Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 11, 2026

Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 22, 2015
Children's Voices: The Lived Experience of Daily Occupations With Sensory Processing Difficulties
Irene Hidalgo Del Río1, Debbie Kramer-Roy1,2, Christina Schulze3
1Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands.
None:
Children with sensory processing challenges (SPCs) present occupational performance limitations across environments. However, little is known about children's perspectives. Client-centered pediatric occupational therapy must be informed by a child-focused approach in research. This study explored the lived experience of school-age children with SPCs in a real-life context. A qualitative study design with interpretive phenomenology as the methodological framework was utilized. Five children with SPCs (aged 7-12) participated in photo-elicitation interviews. An inductive, iterative data analysis was conducted. Five themes were identified: The (hidden) struggle in doing; The struggle to persist in doing; Doing with others and belonging: Can I belong?; Needing extra support in their school learning; and Making, building, creating: when I am in charge. Children with SPCs experience hidden difficulties. Key aspects to consider are children's awareness of their own needs, their emotional well-being, sense of belonging, and active inclusion in the implementation of school support.
Related Concept Videos
Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
Sensory Modalities
General senses refer to the broad category of sensory information detected by receptors in the body and can be further grouped into somatic and visceral senses. Somatic sensations include touch, pressure, temperature, and pain and are essential for navigating our environment and...
Learning Disabilities
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
Synesthesia
Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System
The receptor level:
The receptor level is the first stage of sensation. It involves the detection of a stimulus by specialized sensory receptors. The stimulus must arrive within the receptor's receptive field. Next, the receptor converts the energy of the...
Taste Buds and Receptors

