What is SIPT – Sensory Integration and Praxis Test?

Amy Antes
MOT, OTR/L

2777 Finley Rd. Ste. 27 Downers Grove, IL 60515

Ph: 630.424.9100
Fax: 630.424.0565
Email:
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SIPT – Sensory Integration and Praxis Test

The Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) is a comprehensive assessment tool developed in 1989 by A. Jean Ayres, PhD for children 4.0-8.11 years of age. The test was created to assist us to understand why some children struggle with learning and/or display negative behaviors which are not explained by other diagnoses.

To understand the test, it is important to understand the term sensory integration. Sensory integration is the neurological processing of sensations from the skin, eyes, joints, gravity and movement receptors and how this information is organized for use. When this information is used, we display praxis or the ability to “do” things with the information provided from the environment and understood by our body.

When children have sensory integration dysfunction, they have difficulty or disordered processing of the information or inefficient interpretation of the sensations from the body.

The SIPT has 17 subtests summarized in the chart below, which fall into six categories of sensory processing and motor function: form and space, visual motor, tactile discrimination, vestibular-proprioceptive processing, bilateral integration and sequencing and praxis.

TEST CATEGORY	ASSESSES	PROBLEM AREAS ADDRESSED
FORM and SPACE
Space Visualization	Visual manipulation of objects.	Reading, writing, ADL’s, navigation.
Figure Ground	Visual figure ground.	Poor organizational skills, losing place when reading, doing math or worksheets.
Manual Form Perception	Shape recognition, bilateral stereognosis.	Dressing, sports, tasks not requiring vision.

VISUAL MOTOR
Design/Copy	2-D construction (pencil test) and motor planning.	Reading, writing, math.
Construction Praxis	3-D construction (block design).	Negotiating self thru space, object construction.
Motor Accuracy	Visual motor control of preferred and non-preferred hands.	Writing, sports, crossing mid-line.

TACTILE DISCRIMINATION
Finger Identification	Finger recognition through touch.	Fine motor difficulties, weak grasp.
Graphesthesia	Finger recognition through form.	Drawing, writing.
Localization of Tactile Stimuli	Tactile localization.	Body awareness, tactile modulation.

VESTIBULAR PROPRIOCEPTIVE PROCESSING
Kinesthesia	Perception of joint position and movement.	Clumsy, rough with others and objects, breaks objects.
Stand/Walk Balance	Static and dynamic balance, EO/EC.	Poor balance, sports, position of self for function, poor endurance.
Post-Rotary Nystagmus	Reflexive response (VOR) of eyes or rotation.	Move/spins lots or avoids movement, car sick, vertigo.

BILATERAL INTEGRATION AND SEQUENCING
Bilateral Motor Coordination	Replicating smooth and coordinated bilateral hand/feet patterns.	Functional use of both sides of the body for sports, writing, play.
Sequencing Praxis	Replicating sequences of hand movements.	Multi-step directions, avoids sports, reading, writing.
Space Visualization	Preferred hand and contra-lateral hand use.	Crossing mid-line, handedness, reading, writing.

PRAXIS
Postural Praxis	Imitation of postures.	Avoids new tasks, slow to learn new motor skills, lacks creativity in play.
Oral Praxis	Imitation of oral movements.	Speech production, feeding issues.
Praxis on Verbal Command	Following 2 and 3 step verbal commands.	Auditory processing, following directions.

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