Atypical sensory processing in adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A comparative study.
Expect broad sensory processing differences in teens with ADHD—screen with the ASP to guide individualized supports.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Fabio et al. (2024) asked caregivers to fill out the Adolescent Sensory Profile.
They compared teens with ADHD to same-age peers without any diagnosis.
The study looked for broad sensory processing differences across all senses.
What they found
Teens with ADHD scored higher on every part of the profile.
The differences showed up in touch, sound, movement, and visual input.
Results say sensory issues are the rule, not the exception, in ADHD.
How this fits with other research
Stichter et al. (2009) saw the same pattern in younger kids using the Chinese Sensory Profile.
Their work sets the stage; Angela’s team now shows the pattern lasts into high school.
MacFarland et al. (2025) took a different angle. They removed ADHD scores from autism data and still found sensory problems.
Together the papers say sensory issues live in both ADHD and autism, so check for them no matter the label.
Why it matters
If a teen with ADHD seems distracted, don’t blame only attention. Ask about tags in shirts, cafeteria noise, or fluorescent lights. Run the ASP at intake. Use the scores to pick seating, headphones, or movement breaks. Small sensory fixes can save big behavior plans.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Atypical sensory processing is common in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Despite growing evidence that ADHD symptoms persist into adolescence, the sensory processing of individuals with ADHD in this age group is limited. The aim of this study was to assess differences in self-reported sensory experiences between adolescents with and without ADHD. One hundred thirty-eight Italian adolescents aged between 14 and 18 years (M=16.20; SD= ± 1.90) participated in the study. Sixty-nine participants with ADHD were matched by gender, age, and IQ to 69 typically developing individuals. The sensory processing of all participants was assessed using the Adolescent Sensory Profile (ASP) on the components: low registration, sensation seeking, sensory sensitivity, and sensation avoiding. Moreover, the modalities of ASP were measured: movement, vision, touch, activity level, hearing, and taste/smell. Results show that the ADHD group consistently displayed higher scores across all four components of the sensory profile compared to the control group. The subjects with ADHD also reported higher scores than the control group in all the modalities of ASP. These results confirming the presence of atypical sensory processing in adolescents with ADHD were discussed considering the Cumulative and Emergent Automatic Deficit model (CEAD).
Research in developmental disabilities, 2024 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2024.104674