Adult sensory profile

The Adult Sensory Profile is a self-report and norm-referenced assessment that occupational therapists utilize to assess and identify an individual’s sensory processing patterns and comprehend the impact of different sensory processing patterns on functional performance.(6)

It is an assessment for adolescents and adults ages 11 years and older and comprises sensory domains including visual, auditory, tactile, taste, smell, and movement-related sensations (vestibular and proprioception). In addition to ASP, there are other tests that measure how a client responds to the environment. 

It is crucial to understand sensory processing in adults because it plays a significant role in the ability of an individual to function in daily life and can impact an individual’s physical, mental, and social-emotional well-being. Sensory processing allows people to appropriately interact socially, respond to the environment around them, regulate emotions, perform daily activities, attend and focus on tasks, have self-awareness, and adapt to varying stimuli and situations. 

Occupational therapists play a pivotal role in sensory processing specifically in identifying, analyzing, assessing, and treating sensory challenges across the lifespan.

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Sensory processing in adults

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a neurological condition that affects the way the brain processes sensory information. SPD can persist into adulthood and have a significant impact on  quality of life.(4) Sensory processing difficulties in adulthood can impact an individual’s mental health, ability to cope with life stressors, sleep, relationships, social engagement, work, driving, engaging in community activities such as shopping, and difficulty with decision-making, or organization.

Some common forms of sensory processing disorders are the following:

1. Sensory modulation disorder: Difficulty regulating the intensity of sensory stimuli, filtering out irrelevant stimuli, resulting in under-reactive or over-reactivity
2. Sensory seeking: Seeking out sensory stimuli
3. Sensory avoidance: Avoiding sensory input and become distressed by certain sensory stimuli
4. Vestibular and proprioceptive challenges: Difficulty with motor planning, balance, and spatial awareness
5. Sensory sensitivity: Sensitivity to auditory, visual, and/or tactile stimuli

Assessments for testing sensory processing patterns

Occupational therapists utilize various sensory assessments and clinical observations to evaluate sensory processing patterns in adults and adolescents and to create an adult sensory profile. Some common assessments include the Sensory Processing Measure (SPM), the Adult Sensory Profile, and Adult/Adolescent Sensory History (AASH).

1. Sensory Processing Measure (SPM): A self-report measure utilizing a Likert scale (from almost always to almost never) that provides a comprehensive picture of sensory processing patterns and how an individual modulates their responses to incoming sensory stimuli.  Adults can rate themselves, spouses, partners, parents and other adult family members, or caregivers can rate the adult within the home and community environments.(5) The SPM includes different sensory systems including auditory, tactile, visual, taste, vestibular and proprioception and sensory patterns including sensory avoiding, seeking, sensitivity, and low registration. It also incorporates other domains such as motor planning (praxis) and social participation.
2. Adult Sensory Profile: Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile is a self-report assessment that helps measure sensory processing patterns and effects on functional performance. A client answers questions regarding how he or she responds to sensations, as opposed to how he or she responds at any given time.(2) 
3. Adult/Adolescent Sensory History (AASH): A self-report measure for individuals for ages 13-95, who experiences sensory processing and integration challenges and measures 5 domains of sensory functioning including the following:(4)
   1. Sensory discrimination
   2. Sensory modulation
   3. Postural-ocular skills
   4. Praxis
   5. Social-Emotional functioning

Scoring and interpretation for the AASH is based on a classification system.

The “system describes the individual’s propensity for behaviors”(1) in each sensory processing quadrant as:

• Much less than most people
• Less than most people
• Similar to most people 
• More than most people
• Much more than most people

The classification system describes an individual’s placement along a continuum of distributed scores rather than whether an individual’s performance on any quadrant indicates areas of concern.(1)

Interventions

Sensory Integration Therapy is often utilized with the pediatric population; however, the same principles can be applied to the adult population. Intervention methods may focus on environmental modifications such as creating a physical space for optimal functioning such as comfortable seating modifications, reducing noise or light, and reducing clutter with organizing tools and materials. 

Additional intervention methods may include sensory breaks and special sensory rooms, calming sensory activities, self-regulation strategies, fidget tools, external supports such as visual schedules, timers, headphones, or a weighted vest, blanket, or lap pad, and patient and caregiver education. 

Sensory diets may also be beneficial for the adult population. A sensory diet is a comprehensive list of activities and experiences that is tailored to an individual’s sensory preferences and a client’s adult sensory profile that provides them with input for optimal functioning.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Holistic
• Individualized
• Self-Report
• Assists with intervention planning

Cons:

• Subjective
• May require follow-up questions or assessments
• Client may answer questions with a bias