Novel Parent Survey Measures Sensory Behaviors Incorporating Sensory Modality and Stimulus Intensity

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Sensory behaviors are key features of neurodevelopmental disorders like autism.
• Existing assessments lack detail on hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity, especially regarding stimulus intensity.
• There is a need for granular tools to evaluate complex sensory processing patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the Sensory Response Questionnaire Phenotyper (SRQP), a novel parent questionnaire.
• To assess the SRQP's ability to identify nuanced sensory processing patterns in children with autism.
• To evaluate the SRQP's psychometric properties and efficacy against established tools.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study included 317 participants (57 with autism, 260 typically developing), aged 3-17 years.
• The SRQP's psychometric properties were analyzed using classical test theory and item response theory.
• Statistical tests, including ROC curve analysis, were used to evaluate sensory processing patterns.

Main Results:

• The SRQP demonstrated strong psychometric properties with an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.87.
• A cut-off value of 37 on the SRQP distinguished typical from atypical responses with 75% sensitivity and 79% specificity.
• Responses to high and low-intensity stimuli were not correlated across several sensory modalities.

Conclusions:

• The SRQP is a validated parent questionnaire for assessing multi-dimensional sensory behaviors.
• Stimulus intensity is a critical parameter that should be considered in future models of sensory behavior.
• The SRQP effectively identifies nuanced sensory processing patterns relevant to autism.