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Feeling the World Differently: Sensory and Emotional Profiles in Preschool Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Federica Gigliotti1, Maria Eugenia Martelli1, Federica Giovannone1

  • 1Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.

Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 29, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Three distinct sensory profiles were identified in preschool children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). These sensory profiles significantly correlate with emotional and behavioral regulation, independent of diagnosis, highlighting the importance of sensory assessments for early intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Sensory Processing
  • Child Psychology

Background:

  • Atypical sensory processing is a key feature across neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs).
  • Sensory processing difficulties significantly impact emotional and behavioral regulation in children.
  • Understanding distinct sensory profiles is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify distinct sensory processing profiles in preschool children with NDDs.
  • To investigate the association between sensory profiles and emotional-behavioral functioning.
  • To examine the link between sensory profiles and cognitive/developmental status.

Main Methods:

  • Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify sensory subtypes in 263 children (aged 21-71 months) with NDDs.
  • Sensory processing, emotional-behavioral functioning, and cognitive/developmental levels were assessed using standardized instruments.
  • Multinomial logistic regression analyzed profile characteristics and predictors of profile membership.

Main Results:

  • Three sensory profiles emerged: Multisystemic Sensory Dysfunction (20.1%), Typical Sensory Processing (44.9%), and Mixed Subclinical Sensory Processing (35%).
  • The Multisystemic profile, prevalent in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), showed pervasive sensory and emotional difficulties.
  • Typical sensory processing was most common in language disorder (LD), while the Mixed profile spanned all diagnoses.
  • Higher cognitive functioning and fewer internalizing symptoms predicted typical sensory processing.
  • A clear gradient of symptom severity was observed across profiles, with the Multisystemic group exhibiting the most significant emotional-behavioral impairments.

Conclusions:

  • Distinct sensory-emotional phenotypes exist across NDD diagnostic categories, supporting a dimensional model of neurodevelopment.
  • Sensory profiles are strongly linked to emotional functioning, irrespective of specific diagnosis.
  • Early sensory assessment can provide valuable insights into emotional vulnerability and guide interventions for preschool children with NDDs.
Abstract

Keywords:
autism spectrum disorderemotional–behavioral functioninglatent profile analysisneurodevelopmental disorderspreschool childrensensory processingtransdiagnostic approach

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