The DOI matches its Crossref record; 268 of the 268 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The State of the Science on Sensory Factors and Their Impact on Daily Life for Children: A Scoping Review
Abstract
The objective of this study was to identify and synthesize research about how sensory factors affect daily life of children. We designed a conceptual model to guide a scoping review of research published from 2005 to October 2014 (10 years). We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO and included studies about sensory perception/processing; children, adolescents/young adults; and participation. We excluded studies about animals, adults, and review articles. Our process resulted in 261 articles meeting criteria. Research shows that children with conditions process sensory input differently than peers. Neuroscience evidence supports the relationship between sensory-related behaviors and brain activity. Studies suggest that sensory processing is linked to social participation, cognition, temperament, and participation. Intervention research illustrates the importance of contextually relevant practices. Future work can examine the developmental course of sensory processing aspects of behavior across the general population and focus on interventions that support children’s sensory processing as they participate in their daily lives.
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“A confirmatory factor analysis of the English version of the SP2 concluded that this instrument adjusts well to the four dimensions of the sensory processing model: seeker, avoider, sensitive, and low register (49).”
From Assessment of Sensory Processing and Executive Functions in Childhood: Development, Reliability, and Validity of the EPYFEI (2018) · cites this paper as [49]
Citations
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“We followed Levac et al.’s (2010) recommendations that built upon Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) structure for scoping reviews and used a five-step process.”
MethodNeuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment
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Sensory Processing Subtypes in Autism: Association with Adaptive Behavior
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The pattern of sensory processing abnormalities in autism
Kern, J. K., Trivedi, M. H., Garver, C. R., Grannemann, B. D., Andrews, A. A., Savla, J. S., Johnson, D. G., Mehta, J. A., & Schroeder, J. L. (2006) · Autism · doi:10.1177/1362361306066564 · Cited by 515
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Cited by
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Items 101–119 of 119
Muñoz-Sánchez, R., Hurtado‐Pomares, M., Juárez-Leal, I., Piñero, J., Navarrete‐Muñoz, E. M., & Valera‐Gran, D. (2024) · Children · doi:10.3390/children11070855 · Cited by 1
“Investigations concerning children with SR have revealed that they often encounter difficulties related to emotional regulation, motor performance, social interaction, and functional performance in activities of daily living at home, at school, and/or in the community [3–5].”
BackgroundDakopolos, A. (2019) · doi:10.7916/d8-bkys-bw35 · Cited by 2
“Sensory responses have received increased attention in the study of ASD in recent years, and a broader understanding of their relation with adaptive functioning, behaviour, and social communication is emerging (Baum et al., 2015; Dunn et al., 2016).”
BackgroundHealy, O., Dempsey, R., Lydon, H., & Grealish, L. (2022) · Autism and child psychopathology series · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-88538-0_59 · Cited by 1
Classen, S., & Alvarez, L. (2016) · OTJR Occupational Therapy Journal of Research · doi:10.1177/1539449216683055 · Cited by 1
Williams, Z. J., Dwyer, P. S. R., Poulsen, R. E., Barrett, D. J., Keçeli-Kaysılı, B., Cascio, C. J., & Woynaroski, T. G. (2025) · PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/4qryg_v1 · Cited by 1
Classen, S. (2017) · OTJR Occupational Therapy Journal of Research · doi:10.1177/1539449217699539
The role of attention in learning for pupils with and without autism
McDougal, E. (2019) · Durham e-Theses (Durham University)
Brown, T., Swayn, E., Lyons, C., Chu, E. M. Y., & Taylor, J. (2021) · The Journal of Korean Society of Occupational Therapy · doi:10.14519/kjot.2021.29.1.10
Sensory Features as a Marker of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Schaaf, R. C. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-91280-6_102455
Visual Mapping and Guiding Framework for the Educational Success of Twice-Exceptional Learners
Lim, L. (2023) · Advances in educational technologies and instructional design book series · doi:10.4018/978-1-6684-6677-3.ch014
Frisch, M., Canale, R. R., Yantz, C. L., & Barton, M. L. (2024) · Applied Neuropsychology Child · doi:10.1080/21622965.2024.2418447 · Cited by 1
“…inconsistent eye contact, specific interests, sensory sensitivities), which, while consistent with ASD, are also exhibited in a variety of other syndromes (Alvi et al., 2022; Angélico et al., 2013; Dean et al., 2022; Dunn et al., 2016; Hoza, 2007; Mezzalira et al., 2022; Panagiotidi et al., 2018).”
Lloyd, S., Jones, N., & Smith, D. (2024) · Adoption & Fostering · doi:10.1177/03085759241298289
“Difficulties with sensory processing can also negatively impact children’s learning, social participation and emotional wellbeing (Armstrong-Heimsoth et al., 2021; Ayres, 2005; Chien et al., 2016; Dunn et al., 2016).”
Adölesanlarda Duygu Düzenleme ve Duyusal İşlemleme Arasındaki İlişkinin İncelenmesi
Kılıç, B. K., Öztürk, İ. F., Savaş, Ö., Arslan, Ş., & Yıldırım, Z. (2025) · Ergoterapi ve Rehabilitasyon Dergisi · doi:10.30720/ered.1490244
Harun, D., Rahim, N. M., Piah, H. M. A., Yunus, F. W., & Rasdi, H. F. M. (2025) · Journal of Occupational Therapy Schools & Early Intervention · doi:10.1080/19411243.2025.2517765
“…low energy/weakness, tactile and movement sensitivity, taste/smell sensitivity, auditory and visual sensitivity, sensory seeking/distractibility, and hypo-responsivity, which can cause occupational performance problems and maladaptive behavioral profiles (Dunn et al., 2016; Tomchek et al., 2014).”
Taş, B. Y., Özyurt, G., Kan, Ö. Y., & Ulaş, G. (2025) · Middle East Current Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s43045-025-00569-z · Cited by 1
“Notably, tactile sensitivities may disrupt motor planning and body awareness, which are essential for successful participation in school activities [14].”
Children’s Voices: The Lived Experience of Daily Occupations With Sensory Processing Difficulties
Río, I. H. D., Kramer-Roy, D., & Schulze, C. (2025) · OTJR Occupational Therapy Journal of Research · doi:10.1177/15394492251385453
Kutlu, S., Aydoğan, Z., Baş, B., Temir, B., & Meço, C. (2026) · European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology · doi:10.1007/s00405-026-10346-1
“Impairment in one or more sensory inputs can negatively affect the holistic and functional use of this information in daily life [9 ].”
Rosinda, S. J., Hoekstra, P. J., Hadders‐Algra, M., Heineman, K. R., & de Bildt, A. A. (2026) · European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1007/s00787-026-03110-7
“Due to the suggested impact of sensory processing difficulties on multiple developmental domains and participation in daily life activities [5] it is important to examine sensory processing in children.”
Zingale, M., Blasi, F. D. D., Città, S., Buono, S., & Ferri, R. (2026) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.70372
Metadata
- Authors
- Dunn, W., Little, L., Dean, E., Robertson, S., & Evans, B.
- Affiliations
- University of Kansas Medical Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Dunn, Winnie
- Venue
- OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2016-04
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 2_suppl
- Pages
- 3S-26S
- ISSN
- 1539-4492 (ISSN-L)
- 1938-2383
- OpenAlex
- W2434228612
- Cited by
- 119
- References
- 268
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2
- FWCI
- 29.10
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- OTJR Occupational Therapy Journal of Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- American Occupational Therapy Foundation
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Therapy Practice and Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Children's Physical and Motor Development
- Keywords
- sensory processing, sensory perception, children, adolescents, social participation (health and rehabilitation), brain activity, temperament, cognition, developmental course
- MeSH terms
- Activities of Daily Living, Brain, Child, Cognition, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Perception, Sensation, Temperament, Social Participation, Neurodevelopmental Disorders
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