Atypical sensory processing in adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A comparative study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Atypical sensory processing is frequently observed in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
• Research on sensory processing in adolescents with ADHD is limited, despite symptom persistence into this age group.
• Understanding these experiences is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare self-reported sensory experiences between adolescents with and without ADHD.
• To identify specific patterns of sensory processing differences in adolescent ADHD.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 138 Italian adolescents (14-18 years) was studied, with 69 diagnosed with ADHD and 69 controls matched for age, gender, and IQ.
• Sensory processing was evaluated using the Adolescent Sensory Profile (ASP), assessing four components (low registration, sensation seeking, sensory sensitivity, sensation avoiding) and six modalities (movement, vision, touch, activity level, hearing, taste/smell).

Main Results:

• Adolescents with ADHD demonstrated significantly higher scores across all four ASP components compared to the control group.
• Elevated scores in all measured ASP modalities were reported by the ADHD group versus controls.
• These findings confirm widespread atypical sensory processing in adolescents with ADHD.

Conclusions:

• Adolescents with ADHD exhibit significant differences in sensory processing compared to typically developing peers.
• The results support the presence of atypical sensory experiences across multiple domains in adolescent ADHD.
• Findings were discussed within the framework of the Cumulative and Emergent Automatic Deficit (CEAD) model.