available data. The study was systematically searched using keywords such as “autism”, “sensory processing”, “sensory integration” and “intervention” via the DergiPark, TR Dizin, Google Scholar and YÖKThesis databases. The inclusion criteria for the study’s dataset were defined as publications measuring sensory outcomes, involving children with ASD aged 0–18 years, based on a Turkish sample, and presenting quantitative data with statistical values, published between 2011 and 2021. Accordingly, seven publications were included in the study. A moderator variable analysis was conducted using the CMA programme to examine heterogeneity, publication bias, effect size, and variables such as publication year, type, methodological approach and sample size. In our findings, the total effect size, Hedges’ g = 0.383, SE = 0.127, p = 0.003, 95 per cent confidence interval [0.134, 0.631], was found to be statistically significant. The Q value of the publications was 78.655 and the I² value was 62.079, indicating moderate heterogeneity; whilst publication year (p = 0.008) and publication type (p = 0.001) were significant moderator variables, methodological approach (p = 0.599) and sample size (p = 0.34) did not yield a significant difference. Given the small number of studies included, the methodological diversity and the limited generalisability of the findings, the results should be interpreted as exploratory.In line with the findings, whilst the sensory domain is recognised as a key research focus in supporting children with ASD, the literature remains limited; consequently, the emphasis is not on the confirmatory nature of the results but rather on their exploratory nature.