Research Faculty

Dr. Shula Parush

Dr. Jean-Jacques Vatine

Tami Bar Shalita

Aviva Yochman

RATIONALE

Sensory modulation refers to the ability to adapt and organize the quality and speed of responses to sensory stimuli, to filter out irrelevant stimuli and to maintain a level of awareness necessary for function. Modulation of sensory input is a critical component of human function that influences the individual's interactions with the physical and human environment and adaptation to daily life challenges. Thus, sensory modulation plays a vital role in determining quality of life.

Sensory Modulation Disorder (SMD) refers to a syndrome in which individuals routinely demonstrate exaggerated or inappropriate responses to benign sensory input. Individuals with SMD have difficulty regulating and organizing the amount, extent and manner of response to sensory stimuli. These responses are expressed as over-responsivity or under-responsivity.  

RESEARCH PROJECTS

Our research is conducted by the faculty of the School of Occupational Therapy of Hadassah and the Hebrew University, in close collaboration with pain research expert Dr. Jean Jacques Vatine, Deputy Director and Head of Outpatients and Research at the Reuth Medical Center, Israel. In addition our research is conducted in collaboration with national and international physicians, physiologists, and psychologists.

1. Understanding the psycho-physical mechanisms of Sensory Modulation Disorder in Children

Population: Children with and without SMD

Goal: Currently, there is a lack of information explaining the underlying mechanisms of SMD. Due to the need for a detailed understanding of the sensory processing of individuals with SMD, we intend to examine sensory modulation functioning from both the behavioral and neurophysiological perspectives.  Behaviorally, we intend to provide a wide profile of responses of people with SMD to everyday sensory experiences in order to establish a reference for normative sensory behavior. Neurophysiologically, through Quantitative Sensory Testing, we plan to investigate the detection thresholds, pain thresholds, suprathresholds, and central sensitization for pain, temperature, vibration, light-touch, prickle and pinprick sensations of children and adults with and without Sensory Modulation Disorder.

2. Development of measures for the identification and diagnosis of SMD

Population: Children, adolescents and adults

Goal: Currently, questionnaires for the diagnosis and identification of SMD are only available for children. No such tools exist for the identification of this disorder in older populations. At the School of Occupational Therapy of Hadassah and the Hebrew University, we are in the process of developing the Adult Sensory Sensitivity Questionnaire (ASSQ), a standardized, reliable and valid questionnaire that will identify adolescents and adults with SMD. The questionnaire is unique in the manner in which it enables the assessment of the intensity and frequency of sensory hyper- and hypo-sensitivity of individuals who suffer from SMD. In addition, we intend to establish psycho-physical measures for the reliable and precise diagnosis of this disorder.

3. Familial or gender-related predispositions to SMD

Population: Children with SMD and their parents

Goal: In order to investigate gender and familial predisposition to SMD, we intend to compare the psycho-physical profiles of children with Sensory Modulation Disorder with those of their parents. This investigation will examine the possible genetic nature of this disorder and will shed light on the need to assess siblings of children diagnosed with SMD.

4. Quality of life of children and adults with SMD

Population: Children and adults with SMD

Goal: It has been clinically proven that SMD affects the individual’s interactions with the physical and human environment and thus their quality of life but the extent of these implications needs further investigation. We intend to compare the psycho-social profiles of children and adults with and without Sensory Modulation Disorder while considering behaviors indicative of quality of life and participation within the context of daily life occupations.

Individuals with Sensory Modulation Disorder and matched controls will undergo a battery of standardized psycho-physical testing to define realms of particular difficulty.