The relations between abnormal sensory processing patterns and ADHD subtypes compared with a healthy control group Ryder Chen Ohana Kari and Shahien Radi

Abstract

ADHD is an early childhood neurodevelopmental disorder with an estimated prevalence of 5.9%–7.1%. Sensory processing disorder (SPD), another early childhood developmental disorder, received much less attention. The prevalence of SPD may be as high as ADHD in the pediatric population and it is estimated to be highly co-morbid with ADHD. Many ADHD patients who suffer from co-occurring sensory processing symptoms in adulthood do not receive an SPD diagnosis and therefore may not receive eligible treatment. The study aimed to evaluate the co-occurrence of SPD’s different modalities among different subtypes of ADHD in adult population and to compare it with a healthy control group. A total of 60 individuals between 18 and 45 years of age, were divided into two groups: the DHD group (n = 30) and a healthy control group (n = 30). The participants completed questionnaires regarding ADHD in adulthood and SPD symptoms and subtypes. The results of sensory profile in different subtypes of ADHD were statistically analyzed and compared with control group. Individuals suffering from combined type ADHD were found having more frequent and extreme reactions (both hyper- and hypo sensitivity) to sensory stimuli compared to healthy controls and individuals with inattentive type ADHD. This study’s results emphasizes the importance of utilizing the SPD questionnaire among adult patients who seek neurological or mental treatment as part of the medical intake and thus should further be considered for inclusion in a standard DSM-VI adult diagnosis as a disorder whose impact continues to adulthood.