Overview
The Sensory Profile 2 (Dunn, 2014) is a set of norm-referenced, parent and teacher questionnaires designed to assess the sensory processing patterns of children from birth through 14 years, 11 months. Compared with its predecessor, the age range for the Sensory Profile 2 is expanded, questionnaires and score forms are combined, all-age forms are combined into one manual, consistency across forms is increased, and questionnaires are shorter. The Sensory Profile 2 can be administered in paper-and-pencil or online format via the Q-global platform. Information obtained from the Sensory Profile 2 helps identify ways sensory processing may be contributing to or interfering with a child’s participation in home, school, and community. There are five different forms selected based on age: 1) Infant Sensory Profile 2 – Birth to 6 months; 2) Toddler Sensory Profile – 7 to 35 months; 3) Child Sensory Profile 2 – 3 to 15 years; 4) Short Sensory Profile 2 – 3 to 15 years; and 5) School Companion Sensory Profile 2 – 3 to 15 years. Each of the forms includes some combination of Sensory System, Behavioral, and Sensory Pattern scores. The School Companion Sensory Profile yields School Factor scores: Supports, Awareness, Tolerance, and Availability. Caregiver questionnaires are all available in Spanish.
Summary
Age: Birth to 14 years 11 months
Time to Administer: 10-15 minutes
Method of Administration: A group of norm-referenced questionnaires for assessing sensory processing
Yields raw-score based cut scores with optional percentile ranges, and descriptive categories
Subscales: Sensory System Scores: Auditory, Visual, Touch, Movement Body Position, Oral
Behavior Scores: Conduct, Social-Emotional, Attentional
Sensory-pattern Scores: Seeking, Avoiding, Sensitivity, Registration
School Factor Scores (School Companion form only): Supports, Awareness, Tolerance, Availability
Autism Related Research
In addition to the research shown below using the updated Sensory Profile 2 (Dunn, 2014), its predecessor was also studied for use in autism populations. In several studies (e.g., Ermer & Dunn, 1998; Kientz & Dunn, 1997; Watling, Deitz, & White, 2001), the Sensory Profile was able to discriminate between children with autism from those without.
Simpson, Adams, Alston-Knox, Heussler, & Keen (2019)
Age Range: 4-11 years
Sample Size: 271
Topics Addressed:
Identification of sensory subtypes of children with ASD using the Sensory Profile 2’s Short form (SSP-2)
Outcome:Simpson, Adams, Alston-Knox, Heussler, & Keen (2019)
Two distinct subtypes were identified: Uniformly elevated (67%) with high scores across all quadrants and Raised avoiding and sensitivity (33%) with raised scores in the avoiding and sensitivity quadrants. There were no differences between subtypes based on chronological age and autism characteristics measured using the social communication questionnaire (total score).
Conclusion: children with ASD experience differences in responses to sensory input, in particular in the area of sensitivity and avoiding.
Schulz & Stevenson (2019)
Age Range: 6-20 years
Sample Size: 114
Topics Addressed:
Examine relationship between sensory hypersensitivity and restricted interests/ repetitive behaviors in ASD vs. typically developing peers
Outcome:Schulz & Stevenson (2019)
Sensory hypersensitivity was strongly related to the core ASD symptom of repetitive behaviors. This relationship was not specific to ASD; repetitive behaviors significantly increased with sensory hypersensitivity in typically developing individuals, as well. This effect was consistent across all modalities in both groups; group differences were observed in the oral and tactile modalities. Sensory hypersensitivity was significantly predictive of repetitive behaviors in all participants, and ASD diagnosis did not add any predictive influence above and beyond sensory hypersensitivity. Sensory hypersensitivity was significantly predictive of all subdomains of repetitive behaviors, including repetitive motor movements, rigidity and adherence to routine, preoccupation with restricted patterns of interest and unusual sensory interests. Scores on both measures were higher in ASD, however.