Sensory Diets/Parent Education Doctoral Capstone Experience

Identify sensory processing symptoms in 5–16% of children and design customizable sensory diets to regulate arousal. Highlight caregiver education and family-centered practice as drivers of home interventions and improved self-regulation.

Capstone details advance occupational therapy's role in caregiver education for children with sensory difficulties by translating sensory integrative theory into at-home interventions and materials to support self-regulation and functional participation.

Develop evidence-based sensory diet resources for home use, guided by pediatric occupational therapy and family involvement, to support regulation and daily activities.

Highlight professionalism, ethics, and advocacy in occupational therapy by educating caregivers about children's sensory needs with a PowerPoint on the eight senses and diagnosis handouts.

Evaluate the sensory profile results to interpret child-specific preferences and develop a MetroWest occupational therapy resource for parent education and evaluation planning.

The lecture presents a four-question question-and-answer session on sensory processing disorders prevalence, self-regulation influences, and the customization of sensory diets, with answers and references provided.

Conclude the capstone presentation on sensory diets and parent education, inviting questions and providing contact information for follow-up.