Sensory profiles in adults with and without ADHD.
Adults with ADHD carry a unique sensory signature that exists apart from anxiety, so screen and treat sensory issues directly.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Hutchins et al. (2020) asked adults with and without ADHD to fill out two checklists. One listed sensory events that feel too strong. The other listed events that feel too weak.
The team also measured anxiety and mood. They wanted to know if sensory differences stay even after anxiety is taken out.
What they found
Adults with ADHD scored higher on every sensory cluster. They reported low registration, sensation seeking, and both hyper- and hypo-sensitivity.
These scores stayed high even when the researchers removed the effect of anxiety. The sensory pattern is part of ADHD itself, not just a side effect of feeling anxious.
How this fits with other research
Hwang et al. (2020) saw the same adult sensory-anxiety link in autism. Both studies used surveys and kept anxiety out of the picture. The pattern now shows up across ADHD and autism, so sensory screens should be routine for both groups.
Barton et al. (2019) found that sensory hypersensitivity drives repetitive play in kids with and without autism. S et al. extend that idea to adults with ADHD. Sensory traits start early and stay lifelong, shaping behavior in every age group.
Uljarević et al. (2018) looked at Williams syndrome adults and also found that hypersensitivity plus intolerance of uncertainty predicts anxiety. The three papers seem to clash on which factor matters most, but they studied different labels. The common thread: treat sensory issues first, then tailor the anxiety tool to the diagnosis.
Why it matters
If you serve adults with ADHD, add a quick sensory checklist to intake. Note low registration and sensation seeking, not just hyperactivity. Build accommodations like noise-reducing headphones, fidget options, or dimmer lights into behavior plans. Targeting sensory triggers can cut problem behavior before you start heavy anxiety or attention programs.
Want CEUs on This Topic?
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ free CEUs — live every Wednesday. Ethics, supervision & clinical topics.
Join Free →Hand the Adult Sensory Profile to your next ADHD client and use the scores to pick one environmental change, like a quiet corner or textured fidget, for the next session.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Our previous work demonstrates that adults with ADHD produce more force at the fingertips compared to adults without ADHD. One possibility is that somatosensation is impaired in ADHD. However, ADHD is often comorbid with anxiety, and anxiety influences sensory responsivity. AIMS: The goal of the current work was to evaluate differences in the self-report of sensory experiences in adults with and without ADHD, while controlling for internalizing behaviors. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Forty-five adults (23 with ADHD) completed a semi-structured interview for the diagnosis of ADHD, the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP), and the Achenbach Adult Self Report (ASR). OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Adults with ADHD reported more hyper- and hypo- sensitivity compared to adults without ADHD, even when controlling for internalizing behaviors. Specifically, between group differences were found for low registration, sensation seeking, and sensory sensitivity scores, but not for sensation avoiding, and for movement, visual, touch, activity, audition, or taste/smell. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings demonstrate that sensory hyper- and hypo- sensitivity may be features of ADHD in adults. Further, they demonstrate that internalizing behaviors influence the perception of sensory experiences and thus should be accounted for in studies of sensory processing, integration, and modulation in adults with ADHD.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2020 · doi:10.4088/JCP.10m06628