Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile Research Articles

Validating the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile and Examining its Ability to Screen Sensory Processing Difficulties among Israeli People

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to (1) validate the Hebrew version of the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP); (2) screen sensory processing difficulties, as expressed in daily living in a vast range of ages of healthy Israeli adolescents, adults and older people; and (3) examine gender effect on sensory processing in the different age groups.Findings:Good internal consistency was found for each of the AASP quadrants, although factor analysis did not find total similarity between the Hebrew version of the AASP and the original AASP. Sensory processing difficulties were shown by 22–42% of the participants in the different age groups. Older participants had lower tendency for Sensation Seeking. Females were more sensitive than males in the age groups of 11–17 years and 18–64 years.Conclusion:In general, the Hebrew version of the AASP was found to be valid and succeeded in profiling sensory processing difficulties along the life span of typical Israeli adolescents and adults. Further studies should apply the Hebrew version of the AASP to screen sensory processing difficulties among individuals with disabilities and elaborate their impact on people's performance/participation in daily activities.

The Relationship between Sensory Processing Patterns and Sleep Quality in Healthy Adults

Sleep quality affects a person's performance and quality of life. Poor sleep was recently associated with hyperarousability and difficulties in processing sensory input. To examine the relationships between sensory-processing difficulties (SPD) and sleep quality in healthy adults. The 185 participants, aged 21 to 60 (mean 33.64 +/- 8.69), completed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Sleep quality significantly correlated with sensory-processing patterns characterized by hypersensitivity. These patterns were manifested in specific modalities (tactile, visual, and auditory), which significantly predicted sleep quality. Sleep quality may be related to predisposing, sensory-processing patterns, particularly to hypersensitivity. Occupational therapists should refer to the possible relationship between SPD and sleep quality when treating individuals with SPD or poor sleepers. This may assist in implementing the optimal intervention based on the person's specific needs and contribute to performance and quality of life.

Exploring the Relationship between Affect and Sensory Processing Patterns in Adults

Purpose:Growing evidence exists regarding the relationship between sensory processing and affective disorders. However, most of this evidence relates to children. This study aimed to explore the relationship between positive/negative affect and sensory processing patterns as expressed in daily situations among healthy adults.Procedure:Two hundred and thirteen healthy individuals aged 18–50 years completed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP) and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS).Results:Negative affect correlated positively with Sensory Sensitivity, Sensation Avoiding and Low Registration. Positive affect correlated with Sensation Seeking.Conclusion:Sensory processing patterns might be related to the person's affect. In practical terms, this relationship among typical individuals suggests that people could benefit from knowledge about the impact of their sensory processing patterns on everyday life or, in some cases, from occupational therapy intervention. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to elucidate this relationship and its impacts on participation, quality of life and wellbeing.

Sensory processing patterns of adults with atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) has been associated with sensory hypersensitivity in children. To examine the sensory profile of adults with AD using a standardized questionnaire that measures sensory processing and related behaviours in daily living. Thirty-two patients aged 18-53 years with AD and 32 healthy, sex- and age-matched control subjects completed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP). Severity of AD was assessed by the Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD). Patients with AD showed higher sensory sensitivity and avoidance than the controls, mainly in the tactile, vestibular, visual and auditory modalities. Adults with AD may suffer from sensory hypersensitivity. Additional studies should examine the influence of the peripheral and the central nervous system on sensory hypersensitivity. Better understanding of the sensory impairment of patients with AD may help improving treatment strategies for the disease.

Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile and Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder

We sought to describe how the sensory processing of adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) differs from that of the general population within the context of Dunn's (1997) model of sensory processing and to evaluate the discriminant validity of the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP). Using unequal variance ttests, the AASP results of 51 adults with OCD were compared with the means of the AASP standardization study's adult age group. Adults with OCD scored higher than the means of the AASP standardization study's adult age group on sensory sensitivity and sensation avoiding, consistent with predictions based on the OCD literature. Adults with OCD also scored higher on low registration and lower on sensation seeking. The results provide a preliminary description of how the sensory processing of adults with OCD differs from that of the general population and preliminary support for the AASP's discriminant validity.

PRIMARY IMPAIRMENT OF DECODING SEMANTIC INFORMATION IN SUBCORTICAL BRAIN STRUCTURES IN SCHIZOPHRENIA: DATA OF PSYCHOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION

The involvement of extreme sensory processing patterns, impulsivity, alexithymia, and hopelessness was hypothesized to contribute to the complex pathophysiology of major depression and bipolar disorder. However, the nature of the relation between these variables has not been thoroughly investigated.This study aimed to explore the association between extreme sensory processing patterns, impulsivity, alexithymia, depression, and hopelessness.We recruited 281 euthymic participants (mean age=47.4±12.1) of which 62.3% with unipolar major depression and 37.7% with bipolar disorder. All participants completed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), second version of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS), and Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS).Lower registration of sensory input showed a significant correlation with depression, impulsivity, attentional/motor impulsivity, and alexithymia. It was significantly more frequent among participants with elevated hopelessness, and accounted for 22% of the variance in depression severity, 15% in greater impulsivity, 36% in alexithymia, and 3% in hopelessness. Elevated sensory seeking correlated with enhanced motor impulsivity and decreased non-planning impulsivity. Higher sensory sensitivity and sensory avoiding correlated with depression, impulsivity, and alexithymia.The study was limited by the relatively small sample size and cross-sectional nature of the study. Furthermore, only self-report measures that may be potentially biased by social desirability were used.Extreme sensory processing patterns, impulsivity, alexithymia, depression, and hopelessness may show a characteristic pattern in patients with major affective disorders. The careful assessment of sensory profiles may help in developing targeted interventions and improve functional/adaptive strategies.