Sensory processing patterns in developmental coordination disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and typical development.
SSP-2 low registration and sensory sensitivity mark DCD and ADHD—screen early and tailor cues.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Delgado-Lobete et al. (2020) asked parents to fill out the SSP-2 about their kids.
They compared three groups: children with DCD, ADHD, and typical development.
The goal was to see if each group showed a clear sensory profile.
What they found
Kids with DCD or ADHD scored differently from typical peers on the SSP-2.
The main red flags were low registration and sensory sensitivity.
Children who had both DCD and ADHD showed the most atypical scores.
How this fits with other research
Mimouni-Bloch et al. (2018) saw the same SSP-2 pattern in ADHD alone.
Fusar-Poli et al. (2017) had already shown that DCD brings emotional problems; the 2020 paper adds sensory issues to that picture.
Farley et al. (2022) mapped five sensory subtypes in autism; the 2020 findings hint that similar subtypes may exist in DCD and ADHD.
Chung-Qian et al. (2013) found higher parent-reported sensory problems in ADHD, but no skin-conductance difference; the 2020 study keeps the parent-report focus and extends it to DCD.
Why it matters
If a child has DCD or ADHD, expect sensory red flags. Run the SSP-2 first.
Use the low-registration and sensitivity scores to pick reinforcers and warn teachers.
A kid who does not notice instructions may need louder cues, not stricter rules.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Sensory processing difficulties (SPD) are present in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, little is known about sensory processing variability in these disorders. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore SPD among children with DCD, ADHD and co-occurring symptoms in comparison to children with typical development (TD) and to determine how potential social confounders may influence these associations. METHODS: The study involved 452 children aged 6-12 years. The Short Sensory Profile-2 was used to assess sensory processing patterns. Multiple linear regressions were utilized to investigate the relationship between DCD, ADHD and co-occurring symptoms and sensory processing patterns, adjusting for social covariates. RESULTS: Children with DCD and ADHD symptoms showed greater variability of atypical sensory processing patterns compared with TD children. Low registration and sensory sensibility issues were more prevalent in the DCD group. ADHD children showed higher rates of low registration, sensory sensibility and sensory seeking, and all children in the co-occurring symptoms group presented sensory sensibility. CONCLUSION: This study reports significant variability in sensory processing among children with DCD, ADHD and co-occurring symptoms using a population-based sample. These differences can contribute to understand how neurological and social factors correlates across diagnoses.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2020 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103608