Exploration of Sensory Processing Difficulties among Children Attending Primary School in Denmark.
Ann Natasja Nielsen, Åse Brandt, Karen la Cour
PMID 33824631WHAT IT FOUND
Parents of 1,723 Danish primary school children reported that 21.3% showed definite sensory processing difficulties, with boys more affected than girls.
The most common issues were sensory seeking and auditory filtering, suggesting a need for classroom awareness rather than clinical diagnosis.
Key findings
0121.3% of children had Short Sensory Profile scores indicating definite sensory processing difficulties, while 22.4% showed probable differences.
02Boys were significantly more likely than girls to have definite sensory processing difficulties (24.2% vs 17.8%).
03The most frequent specific difficulties were underresponsive/sensory-seeking behavior (32.7% of those with definite difficulties) and auditory filtering (31.1%).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study used a parent-report screening tool (SSP) rather than direct clinical observation or assessment, which limits diagnostic accuracy. The Danish version of the SSP had not undergone specific psychometric testing for this population, raising questions about its sensitivity and precision in this context. Response rate and total eligible population were unknown, and 15.7% of surveys were excluded for incompleteness, which may introduce selection bias. The survey was only in Danish, potentially excluding parents who were not fluent in the language. As a cross-sectional study, it cannot determine causality, such as whether sensory difficulties lead to increased sports participation or vice versa.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was not funded by a commercial entity selling the intervention or assessment tools.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the 21.3% prevalence as a clinical diagnosis rate. The study used a screening tool (SSP) on a general population without clinical validation of the Danish version, and it did not exclude children with other diagnoses like autism or ADHD. These findings indicate a need for awareness and potential further assessment, not a confirmed prevalence of sensory processing disorder.