Use of sensory processing information in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children at an Australian community hospital

IF 1.6 4区医学 Q2 REHABILITATION

Australian Occupational Therapy Journal Pub Date : 2025-03-13 DOI:10.1111/1440-1630.70007

Annabelle Marozza, Karen Hay, Thuy Frakking

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

The provision of sensory processing information is one aspect of occupational therapy involvement in diagnostic assessment for autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The aim of this study was to retrospectively compare SHORT Sensory Profile 2 results of children with suspected diagnoses and assess the discriminatory ability of modified scales of SHORT Sensory Profile 2 to identify diagnostic criteria.

Method

This study involved a retrospective chart audit of SHORT Sensory Profile 2 results and paediatrician letter of diagnosis (N = 92) for children aged 6–13 years who had multidisciplinary diagnostic assessment through outpatient paediatric service.

Consumer and Community Involvement

No consumers participated in the study design or analysis. Study involved retrospective analysis of de-identified results from caregiver assessments.

Results

Forty nine per cent of children in study sample had confirmed diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and 26% had diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Average percentage scores for both behavioural and sensory components of the SHORT Sensory Profile 2 were highest amongst children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, as well as higher classification for avoiding and seeking quadrants. In relation to modified scales, Cronbach's alpha indicated high internal consistency for inattention (0.84) and social communication and interaction (0.86). Based on the ROC analyses, the discriminatory ability when all the modified scales are used in combination ranged from poor (original four quadrants to distinguish ADHD vs no diagnosis: AUC = 0.59) to good (ASD vs ADHD; AUC = 0.82; ASD vs no diagnosis (AUC = 0.81).

Conclusion

Results of this study highlight the need for more rigorous investigation for validation of modified scales and consensus within occupational therapy and multidisciplinary team in relation to reporting of sensory processing information and contribution to diagnostic criteria.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

Many children with attentional difficulties or autism require information from occupational therapists about their sensory issues to help inform and identify behaviours of concern. This study looked at how a sensory processing screening tool can identify traits related to attentional difficulties and autism in children. Seventy-eight medical charts of children from a community hospital were reviewed. This study showed that information from the sensory processing screening tool related to attention and social communication traits. Clinicians can consider using information from a sensory processing screening tool in combination with other assessments to contribute to the identification of attention difficulties and autism in children.

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感觉加工信息在澳大利亚一家社区医院儿童自闭症谱系障碍和注意缺陷多动障碍诊断中的应用

提供感觉加工信息是职业治疗参与自闭症谱系障碍和注意缺陷多动障碍诊断评估的一个方面。本研究的目的是回顾性比较疑似诊断的儿童短感觉谱2的结果，并评估短感觉谱2修改量表的区分能力，以确定诊断标准。方法回顾性分析92例6 ~ 13岁儿童在门诊接受多学科诊断评估的SHORT Sensory Profile 2结果和儿科医生诊断信。消费者与社区参与没有消费者参与研究设计或分析。研究涉及对护理人员评估的去识别结果进行回顾性分析。结果49%的儿童确诊为注意缺陷多动障碍，26%的儿童确诊为自闭症谱系障碍。在被诊断为自闭症谱系障碍的儿童中，行为部分和感觉部分的平均百分比得分最高，在躲避和寻求象限方面的分类也较高。相对于修改后的量表，Cronbach’s alpha在注意力不集中（0.84）和社会沟通与互动（0.86）方面具有较高的内部一致性。根据ROC分析，当所有修改的量表组合使用时，区分能力从差（区分ADHD与未诊断的原始四个象限：AUC = 0.59）到好(ASD与ADHD；auc = 0.82；ASD vs无诊断（AUC = 0.81）。结论：本研究的结果强调需要更严格的调查来验证修改的量表，并在职业治疗和多学科团队中达成共识，以报告感觉加工信息和对诊断标准的贡献。许多有注意力困难或自闭症的儿童需要从职业治疗师那里获得关于他们的感官问题的信息，以帮助他们了解和识别他们关注的行为。这项研究着眼于感官处理筛选工具如何识别与儿童注意力困难和自闭症相关的特征。本文回顾了某社区医院78例儿童病历。本研究表明，来自感官加工筛选工具的信息与注意力和社会交往特征有关。临床医生可以考虑将来自感觉处理筛选工具的信息与其他评估相结合，以帮助识别儿童的注意力困难和自闭症。

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来源期刊

Australian Occupational Therapy Journal 医学-康复医学

CiteScore

2.80

自引率

16.70%

发文量

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： The Australian Occupational Therapy Journal is a leading international peer reviewed publication presenting influential, high quality innovative scholarship and research relevant to occupational therapy. The aim of the journal is to be a leader in the dissemination of scholarship and evidence to substantiate, influence and shape policy and occupational therapy practice locally and globally. The journal publishes empirical studies, theoretical papers, and reviews. Preference will be given to manuscripts that have a sound theoretical basis, methodological rigour with sufficient scope and scale to make important new contributions to the occupational therapy body of knowledge. AOTJ does not publish protocols for any study design The journal will consider multidisciplinary or interprofessional studies that include occupational therapy, occupational therapists or occupational therapy students, so long as ‘key points’ highlight the specific implications for occupational therapy, occupational therapists and/or occupational therapy students and/or consumers.