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Published on: September 27, 2020
Psychometric Properties of Sensory Processing and Self-Regulation Checklist (SPSRC)
Cynthia Y Y Lai1, Trevor W K Yung1, Ivan N B Gomez1
1Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
Insights
The Sensory Processing and Self-Regulation Checklist (SPSRC) reliably assesses sensory processing and self-regulation in children. This parent-reported tool is valid for identifying difficulties in children with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Occupational Therapy
Background:
- Children's sensory processing and self-regulation impact daily activities.
- Difficulties in these areas can affect participation and development.
- The Sensory Processing and Self-Regulation Checklist (SPSRC) was created to address these challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate the psychometric properties of the SPSRC.
- Examine sensory processing and self-regulation patterns in children with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Main Methods:
- Expert validation of the SPSRC content.
- Field testing with 997 typically developing children and 78 children with ASD.
- Analysis of reliability and validity in a diverse pediatric sample.
Main Results:
- The SPSRC demonstrated high internal consistency and good intrarater reliability.
- The instrument effectively measures and differentiates sensory processing and self-regulation.
- Valid for children aged 3-8 years, with or without ASD.
Conclusions:
- The SPSRC is a reliable and valid tool for assessing children's sensory processing and self-regulation.
- Findings support its use in evaluating performance in daily living activities.
- Further research comparing SPSRC to lab-based tests is recommended to refine understanding of sensory responsivity.
Background:
Some children may encounter difficulties in processing sensory stimuli, which may affect their ability to participate in activities of daily living. Self-regulation abilities may also affect children on how to process different sensory experiences. The Sensory Processing and Self-Regulation Checklist (SPSRC) was developed as a single, parent-reported instrument for the examination of sensory processing and self-regulation difficulties in children.
Aims:
This study is aimed at evaluating the psychometric properties of the SPSRC and examine the patterns of self-regulation and sensory processing in children with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Methods And Procedures:
The contents of the SPSRC were validated by a group of experts, and a field test was subsequently conducted to examine the reliability and validity of this instrument in a sample of 997 typically developing children and 78 children with ASD.
Outcomes And Results:
The results of the validation and field test analyses suggest that the SPSRC exhibits high internal consistency, good intrarater reliability, and a valid ability to measure and discriminate sensory processing and self-regulation in children aged 3-8 years with and without ASD.
Conclusions And Implications:
The current results supported the reliability and validity of SPSRC to assess a child's sensory processing and self-regulation performance in activities of daily living. The study findings warrant further investigation to compare the performance of the SPSRC with laboratory-based tests, as this would better elucidate sensory responsivity in children with sensory modulation disorders from both clinical and research perspectives.
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