The relationship between sensory processing difficulties and behaviour in children aged 5-9 who are at risk of developing conduct disorder – Monash University
- Examines the relationship between sensory-processing difficulties and behavioral problems in children between the ages of 5 and 9 who were at risk of developing conduct disorder
- Found that 55.2% of the children in the sample demonstrated sensory processing difficulties
- Greater sensory processing difficulties were associated with more severe behavioural problems
- The study suggests that sensory processing may be relevant when assessing and supporting children with challenging behaviour
- Doesn’t explicitly suggest that sensory difficulties cause conduct disorder, rather that they may be an additional factor associated with behavioural difficulties
Is sensory over‐responsivity distinguishable from childhood behavior problems? A phenotypic and genetic analysis – Van Hulle – 2012 – Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry – Wiley Online Library
- Investigated whether sensory over-responsiveness is distinct from general childhood behavioural issues
- Studied children who exhibited heightened responses to everyday sensory experiences
- Found that there was a connection between sensory over-responsivity and behavioural/emotional difficulties
- The researchers found that sensory over-responsivity should not simply be considered another form of behavioural disorder
- Sensory sensitivity can occur independently of psychiatric or behavioural problems, however the two can overlap
- The study shows the importance of considering sensory characteristics separately when understanding a child’s behaviour
Sensory Over-Responsivity in Elementary School: Prevalence and Social-Emotional Correlates | Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology | Springer Nature Link
- Examined 925 children aged between 7-11
- Examined sensory over-responsivity (SOR), particularly responses to auditory and tactile sensations
- Approximately 16% of parents reported that their child was bothered by at least four tactile or auditory sensations
- Children with greater sensory over-responsivity were more likely to experience externalising problems, such as behavioural difficulties
- Children with elevated SOR were approximately three times more likely to have clinically significant externalising difficulties than children without elevated SOR
- Sensory over-responsivity was also associated with difficulties in social and adaptive functioning
- Sensory difficulties can interfere with children’s participation in academic and social activities
- The Study does not demonstrate that sensory over-responsivity causes behavioural problems, rather it highlights an association between sensory sensitivity and behaviourial/social-emotional difficulties.