Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile Research Articles

The Impact of Cerebral Visual Impairment on Social Skills and Sensory Processing.

Limited evidence exists on the impact of cerebral visual impairment (CVI) on developmental domains in toddlers. This study investigated whether CVI influences social skills and sensory processing in toddlers with cerebral palsy (CP). The study included toddlers with CP, with or without CVI, and typically developing (TD) toddlers. All parents completed the demographic information form. Social skills were assessed by the Brief Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (BITSEA). Sensory processing was evaluated by the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP). Analysis of covariance was employed to assess the disparity in BITSEA and ITSP scores. Toddlers with CP and CVI group demonstrated lower social competence than the other groups (p < .05). Having CVI did not cause a statistically significant difference in sensory processing among toddlers with CP (p > .05). CVI significantly affects social competence in toddlers with CP but does not affect sensory processing.

The roles of sensory hyperreactivity and hyporeactivity in understanding infant fearfulness and emerging autistic traits.

Existing evidence indicates that atypical sensory reactivity is a core characteristic of autism, and has been linked to both anxiety (and its putative infant precursor of fearfulness) and repetitive behaviours. However, most work has used cross-sectional designs and not considered the differential roles of hyperreactivity and hyporeactivity to sensory inputs, and is thus limited in specificity. 161 infants with and without an elevated likelihood of developing autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were followed from 10 to 36 months of age. Parents rated an infant precursor of later anxiety (fearfulness) using the Infant Behaviour Questionnaire at 10 and 14 months, and the Early Childhood Behavioural Questionnaire at 24 months, and sensory hyperreactivity and hyporeactivity at 10, 14 and 24 months using the Infant Toddler Sensory Profile. Domains of autistic traits (restrictive and repetitive behaviours; RRB, and social communication interaction, SCI) were assessed using the parent-rated Social Responsiveness Scale at 36 months. Cross-lagged models tested (a) paths between fearfulness and hyperreactivity at 10-24 months, and from fearfulness and hyperreactivity to later autism traits, (b) the specificity of hyperreactivity effects by including hyporeactivity as a correlated predictor. Hyperreactivity at 14 months was positively associated with fearfulness at 24 months, and hyperreactivity at 24 months was positively associated with SCI and RRB at 36 months. When hyporeactivity was included in the model, paths between hyperreactivity and fearfulness remained, but paths between hyperreactivity and autistic traits became nonsignificant. Our findings indicate that alterations in early sensory reactivity may increase the likelihood of showing fearfulness in infancy, and relate to later social interactions and repetitive behaviours, particularly in individuals with a family history of autism or ADHD.

Concerns and Strengths: Caregiver Perceptions of Their Infant/Toddler with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure.

Caregiver-reported assessments provide opportunities for caregivers to share concerns and identify the strengths of their infant/toddler regarding prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). These insights may reveal under-recognized concerns and inform a strengths-based approach to early intervention. The purpose of this study was to describe the type and frequency of caregiver-reported concerns and strengths in a sample of infants/toddlers at the time of their fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) diagnostic evaluation. Caregivers' concerns and strengths were identified in the context of two parent-report questionnaires, the Infant Toddler Sensory Profile and Child Behavior Checklist/1½-5. By using content analysis, caregivers' open-ended responses were identified, coded, and analyzed. The frequencies of all the coded concerns and strengths were counted. The data were compared across the two age groups (<2 years and ≥2 years) and caregiver status. Caregivers (n = 117) identified numerous concerns and strengths across multiple categories. The most frequently reported concerns were related to aggressive behavior, language/communication, and sensory processing. The most frequently reported strengths were related to happiness, sociability, and love. The type of concerns and strengths reported were relatively consistent across age and caregiver status. These findings reinforce the value of caregivers' perspectives and offer a reminder to practitioners that infants/toddlers with PAE and their caregivers have many strengths that can be harnessed, in addition to a range of challenges that must be addressed.

Prenatal marijuana exposure and visual perception in toddlers: Evidence of a sensory processing deficit.

Research has identified a link between prenatal marijuana exposure and multiple outcomes in children, including cognitive development. Several studies have found specific differences in sensory processing and attention, with visual perception especially impacted in school age children. The current study explored whether this effect is evident at an earlier age, and thus our goal was to investigate the relationship between in-utero marijuana exposure and sensory processing capabilities in toddlers. We hypothesized that in-utero marijuana exposure throughout pregnancy would specifically predict visual sensory hyperactivity in children as young as 15 months of age. Participants were 225 15-month-old children whose mothers were recruited during pregnancy. Substance exposure was prospectively collected and biochemically verified, with marijuana coded as no exposure, 1st trimester exposure only, or exposure throughout pregnancy. The Infant Toddler Sensory Profile evaluated 5 domains of sensory processing (visual, auditory, tactile, vestibular, oral). Prenatal marijuana exposure throughout pregnancy, but not when limited to the first trimester, predicted a two-fold increased likelihood of scoring in a range indicating high levels of seeking out and potentially over-attending to visual stimulation after controlling for potentially confounding factors including other prenatal exposures. Marijuana exposure was not significantly related to other processing domains. Results indicate that links previously identified between prenatal marijuana exposure and visual function and attention may already be evident at 15 months of age, and also suggest an impact related to continuous/later pregnancy exposure. Our findings, as well as those from previous studies, all suggest visual processing differences for exposed children, differences that may predict emerging issues with visual attention and habituation. As legalization of marijuana continues to increase, further research is clearly needed to examine specific teratologic effects associated with use during pregnancy.

Comparison of the sensory integrative function of South African infants to normative data on two standardised tests

BACKGROUND: The Dunn Infant Toddler Sensory Profile and DeGangi's Test of Sensory Functions in Infants are two standardised tests that are widely used by South African therapists to assess sensory integrative function in infants. There is, however, no research available on the validation of these standardised tests for a South African population. This research determined whether the normative data established in the United States of America on the Infant Toddler Sensory Profile and the Test of Sensory Functions in Infants were valid for use with South African infants between the ages of 7 and 18 months. METHODOLOGY: A quantitative cross-sectional, descriptive, correlation study design was used to investigate the equivalence between the normative data from the United States of America and a sample of typically developing South African infants. FINDINGS: The results indicated that the mean scores for the South African sample in five of the six processing sections of the Infant Toddler Sensory Profile and all quadrant scores, were in the lower range of the typical performance according to the normative data of the United States of America. On the Oral Processing Section and the Sensation-Seeking Quadrant, test results should be interpreted with caution due to the medium effect size indicating clinical differences to the reported norms. A higher percentage of South African infants had a clear definite difference "more than others" score compared to normative data from the United States of America. On the Test of Sensory Functions in Infants, the means of the frequency distribution for deficient, at risk, and typical for all five sections and the Total Test Scores for the South African sample were significantly different from the normative data of the United States of America and the mean scores fell into the lower range or below the range for the typical performance reported in the test manual. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The Infant Toddler Sensory Profile can be used without substantial re-norming based on the findings related to this South African sample. Due to significant differences in scores on the Test of Sensory Functions in Infants, the first author questions the use of the test and recommends further research on South African infants with a larger population group. However, it should be noted that this study had a small sample size and therefore the results should be interpreted with caution and cannot be generalised.

DEVELOPMENT AND EFFICACY OF SEMI STRUCTURED SENSORY ENRICHMENT INTERVENTION IN PREMATURE INDIAN INFANTS

This study aimed to find out the efficacy of developed semi structured sensory enrichment intervention over premature Indian infants an early first year of life for their sensory development . A pre-/post-test design was used on fifty premature infants from a low socioeconomic setting in specialized NICU setup into one group after being matched by corrected age and inclusion criteria by convenient sampling . Before and after the intervention, the preterm infants sensory processing functions were evaluated using the Infant/ Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP). The preterm infants underwent an eight weeks of sensory enrichment intervention. Semi- structure sensory enrichment intervention had a positive effect on the sensory processing and development of premature Indian infants, especially in terms of Sensory development. The feasibility of the identification of sensory process¬ing issues in the early years of life should be highlighted, as it favors early referral for intervention. The purpose of this early sensory enrichment intervention may help NICU graduate infants later in their life in terms of physical &amp; mental development age appropriately . Awareness about their family members &amp; health care professionals how early stimulation important for infants. Semi- structure sensory enrichment intervention at an early age enhances the over all developmental progress of premature infants. KEYWORDS:Sensory Enrichment intervention, Preterm infants, Sensory processing

Relationships between Gross Motor Abilities and Sensory Processing in Children Aged 18 to 36 Months.

We investigated the relationship between gross motor abilities and sensory processing in typically developing children. Participants included children aged 18 to 36 months (N = 48). All participants were full-term infants. We assessed gross motor abilities based on the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), and sensory processing characteristics based on the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP). The gross motor ability index was calculated using GMFM score which was estimated from the age. Pearson's product moment correlation coefficients were used to examine the relationships between the gross motor ability indexes and ITSP section scores. Our findings showed that gross motor ability may be related to oral sensory processing. The children who were more responsive to oral sensory processing tended to exhibit gross motor abilities below the standard for that age. Gross motor abilities were related with sensory processing, especially oral sensory processing, in children aged 18 to 36 months.

Neonatal Multisensory Processing in Preterm and Term Infants Predicts Sensory Reactivity and Internalizing Tendencies in Early Childhood

Multisensory processes include the capacity to combine information from the different senses, often improving stimulus representations and behavior. The extent to which multisensory processes are an innate capacity or instead require experience with environmental stimuli remains debated. We addressed this knowledge gap by studying multisensory processes in prematurely born and full-term infants. We recorded 128-channel event-related potentials (ERPs) from a cohort of 55 full-term and 61 preterm neonates (at an equivalent gestational age) in response to auditory, somatosensory, and combined auditory-somatosensory multisensory stimuli. Data were analyzed within an electrical neuroimaging framework, involving unsupervised topographic clustering of the ERP data. Multisensory processing in full-term infants was characterized by a simple linear summation of responses to auditory and somatosensory stimuli alone, which furthermore shared common ERP topographic features. We refer to the ERP topography observed in full-term infants as “typical infantile processing” (TIP). In stark contrast, preterm infants exhibited non-linear responses and topographies less-often characterized by TIP; there were distinct patterns of ERP topographies to multisensory and summed unisensory conditions. We further observed that the better TIP characterized an infant’s ERPs, independently of prematurity, the more typical was the score on the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP) at 12 months of age and the less likely was the child to the show internalizing tendencies at 24 months of age. Collectively, these results highlight striking differences in the brain’s responses to multisensory stimuli in children born prematurely; differences that relate to later sensory and internalizing functions.

Neonatal behavior and social behavior and sensory issues in 18-month toddlers.

There has long existed a need for early detection and early intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to demonstrate, in a prospective manner, the relationship between behavioral features during the neonatal period and social behavior and sensory issues at 18months. Participants were 105 full-term infants considered "healthy" by an obstetrician. The behavioral features of the infants were evaluated using the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) between 2 and 7 days after birth. Follow-up assessments were conducted 18months later using a Japanese version of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT-JV) and the Infant / Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP). Sixteen (15.2%) of the 105 infants were M-CHAT-JV-positive. There were significant differences between the M-CHAT-JV-positive and M-CHAT-JV-negative groups in two of the NBAS clusters: orientation and motor. We observed a significant negative correlation between the NBAS orientation cluster and the ITSP "low registration" and "auditory processing" sections, as well as between the NBAS motor cluster and the ITSP "sensation avoiding" and "tactile processing" sections. Logistic regression analysis showed that the NBAS orientation cluster and ITSP low registration were significantly associated with the M-CHAT-JV at 18months. The results suggest a relationship between the NBAS orientation cluster in full-term neonates and their social behavior and sensory features at 18months.

Sensory processing in toddlers with autism spectrum disorders

ABSTRACT Sensory symptoms are common in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) but the patterns of these symptoms vary. Early assessment of sensory processing is therefore crucial for diagnosis and early intervention. However, studies in this area are conducted almost exclusively in English-speaking populations. In our study, we examined sensory processing in 380 toddlers: 96 with ASD, 42 with other developmental disabilities (DD), and 242 typically developing (TD) controls. Caregivers completed a Polish version of the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP). Results showed that children with ASD and those with DD were more hypo- and hypersensitive and showed more avoidance of stimulation than TD controls. Children with DD had less severe symptoms than those with ASD and showed higher levels of sensation seeking than the ASD and TD groups. Furthermore, we identified four sensory subtypes with different sensory thresholds and regulatory strategies. Two of them reflected healthy patterns of sensory processing: a healthy-active and a healthy-passive subtype. The third subtype was characterized by mild sensory symptoms. The fourth pattern was specific to toddlers with ASD and included severe sensory symptoms and avoidance of stimulation. The Polish ITSP may be a useful instrument in early diagnosis of ASD, as well as in future research.

Behavioral response to tactile stimuli relates to brain response to affective touch in 12-month-old infants.

Affective touch activates a brain network responsible for processing social-emotional stimuli in infants, children, and adults, with a core node in the superior temporal sulcus (STS). STS is known to be a region highly susceptible to individual variability, including for tactile stimuli processing. However, little is known about how this region is recruited to process affective touch in infancy. The aim of this study was to examine brain activity to affective touch in the temporal region (STS) and understand if it relates to behavioral patterns of sensory-over responsivity (SOR) to touch. Twelve-month-old infants (n=24) were given affective and discriminative stimuli to the forearm while they were watching a silent movie. Brain activation was recorded in the STS for measures of oxy-hemoglobin (HbO2 ) and deoxy-hemoglobin (Hbb) using functional near infra-red spectroscopy (fNIRS). Aversive responses to tactile stimuli were measured using the Infant-Toddler Sensory Profile. A significant hemodynamic response increase in HbO2 to affective touch was observed in the STS for infants with less aversive behavioral responses to tactile stimuli. The findings suggest that brain activity in the STS for affective touch might be related to individual differences in the affective reaction toward touch.

Omega-3 and -6 fatty acid supplementation and sensory processing in toddlers with ASD symptomology born preterm: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundDespite advances in the health and long-term survival of infants born preterm, they continue to face developmental challenges including higher risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and atypical sensory processing patterns. AimsThis secondary analysis aimed to describe sensory profiles and explore effects of combined dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) supplementation on parent-reported sensory processing in toddlers born preterm who were exhibiting ASD symptoms. Study design90-day randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Subjects31 children aged 18–38months who were born at ≤29weeks' gestation. Outcome measureMixed effects regression analyses followed intent to treat and explored effects on parent-reported sensory processing measured by the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP). ResultsBaseline ITSP scores reflected atypical sensory processing, with the majority of atypical scores falling below the mean. Sensory processing sections: auditory (above=0%, below=65%), vestibular (above=13%, below=48%), tactile (above=3%, below=35%), oral sensory (above=10%; below=26%), visual (above=10%, below=16%); sensory processing quadrants: low registration (above=3%; below=71%), sensation avoiding (above=3%; below=39%), sensory sensitivity (above=3%; below=35%), and sensation seeking (above=10%; below=19%). Twenty-eight of 31 children randomized had complete outcome data. Although not statistically significant (p=0.13), the magnitude of the effect for reduction in behaviors associated with sensory sensitivity was medium to large (effect size=0.57). No other scales reflected a similar magnitude of effect size (range: 0.10 to 0.32). ConclusionsThe findings provide support for larger randomized trials of omega fatty acid supplementation for children at risk of sensory processing difficulties, especially those born preterm.

A possible role of the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile in screening for autism: a proof-of-concept study in the specific sample of prematurely born children with birth weights

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to explore the potential of the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP) as a screening tool for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in prematurely born children.MethodsParents of 157 children with birth weights <1,500 g (aged 2 years, corrected for prematurity; 88 boys, 69 girls) completed a screening battery that included the ITSP, Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT), and the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile Infant-Toddler Checklist (CSBS-DP-ITC). Children with known disabilities were excluded. All the children who were screened positive on any of the screening tools subsequently underwent clinical examination including the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule.ResultsWe used classification trees to answer the question whether ITSP (or some of its subscales) could be combined with the M-CHAT and/or the CSBS-DP-ITC or its subscales into an effective ASD screening tool. Using the CSBS-DP-ITC, overall score, and the Sensation Seeking subscale of the ITSP, we obtained a screening tool that was able to identify all of the ASD children in our sample (confirmed by cross-validation). The proposed screening tool is scored as follows: 1) if the overall CSBS-DP-ITC value is <45.5, then the screening is positive; 2) if the overall CSBS-DP-ITC value is ≥45.5 and the z-score of the Sensation Seeking subscale of ITSP is ≥1.54, then the screening is positive; 3) otherwise, the screening is negative.ConclusionThe use of CSBS-DP-ITC in combination with the Sensation Seeking subscale of the ITSP improved the accuracy of autism screening in preterm children.

Sensory profile in infants and toddlers with behavioral insomnia and/or feeding disorders

BackgroundSleep and feeding difficulties are two common disorders in early childhood. It has been shown that feeding difficulties are more common among children with sleep disorders and vice versa. Since a child's characteristics play a substantial role in these two conditions, we aimed to investigate the sensory profile of infants and toddlers with behavioral insomnia (BI) or feeding disorders (FDs) in comparison with healthy age-matched controls. MethodsChildren aged 7–36 months with BI or FD were recruited from the sleep and feeding disorders clinics. Healthy controls were recruited from well-baby clinics. Parents completed a questionnaire which included demographics and socioeconomic status, as well as a sensory profile evaluation using the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP). ResultsTwenty-five children with BI, 28 with FDs and 32 controls were recruited. Oral processing scores were significantly lower in both BI and FD groups vs the controls (p = 0.015 and 0.001, respectively). Auditory processing scores were lower in the FD group vs the controls (p = 0.028). The scores of three out of the four ITSP sensory quadrants (Low Registration, Sensory Sensitivity, and Sensation Avoiding) were significantly lower in the FD group vs the controls (p = 0.027, 0.025, and 0.001, respectively), and in one quadrant (Sensation Avoiding) in the BI group vs the controls (p = 0.037). ConclusionsThere were considerable differences in sensory processing, as reported by parents between children with BI and those with FDs compared to healthy controls, most often in the direction of the ‘hypersensitive’ profile. These differences may underlie the development and partially explain the coexistence of the two disorders. Sensory profile may be a target of intervention as part of the management of sleep and feeding disorders in early childhood.

Effectiveness of a Sensory-Enriched Early Intervention Group Program for Children With Developmental Disabilities.

The study's objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Interdisciplinary Sensory-Enriched Early Intervention (ISEEI) group program for children with developmental delays. We conducted a retrospective chart review of 63 children ages 18-36 mo who participated in ISEEI. We evaluated participants with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III (Bayley-III) and the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP) at enrollment and after 3-9 mo. We conducted a paired t test to examine changes in the Bayley-III between pre- and posttests. At enrollment, 70% of children presented atypical scores in two or more areas of sensory processing in the ITSP. Results revealed that children with sensory processing difficulties demonstrated significant improvement in all areas of development except fine motor skills; children without sensory processing difficulties showed significant improvement in language and cognition. The ISEEI group program is an effective method to ameliorate developmental delays.

Sensory Processing Difficulties in Toddlers With Nonorganic Failure-to-Thrive and Feeding Problems.

Failure-to-thrive is defined as an abnormally low weight and/or height for age. The term "nonorganic failure-to-thrive" (NOFT) has been used to describe "failure-to-thrive" without an obvious cause underlying the growth failure. The purpose of the present study was to compare sensory processing abilities between toddlers with NOFT and feeding problems and age-matched controls. Toddlers with NOFT and feeding problems (N = 16) were recruited from the pediatric feeding clinic in a tertiary university hospital, and age-matched controls (N = 16) were recruited from community volunteers. They were evaluated for sensory processing ability using an Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP), and for development of cognition, motor skills, and language using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II and Sequenced Language Scale for Infants. Behavior at mealtime was evaluated using the Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale. In the NOFT with feeding problems group, atypical performances were more frequently observed in 3 of 5 ITSP section items (tactile, vestibular, and oral) compared with those in the control group. Significant delayed development of cognition, motor skills, and language was observed in the NOFT with feeding problems group compared with that in the control group. In addition, children who showed 1 or more atypical performances in ITSP had delayed development in cognition, motor skills, and language. Sensory processing problems were more commonly observed in toddlers with feeding problems and growth deficiency. The present study could provide a preliminary evidence for a possible impact of the sensory processing problems on the feeding difficulties in toddlers with NOFT. Future large studies should be conducted to clarify the relation between sensory processing difficulties and feeding problems in toddlers.

Comparison of three screening tests for autism in preterm children with birth weights less than 1,500 grams.

BackgroundPreterm children seem to be at increased risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD).MethodsParents of 157 children with birth weights less than 1,500 g (age 2 years, corrected for prematurity; 88 boys, 69 girls) completed screening questionnaires. The screening battery included the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT), Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile Infant-Toddler Checklist (CSBS-DP-ITC), and the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP). Children with disabilities were excluded. All children who screened positive on any of the screening tools were subsequently assessed by clinical examination including the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule.ResultsFifty-six children (35.7%) screened positive on at least one of the parental screening questionnaires. Of the 56 children who tested positive, 33 participated in the detailed clinical follow-up assessment. A diagnosis of ASD was confirmed in 13 of the 33 children. The ASD prevalence was 9.7% of the sample. Analysis of children with and without an ASD diagnosis found significant differences relative to gestational age (26.9 weeks vs 28.3 weeks, P=0.033) and length of the stay in hospital (89.5 days vs 75.4 days, P=0.042). The screening tool with the most positive results was CSBS-DP-ITC (42 positive screens [PS]), followed by M-CHAT (28 PS), and ITSP (22 PS). Differences in the frequency of PS among the tests were significant (P=0.008). CSBS-DP-ITC had the highest sensitivity (0.846), followed by M-CHAT (0.692) and ITSP (0.462).ConclusionOur results indicate a higher prevalence of autism in children with birth weights <1,500 g at 2 years of age compared to the general population prevalence. The ASD diagnosis was associated with shorter gestation times and longer hospital stays. Our findings support the simultaneous use of more than one screening tests in order to increase screening sensitivity.

Screening for autism in preterm children with extremely low and very low birth weight

BackgroundStudies of children with very low birth weight (VLBW, 1,000–1,500 g) and extremely low birth weight (ELBW, less than 1,000 g) indicate that this population seems to be at increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).MethodsParents of 101 VLBW and ELBW children (age 2 years, corrected for prematurity) agreed to participate in the study and signed informed consents; however, parents of only 75 children (44 boys, 31 girls) completed the screening questionnaires. The screening battery included the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT), Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile Infant-Toddler Checklist (CSBS-DP-ITC), and the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP). Children with disabilities were excluded. All children who screened positive on any of the screening tools were subsequently invited for a detailed assessment.ResultsThirty-two children (42.7%) screened positive on at least one of the screening questionnaires. The screening tool with the most positive results was the CSBS-DP-ITC (26 positive screens), followed by the M-CHAT (19 positive screens) and the ITSP (11 positive screens). Of the 32 children who tested positive, 19 participated in the detailed follow-up assessment. A diagnosis of ASD was confirmed in eight of the 19 children. ASD prevalence, calculated from those 19 children and those with negative screening results (43 children), yielded a prevalence of 12.9% in the sample. The difference in frequency of positive screens between the tests was significant (P=0.011). In pair comparisons, ITSP was found to be significantly less positive than CSBS-DP-ITC (P=0.032). No significant differences were found between the M-CHAT and CSBS-DP-ITC or between the M-CHAT and ITSP.ConclusionThe results strongly support the hypothesis of an increased prevalence of autism in children with a birth weight less than 1,500 g.

Early sensory over‐responsivity in toddlers with autism spectrum disorders as a predictor of family impairment and parenting stress

Sensory over-responsivity (SOR) affects many individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), often leading to stressful encounters during daily routines. This study describes the associations between early SOR symptoms and the longitudinal course of restrictions in family life activities and parenting stress across three time-points in families raising a child with ASD (n = 174). Covariates were child diagnostic severity, emotional problems, and maternal affective symptoms. At time 1 mean chronological age was 28.5 months. Children were administered the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL). Parents completed the Infant Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP), Infant-Toddler Social Emotional Assessment (ITSEA), Beck Anxiety Index (BAI), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Inventory (CES-D) at time 1; and the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) and Family Life Impairment Scale (FLIS) at the three annual time-points. Latent Growth Curve Models indicated that higher SOR scores on the ITSP at time 1 were associated with higher initial levels of family life impairment and parenting stress and with a smaller magnitude of change over time. These associations were independent of severity of ADOS social-communication symptoms, MSEL composite score, ITSEA externalizing and anxiety symptoms, and maternal affective symptoms as measured by the BAI and CES-D. On average FLIS and PSI did not change over time, however, there was significant individual variability. Concurrently, SOR at time 1 explained 39-45% of the variance in family stress and impairment variables. An evaluation of SOR should be integrated into the assessment of toddlers with ASD considering their role in family life impairment and stress.

Known-Group Validity of the Infant Toddler Sensory Profile and the Sensory Processing Measure-Preschool

Occupational therapists often use the Infant Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP; Dunn, 2002) or the Sensory Processing Measure-Preschool (SPM-P;Ecker et al., 2010) to obtain data about children suspected of having sensory processing problems. Therefore, it is essential that such scales are valid and reliable. The aim of the study was to investigate the known-group validity of the SPM-P (Home and School Forms) and the ITSP when used with a group of Australian children ages 23 to 36 months. Using a convenience sampling approach, nine parents/primary caregivers of children presenting with additional needs and attending an early childhood intervention service (ECIS) and nine parents/primary givers of typically developing children were asked to complete a demographic questionnaire, the ITSP, and the SPM-P (Home Form). An ECIS staff member completed the SPM-P (School Form) on the children with additional needs and a childcare teacher completed the SPM-P (School Form) on the typically developing children. A t-test was used to determine whether a statistically significant difference existed between the children with additional needs attending an ECIS and typically developing children. For the ITSP, statistically significant differences were identified for two of five of its subscales: auditory processing and vestibular processing. Four of eight of the SPM-P Home Form subscales had statistically significant differences: touch, body awareness, balance and motion, and planning and ideas. On seven of eight of the SPM-P School Form subscales, statistically significant differences were identified: social participation, vision, hearing, touch, taste and smell, balance and motion, and planning and ideas. The study contributes to the body of knowledge regarding the known-group validity for the ITSP and the SPM-P. This study further demonstrates that the ITSP and the SPM-P can be used with an Australian context.