PEDIATRIC

ASSESSMENTS- SENSORY
Supplement to YouTube Video: ttps://youtu.be/ejl93y94xXY
Miri Lee, OTD, OTR/L

For sensory assessments, I think it’s important for you to know the population you’re working with. Instead of memorizing the age ranges, try to
identify and remember the subtle distinguishing features, which are highlighted in yellow.

Sensory Profile (SP) Infant & Toddler [Birth-36 months]
Trick Sensory Profile= Profile, by definition is a “short description of someone’s life or character.” This assessment provides a profile of how
infants and toddlers respond to various sensory experiences and captures the infant’s responses during the natural course of daily life.
Focus To measure a child’s sensory processing abilities and identify their effects on functional performance for intervention planning.
Notes A judgment-based caregiver/parent questionnaire that takes ~15 min to complete. This makes sense given that an infant and toddler
wouldn’t be able to communicate or express how they are dealing with these sensory experiences. So it’s based on caregiver’s observation
and judgment.

Sensory Profile (SP) Adolescent & Adult [11 years-65 years]
Trick Same as SP for infants, but in this case, the questionnaire is completed by the client, not the caregiver.
Focus Identifies sensory processing deficits that may inhibit participation in daily activities. Movement, visual, touch, taste/smell, activity level
and auditory processing are included.
Notes A judgment-based self-questionnaire that helps identify sensory processing patterns and their effects on functional performance.

Sensory Integration & Praxis Test (SIPT) [4 years- 8 years & 11 months]
Trick SIPT= SIP. Take a sip of wine, cus’ you’re in for a long ride. Not only does the therapist require extensive, specialized training to be certified
to administer and interpret the SIPT, the assessment takes 2 hours to administer. It’s expensive & time-consuming. That also means you
will get the most complete, comprehensive assessment of sensory integration and processing.
Focus 17 SIPT tests covering motor-free visual perception, somatosensory (tactile, muscle & joint perception), praxis and sensorimotor. So you
might ask a child to copy a motor movement on verbal command, copy a design, identify tactile stimuli, etc.
Notes Standardized, norm-referenced test that helps us understand why some children have difficulty learning or behaving.
Main takeaway: If you need to choose an assessment that is quick and easy to complete, SIPT would not be an appropriate choice.

Sensory Processing Measure (SPM) [For Elementary school age children]
Trick Sensory PROCESSING Measure. This assessment offers complete information on sensory processing, such as under/over responsiveness,
sensory seeking behavior and perceptual problems.
Focus Sensory processing, praxis and social participation.
Notes There are 3 forms. Home form, main classroom form, and school environments form. This assessment is unique in that it offers assessment
in 3 unique environments and allows a complete picture of the child in different settings.