Characteristics of Idiopathic Sensory Processing Disorder in Young Children (original) (raw)
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Description of Young Children With Idiopathic Sensory Processing Disorder
American Journal of Occupational Therapy
Date Presented 04/05/19 A retrospective, nonexperimental design was conducted to explore and describe the characteristics of children ages two through seven years identified as having sensory processing deficits but no other specific neurodevelopmental or behavioral diagnoses. Relations among specific types of sensory processing disorder, adaptive behavior, and psychosocial-emotional functioning were also identified to increase our understanding of sensory processing disorder as its own diagnostic entity. Primary Author and Speaker: Shelley Mulligan Additional Authors and Speakers: Sarah Douglas
Defining & Classifying Idiopathic Sensory Processing Disorder
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2023
This study examined the developmental profiles and behavioral characteristics of children who did not meet criteria for any neurodevelopmental condition, but who were identified as having symptomology relating to one or more of the types of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) as described by the typology by Miller et al. (2007). Relations among specific types and subtypes of SPD, adaptive behavior and psychosocial-emotional functioning were examined as a step towards in understanding how other similar neurodevelopmental and mental disorders may be distinguished from SPD, and to explore the validity of current sensory processing and integration disorder types and subtypes. A retrospective, non-experimental design applying descriptive and correlational analyses was used. Data were obtained from an existing data set that had been extracted and compiled from the records of children seen at a clinic for a developmental and/or diagnostic evaluation from 2014-2017 in the Northeastern USA. Children seen ranged in age from 1 to 7 years of age, and had been evaluated by an interdisciplinary team of professionals including a developmental pediatrician, occupational therapist, and others as needed. Data were extracted from the clinic medical records by a trained researcher following procedures approved by the author's Institution's IRB. Cases selected were children between 2 and 7 years of age; with SPD symptoms based on atypical scores from the Sensory Profile (Dunn, 2014); and with no documented neurodevelopmental or mental disorder such as ASD. Children with unspecified motor, communication, or cognitive delays were included as long as delays in development were not associated with a known developmental, intellectual, or mental disorder. Assessment data from 78 children ranging in age from 24 to 70 months (mean-46.5 months) were included and 78.5% of the children were from Caucasian families. Factor and Area scores from the Sensory Profile-2 or Sensory Profile, or Infant/toddler version were used to identify and classify children with SPD types and subtypes. Standard scores from The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL; Achenbach & Ruffle, 2000), a measure of externalizing and internalizing behaviors organized by 8 syndrome scales such as anxious/depressed, withdrawn/depressed, and attention problems was used to examine mental health behaviors. The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-2 (Sparrow, Cicchetti, & Balla, 2005) was used to examine adaptive behavior in social, communication, daily living and motor areas. Results indicated that both internalizing and externalizing behaviors fell in the borderline dysfunctional range. Adaptive behavior for all developmental domains was below average, and the severity of SPD symptoms moderately correlated with behaviors associated with mental disorders, and with adaptive behavior scores. The results depicted SPD as a multi-dimensional construct and all SPD types in the typology by Miller et al.(2007) were well represented, with the most common being sensory modulation, over-responsivity. Many children exhibited more than one SPD type. To conclude, the results provided evidence suggesting that SPD exists as its own diagnostic entity, and impacts adaptive behavior. Furthermore, symptoms associated with various types and subtypes overlap substantially, so that we may be considering more SPD types than exist or are clinically useful. It is vital for occupational therapists to advocate for SPD as a valid condition while exploring alternate typologies, support further studies of the neural mechanisms involved in sensory processing, and develop more psychometrically sound measures of sensory processing in order to validate SPD as its own diagnostic condition.
Journal of Child and Family Studies, 2012
The objective was to validate Regulatory Sensory Processing Disorders' criteria (DC:0-3R, 2005) using empirical data on the presence and severity of sensory modulation deficits and specific psychiatric symptoms in clinical samples. Sixty toddlers who attended a child mental health unit were diagnosed by a clinical team. The following two groups were created: toddlers with RSPD (N = 14) and those with ''other diagnoses in Axis I/II of the DC:0-3R 00 (OD3R) (N = 46). Independently of the clinical process, parents completed the Infant Toddler Sensory Profile (as a checklist for sensory symptoms) and the Achenbach Behavior Checklist for ages 1-5 (CBCL 1-5). The scores from the two groups were compared. The results showed the following for the RSPD group: a higher number of affected sensory areas and patterns than in the OD3R group; a higher percentage of sensory deficits in specific sensory categories; and a higher severity of behavioral symptoms such as withdrawal, inattention, other externalizing problems and pervasive developmental problems in CBCL 1-5. The results confirmed our hypotheses by indicating a higher severity of sensory symptoms and identifying specific behavioral problems in children with RSPD. The results revealed convergent validity between the instruments and the diagnostic criteria for RSPD and supported the validity of RSPD as a unique diagnosis. The findings also suggested the importance of identifying sensory modulation deficits in order to develop an early intervention to enhance the sensory capacities of children who do not fully satisfy the criteria for some DSM-IV-TR disorders.
The Role of Sensory Modulation Deficits and Behavioral Symptoms in a Diagnosis for Early Childhood
Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 2013
To contribute to the validation of the sensory and behavioral criteria for Regulation Disorders of Sensory Processing (RDSP) (DC:0-3R, 2005), this study examined a sample of toddlers in a clinical setting to analyze: (1) the severity of sensory modulation deficits and the behavioral symptoms of RDSP; (2) the associations between sensory and behavioral symptoms; and (3) the specific role of sensory modulation deficits in an RDSP diagnosis. Based on clinical observations, 78 toddlers were classified into two groups: toddlers with RDSP (N = 18) and those with ''other diagnoses in Axis I/II of the DC:0-3R'' (OD3R; N = 60). The parents completed the Infant Toddler Sensory Profile and the Achenbach Checklist. The results revealed that the RDSP group had more severe sensory modulation deficits and specific behavioral symptoms; stronger, although not significant, associations between most sensory and behavioral symptoms; and a significant sensory modulation deficit effect. These findings support the validity of RDSP.
Sensory processing disorder: Key points of a frequent alteration in neurodevelopmental disorders
Cogent Medicine, 2020
Altered neurological sensory integration results in Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), also known as Sensory Regulation Dysfunction, Sensory Integration Dysfunction or Sensory Dysfunction Disorder. Under this condition, the brain doesn't process sensory inputs correctly, following inappropriate behavioral and motor responses that affect learning, coordination, behavior and language. SPD may lead to stress, anxiety or even depression, and represents a risk of psychopathology. Epidemiological studies carried out in western lifestyle populations have shown a high prevalence of SPD among children (5-15%); however, a large number of health professionals still do not know this condition, giving rise to unattended children and frustrated families. This review aims to provide an updated starting point about some of the most relevant aspects of SPD.
2020
The objective was to validate Regulatory Sensory Processing Disorders' criteria (DC:0-3R, 2005) using empirical data on the presence and severity of sensory modulation deficits and specific psychiatric symptoms in clinical samples. Sixty toddlers who attended a child mental health unit were diagnosed by a clinical team. The following two groups were created: toddlers with RSPD (N = 14) and those with ''other diagnoses in Axis I/II of the DC:0-3R 00 (OD3R) (N = 46). Independently of the clinical process, parents completed the Infant Toddler Sensory Profile (as a checklist for sensory symptoms) and the Achenbach Behavior Checklist for ages 1-5 (CBCL 1-5). The scores from the two groups were compared. The results showed the following for the RSPD group: a higher number of affected sensory areas and patterns than in the OD3R group; a higher percentage of sensory deficits in specific sensory categories; and a higher severity of behavioral symptoms such as withdrawal, inatt...
Appendix A Part 1 3 Appendix A: Evidence For Sensory Processing Disorder INTRODUCTION
In 1999, the KID Foundation formed the Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) Scientific Work Group (SWG), a multidisciplinary collaboration of leading scientists from university-based research institutions, to stimulate cross-disciplinary research into sensory processing and sensory processing impairments, supported by the Wallace Research Foundation and the NIH. Areas included in past and ongoing research include: neuro-physiological reactions to sensory stimuli in children and adults; sensation processing at the neural level, sensory-related behavior, attention and emotion regulation, animal models of neuropathology, genetic studies, and studies related to clinical issues such as the utility, sensitivity/specificity, and discriminate validity of the diagnosis of SPD.
Research in Developmental Disabilities, 2011
Intellectual developmental disabilities, also known as intellectual developmental deficits (IDD), is a generalized disorder, characterized by subaverage cognitive abilities and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors, impacting the individuals' functioning in their environment (Chakrabarti & Fombonne, 2001). Maladaptive behaviors of children with IDD are not only related to their cognitive status, but may also be a result of difficulties in performing other functions. Indeed, in the case of general brain damage that affects the intellectual level, it is possible that other functions, such as motor and sensory functions, which are derived from brain processing, will be affected. Studies show that IDD severity impairs motor abilities accordingly. For example, children with severe-profound IDD are reported to show severe difficulties in their motor skills that are affected by their severe brain damage in general, their lack of motivation to develop motor learning, and by other health conditions, for example, decreased heart activity (Kosma, Wood, Rintala, & Acock, 2004; Ulla, Pauli, & Antero, 2007). High frequency of sensory processing dysfunctions (SPD) is prevalent among children with IDD and contributes to their maladaptive behaviors (Gorman, 1997; Wuang, Wang, Huang, & Su, 2008). Sensory processing refers to registration and modulation of sensory information and to the organization of sensory input to execute successful adaptive responses to situational demands (Humphry, 2002; Miller, Anzalone, Lane, Cermak, & Osten, 2007). One of the major models for sensory processing, which refers to the interaction between neural sensitivity and behavioral response/self-regulation, is Dunn's model
The major question posed in the current study was how temperament and sensory processing variables predict maternal behavior in interactions with toddlers identified as having sensory processing disorders. Partici- pants were 49 mothers and infants with sensory processing disorders. They were videotaped in a free-play interaction. Observations were coded using general interaction criteria and criteria of teaching behavior (mediation). A clear dis- tinction was found between temperament characteristics of children whose sensory processing was identified as sensory seeking or sensory avoiding. The main difference between them was their emotional behavior. High levels of sensory seeking were related to a high activity level and positive af- fect, whereas high levels of sensory avoiding were related to low levels of positive affect and high levels of anger. It was found that children's temperament and sensory profiles were related to the profile of their mother's mediation. On...
PLOS ONE, 2015
Sensory over-responsivity, a subtype of sensory modulation disorder, is characterized by extreme negative reactions to normative sensory experiences. These over-reactions can interfere with daily activities and cause stress to children and their families. The etiology and developmental course of sensory over-responsivity is still largely unknown. We measured tactile and auditory over-responsivity in a population-based, typically developing sample of twins (N=978) at age two years via a caregiver report temperament questionnaire and again at age seven years via a sensory over-responsivity symptom inventory. Participating twins were treated as singletons although all analyses controlled for clustering within families. Children were divided into four trajectory groups based on risk status at both ages: low symptom (N=768), remitted (N=75), late-onset (N=112), and chronic (N=24). A subset of children who screened positive for SOR in toddlerhood (N = 102) took part in a pilot study focused on sensory over-responsivity at four years of age. Children in the chronic group had more severe symptoms of sensory sensitivity at age four years, including more motion sensitivity, than the other trajectory groups. Children in the chronic group had a younger gestational age and were more likely to be low birth-weight than the low symptom group. Differences between remitted and late-onset groups and the low-symptoms group were inconsistent across measures. Sensory over-responsivity was modestly correlated across ages (r = .22 for tactile over-responsivity and r = .11 for auditory over-responsivity), but symptoms were more stable among children born prematurely or who had more fearful and less soothable temperaments. A clear implication is that assessment over development may be necessary for a valid sensory processing disorder diagnosis, and a speculative implication is that sensory over-responsivity symptoms may be etiologically heterogeneous, with different causes of transient and stable symptoms.