Volume 26, Issue 3 (Autumn 2025)
jrehab 2025, 26(3): 446-463 |
Back to browse issues page
Ethics code: IR.SBU.RETECH.REC.1402.859
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Khademi Kalantari S. The Impact of Architectural Elements In Occupational Therapy Centers On The Sensory Profile of Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. jrehab 2025; 26 (3) :446-463
URL: http://rehabilitationj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-3639-en.html
URL: http://rehabilitationj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-3639-en.html
Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran. , sasankhademic2w@gmail.com
Abstract: (619 Views)
Objective Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children and is often associated with sensory processing problems. Although the role of occupational therapy in improving sensory processing has been acknowledged, the influence of architectural features in occupational therapy settings remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the impact of architectural elements in occupational therapy centers on the sensory profile of children with ADHD.
Materials & Methods This quasi-experimental study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, 12 occupational therapy centers in Tehran (8 centers) and Karaj (4 centers) provinces of Iran were evaluated using a researcher-made architectural assessment checklist and categorized into two groups: “Optimal” and “suboptimal.” A total of 64 children with moderate ADHD (mean age=8.5 years; 20 females and 44 males) were selected (39 in optimal centers, 25 in suboptimal centers) and underwent 12 occupational therapy sessions. Their sensory processing performance was assessed using Dunn’s short sensory profile (SSP), and results were analyzed using t-test. In the second phase, architectural modifications focused on lighting, sound control, colors, and spatial layout were implemented in five suboptimal centers, and the improvement in SSP scores of these centers after 12 intervention sessions was reassessed. The difference in total SSP score in the second phase was compared to the difference in the first phase.
Results Significant improvements were observed in the total SSP score of children in two optimal and suboptimal centers after intervention. All SSP domains improved significantly in the optimal centers (P<0.05), while in the suboptimal centers, a statistically significant change was observed only in the sensory seeking (P=0.043) and sensory avoidance (P=0.047) domains. A comparison between the two groups of centers indicated significant differences in total SSP score after intervention, with children in optimal centers demonstrating superior outcomes compared to those in suboptimal centers (P<0.01). Although architectural modifications in the suboptimal centers resulted in some improvement, the changes were not statistically significant compared to pre-modification scores (P=0.06).
Conclusion Architectural design in occupational therapy centers has a significant impact on the sensory profile of children with ADHD. The findings emphasize the necessity of considering architectural elements in the design of therapeutic spaces in Iran to enhance treatment effectiveness for children with ADHD.
Materials & Methods This quasi-experimental study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, 12 occupational therapy centers in Tehran (8 centers) and Karaj (4 centers) provinces of Iran were evaluated using a researcher-made architectural assessment checklist and categorized into two groups: “Optimal” and “suboptimal.” A total of 64 children with moderate ADHD (mean age=8.5 years; 20 females and 44 males) were selected (39 in optimal centers, 25 in suboptimal centers) and underwent 12 occupational therapy sessions. Their sensory processing performance was assessed using Dunn’s short sensory profile (SSP), and results were analyzed using t-test. In the second phase, architectural modifications focused on lighting, sound control, colors, and spatial layout were implemented in five suboptimal centers, and the improvement in SSP scores of these centers after 12 intervention sessions was reassessed. The difference in total SSP score in the second phase was compared to the difference in the first phase.
Results Significant improvements were observed in the total SSP score of children in two optimal and suboptimal centers after intervention. All SSP domains improved significantly in the optimal centers (P<0.05), while in the suboptimal centers, a statistically significant change was observed only in the sensory seeking (P=0.043) and sensory avoidance (P=0.047) domains. A comparison between the two groups of centers indicated significant differences in total SSP score after intervention, with children in optimal centers demonstrating superior outcomes compared to those in suboptimal centers (P<0.01). Although architectural modifications in the suboptimal centers resulted in some improvement, the changes were not statistically significant compared to pre-modification scores (P=0.06).
Conclusion Architectural design in occupational therapy centers has a significant impact on the sensory profile of children with ADHD. The findings emphasize the necessity of considering architectural elements in the design of therapeutic spaces in Iran to enhance treatment effectiveness for children with ADHD.
Keywords: Health architecture, Sensory integration, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Occupational therapy
Type of Study: Original |
Subject:
Occupational Therapy
Received: 25/06/2025 | Accepted: 13/08/2025 | Published: 1/10/2025
Received: 25/06/2025 | Accepted: 13/08/2025 | Published: 1/10/2025
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
Copyright © The Author(s);
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-By-NC), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
Contact Information
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-By-NC), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
Contact Information
