Novel Parent Survey Measures Sensory Behaviors Incorporating Sensory Modality and Stimulus Intensity

• DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/3k5fz
• Publication Date: 2024-04-09T20:25:25Z
• Authors: Connor Yee; Ellie Rather; Sakib Hoque; Joon Lee; Stephanie Marton; Jill Roth; Frederick Louis O...; Kenneth Nobleza; Ankona Banerjee; Holly Harris; Ariel Lyons-Warren
• Keywords: Stimulus (psychology); Stimulus modality; Modality (human–computer interaction)

Objective: Sensory behaviors are common clinically relevant features of many neurodevelopmental disorders including Autism. However, existing assessments critically lack granularity in evaluating hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity, particularly relation to stimulus intensity. We address this gap by developing the Response Questionnaire Phenotyper (SRQP), a parent questionnaire that comprehensively assesses sensory across five modalities. Here we report development SRQP, validation against established tools assessment its effectiveness identifying nuanced processing patterns children with Autism.Methods: A convenience sample 317 participants (57 Autism, 260 typically developing) aged 3-17 years were enrolled cross-sectional study. The SRQP’s psychometric properties analyzed using classical test theory (CTT), item response (IRT). Statistical tests used evaluate from SRQP results.Results: Data 271 included. demonstrated strong properties: receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis identified 37 as cut-off value for most accurately distinguishing between typical atypical responses on (sensitivity 0.75, specificity 0.79, AUC 0.87). Total but not modality-specific hyper vs hyposensitivity scores moderately correlated (ρ = .5). Responses high-intensity stimuli low-intensity auditory, visual, taste, or tactile < .4).Conclusion: is new validated assess multi-dimensional behaviors. Stimulus intensity an important parameter should be accounted future models.