Development of Sensory Sensitivity Scales (SeSS): Reliability and validity analyses

Although adults are known to have sensory sensitivity differences, existing sensitivity scales have been mostly developed for children. The limited number of adult scales measure social/emotional features and modalities together.

To develop scales for adults that evaluate visual, auditory and somatosensory sensitivities as separate domains and independent of social/emotional features.

Two consecutive studies (visual-auditory part and somatosensory part) were conducted using the same methods. Both studies included a pilot (n₁ = 405 and n₂ = 294) and a main group (n₁ = 425 and n₂ = 603). An exploratory factor analysis produced a single-factor solution for the visual and auditory domains and a three-factor solution for the somatosensory domain (touch, pain, and itch) of Sensory Sensitivity Scales.

A confirmatory factor analysis revealed good construct validity in the the visual (CFI = .973, TLI = .965, and RMSEA = .075) auditory (CFI = .943, TLI = .927, and RMSEA = .074) and somatosensory (CFI = .955, TLI = .946, and RMSEA = .048) scales. The categories were internally consistent (α_v = .86, α_a = .79, α_s = .69). As an indicator of convergent validity, higher autistic traits were related to higher sensitivity (r_s-v = .17, r_s-a = .25, r_s-s = .14).

Sensory Sensitivity Scales (SeSS) can be used to screen sensory sensitivity variability or identify and follow up the outcome of sensory interventions in adults.