Prevalence and severity-based classification of sensory processing issues. An exploratory study with...

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Occupational Therapy

Background:

• Sensory processing disorder (SPD) is prevalent in neurodevelopmental disorders, impacting learning and behavior.
• SPD may also affect 10-20% of typically developing children, with limited research in European populations.
• Understanding SPD prevalence in diverse populations is crucial for early identification and intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency of sensory processing difficulties in a Spanish school-age population.
• To investigate the impact of sensory processing issues on socioemotional, attentional, and behavioral factors.
• To develop and validate a novel classification system for SPD severity.

Main Methods:

• A random sample of 369 school-age children from Spain participated in the study.
• The Sensory Profile-2 (SP2) assessment tool was used to evaluate sensory processing patterns.
• Participants were classified into severity ranges: no alteration, mild, moderate, and severe.

Main Results:

• The study found a prevalence of sensory processing difficulties consistent with prior research.
• 15.9% of participants exhibited severe sensory processing alterations, while 10.5% had moderate and 11.1% had mild alterations.
• 62.5% of the sample showed no significant sensory processing alterations.

Conclusions:

• Sensory processing difficulties are a significant concern in the studied Spanish school-age population.
• The developed classification system offers a framework for categorizing SPD severity.
• Further research is needed to explore the neuropsychological underpinnings of sensory processing alterations and their impact.