The Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile

Overview
The Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (Brown & Dunn, 2002) is a standardized assessment that measures sensory processing
among adolescents and adults, ages 11 years and up. It elicits information about the adolescents or adults responsiveness to
various sensory stimuli and identifies processing deficits in the sensory systems that may inhibit the individual from
participating in daily activities.

The profile is a judgment-based self-questionnaire consisting of 60 items rated for frequency of the behavior at home or in the
community. Items use a 5-point Likert scale and inquire about Taste/Smell Processing, Movement Processing, Visual
Processing, Touch Processing, Activity Level, and Auditory Processing. As with the other Sensory Profile assessments, it is to be
scored by an occupational therapist or professional trained in sensory processing theory. Items are factored into four sections
based on Dunns Model of Sensory Processing: Low Registration, Sensation Seeking, Sensory Sensitivity, and Sensation
Avoiding. Scores that fall within one standard deviation of the mean for each category represent Typical Performance.
Scores that fall between one to two standard deviations below the mean fall into the Probable Difference category. Finally,
scores that fall more than two scores below the mean indicate a Definite Difference. Scores that fall in the probable or
definite difference categories may warrant intervention. The scores are placed on a grid that visually represents how the
individuals sensory processing is compared to that of typical adolescents or adults ranging from Much Less Than Most
People to Much More Than Most People. The Adolescent/Adult form is a unique sensory measure in that it is a self-
questionnaire.

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 The Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile
Summary
Name of Age Method of Approximate Subscales
Tool/Author Range* Administration/Format Time to
Administer
Adolescent/ Adult 11-plus Criterion-referenced, judgment 1520 min. Taste/ Smell Sensitivity;
Sensory Profile based self-report questionnaire Movement Processing;
Brown & Dunn of 60 items Visual Processing;
(2002) Touch Processing;
Yields scores on frequency of Activity Level;
exhibited behaviors based on a Auditory Processing
Likert scale of 1-5, from Almost
Never to Almost Always.
Scores are summed according to
four sensory quadrants (Low
Registration, Sensation Seeking,
Sensory Sensitivity, and
Sensation Avoiding). Scores
given in relation to distance
above and below the mean
*In years except where noted. Availability: Pearson, http://bit.ly/1Q12vP2

Research
Author (Year) Age Range Sample Size Topic Addressed Outcome
(in years)
Ermer & Dunn 315 38: Autism Validity of Discriminant analysis: MANCOVA 85% of
(1998) Infant/Toddler items differentiated between autism and
61: ADHD Sensory Profile, non-autism;
Sensory Profile,
Short Sensory 90% of cases correctly identified:
Profile,
Adolescent/Ad Disabilities vs. without disabilities only
ult Sensory significant discriminator:
Profile inattention/distractibility,

AU/PDD vs. ADHD discriminators: sensory

seeking, oral sensory, sensitivity, fine-
motor/ perceptual

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 The Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile

Kientz & Dunn 310 32 Validity of 82% of participants demonstrated some

(1997) Infant/Toddler degree of sensory processing difficulty,
Sensory Profile, Pearsons Correlation analyses: SSP/DBC-P
Sensory Profile, and SSP/VABS maladaptive behavior
Short Sensory strongly negatively associated, positive
Profile, correlation between total SSP and VABS
Adolescent/Ad daily living skills
ult Sensory
Profile

Watling, Deitz, & 36 40 Validity of Factor analysis: Scores of children with

White (2001) Infant/Toddler autism were significantly different from
Sensory Profile, those of children without autism on 8 of 10
Sensory Profile, factors
Short Sensory
Profile,
Adolescent/Ad
ult Sensory
Profile

References
Brown, C., & Dunn, W. (2002). Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile manual. San Antonio, TX: Psychological
Corporation.

Ermer, J., & Dunn, W. (1998). The Sensory Profile: A discriminant analysis of children with and without disabilities.
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 52(4), 283290.

Kientz, M. A., & Dunn, W. (1997). A comparison of children with and without autism on the Sensory Profile.
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 51(7), 530537.

Watling, R. L., Deitz, J., & White, O. (2001). Comparison of Sensory Profile scores of young children with and
without autism spectrum disorders. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 55(4), 416423.

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