Abstract
Long-term follow-up of 64 children with sensory-processing challenges found that over half scored as typical on an adult sensory history 8 to 32 years later. Adult anxiety and depression was common, especially in females, and was correlated with the most severe adult sensory-processing challenges. This study provides preliminary prognosis information for childhood sensory-processing challenges.
Primary Author and Speaker: Teresa May-Benson
Additional Authors and Speakers: Olivia Easterbrooks-Dick, Alison Teasdale
Information on long-term changes in sensory processing in children is lacking. 2-year follow up studies in children suggest sensory characteristics remain stable (Perez Repetto, et al, 2017). However, only current adult sensory processing status has been studied (Ueno, et al, 2019). Change in sensory characteristics from child to adult is unknown. This study therefore followed up children with known sensory processing challenges and describes their sensory processing as adults to gather preliminary information on long-term presentation of sensory processing challenges.
Descriptive longitudinal follow-up study. 1,104 children who sought sensory integration services at a private OT practice between 1983 and 2013 were randomly selected from the practice’s clinical records archive. Inclusion criteria were: child < 18 years of age, no reported diagnoses except sensory processing challenges, completed practice’s sensory history at intake, currently aged 18-50 years, discharged from services prior to 2014.
A letter with a link to a multi-part on-line survey (informed consent, demographics and the Adult/Adolescent Sensory History (ASH) (May-Benson, 2015)) was sent. The ASH is a standardized 163 item self-report sensory questionnaire which produces a total score and subscores for each sensory domain. High scores indicate more dysfunction. Performance is reported as typical (<1 SD above normative mean), mild difficulty (+1-2 SD) and definite difficulty (>+2 SD).
Descriptive analyses found 64 adults (41 m, 23 f) responded for a 6.3% return rate. Intake age was M=6.11 years, SD=2.10 years. Current age was M=26.10 years (SD=5.0 years, range = 18-9–40.7 years). Follow up was M=19.6 years (SD=5.5 years, range 8.5–32.9 years).
78% reported a current diagnosis at follow up (M=2.4 comorbid diagnoses), eg ADHD, anxiety, ASD, depression, learning disabilities (LD) and other. Respondents with anxiety (N=27, 42%) had M=4.1 comorbid diagnoses and accounted for N=13/15 of those with LD and N=16/25 with depression. High # comorbid adult diagnoses correlated with high total ASH score, Pearson r=.508, p<.001.
ANOVA found significant total score differences for gender F(1,56)=5.5, p=.023 and those with/without self-reported anxiety F(1,56)=5.5, p=.022, but not gender x anxiety interaction or age. Females and those with anxiety had higher ASH scores indicating more sensory challenges.
Independent t-test found study group total score (M= 349, SD=86.8) higher (p<.001) than ASH standardization total (M=290, SD=59.1). However, study group means for total score and all major subscores were in Typical range. 53% of group had Typical total ASH scores and 25% each had Mild and Definite. Over 50% of those with Mild and Definite difficulties had anxiety. Major subscores were Typical for 48-67% of responses.
Results provide preliminary insight on long term outcomes of a select group of children with sensory processing challenges. As adults, over half had Typical sensory processing an average of 20 years later. Frequency of adult comorbid diagnoses was high, especially for anxiety and depression in females. Anxiety was related to more severe sensory processing challenges and present in over half of adults in the Mild and Definite ranges.
Limitations: self-selection bias, influence of SI intervention and status of non-responders. This study did not examine intervention efficacy but describes a specific set of adults with a history of known sensory challenges. Future studies will examine change in sensory processing across time and influence of intervention services.
This preliminary study may inform clinicians about possible long-term presentation of sensory processing characteristics in children which can support evidence-based practice of OT using an SI approach.
May-Benson, T. (2015). Adult/Adolescent Sensory History. Newton, MA: Spiral Foundation.
Perez Repetto, L., Jasmin, E., Fombonne, E., Gisel, E., & Couture, M. (2017). Longitudinal Study of Sensory Features in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Res Treat, 2017, 1934701. doi:10.1155/2017/1934701
Ueno, Y., Takahashi, A., & Oshio, A. (2019). Relationship between sensory-processing sensitivity and age in a large cross-sectional Japanese sample. Heliyon, 5(10), e02508. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02508