Construct Validity of the Sensory Profile Interoception Scale: Measuring Sensory Processing in Everyday Life

The Sensory Processing Measure - Second Edition: A Critical Review and Appraisal

This paper aims to provide an overview and critique of the newly updated Sensory Processing Measure - second edition (SPM-2) to assist clinicians in understanding its strengths and limitations and in selecting an appropriate sensory processing scale that best meets their clients' needs. Using four established research methodological quality critique tools, the SPM-2's family of age-related versions was evaluated by administering the tools separately and discussed their scoring and findings to reach a consensus on all ratings. The tools identified several strengths and weaknesses of the SPM-2. The SPM-2's items on its age-related versions scored well in the criteria of internal consistency, test-retest reliability, explanation of the instrument design, construct validity, content validity, criterion validity and ease of administration, and scoring. However, a lack of normative data for participant groups outside of the United States, methodological limitations, and a lack of investigation into some important psychometric properties, particularly responsiveness, were identified as notable weaknesses of the SPM-2's items on its age-related versions based on the critique criteria. Overall, despite the areas needing further development and investigation, the SPM-2 is considered a psychometrically sound tool that provides a reliable and valid approach to measuring aspects of the sensory processing construct across the lifespan.

Development of a Participation Focused Measure of Interoception for Adults

Interoception is awareness of one's own internal bodily states. Currently, no participation-based measure of interoception exists. The purpose of this study was to identify items with adequate psychometric properties for a participation-based interoceptive measure grounded in Dunn's Sensory Processing Framework named the Sensory Profile: Interoception (SPI). Using a cross-sectional psychometric design, internal consistency was examined by calculating Cronbach's alpha for each of the four subscales of the SPI. Concurrent validity was studied using Pearson Product Moment Correlations to identify relationships between the SPI and the Adolescent Adult Sensory Profile (A/ASP) subscales. Interoception items correlating most strongly with their intended subscale were identified, maintaining 70 of the original 101 items (N = 55). The resulting subscales (sensitivity, avoiding, registration, and seeking) had good internal consistency (α = .63-.88) and correlated moderately with the corresponding A/ASP subscale. The findings provide preliminary support for the SPI's internal consistency and concurrent validity.

“When I’m in Pain, Everything Is Overwhelming”: Implications of Pain in Adults With Autism on Their Daily Living and Participation

Pain sensation in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been a growing research field in the last two decades. Existing pain research has focused on pain sensitivity, suggesting either hyposensitivity or hypersensitivity to pain in individuals with ASD. However, research about other aspects of pain experience is scarce. Moreover, most pain-related research in ASD focused on quantitative measures, such as neuroimaging or parental reports. Instead, this paper aimed to illuminate the various aspects of pain experience as perceived by adults with ASD. Its descriptive qualitative research design incorporated semi-structured interviews and deductive thematic analysis. This phenomenological approach captured the subjective pain experience through the lens of people with ASD. Four primary themes emerged from the data: (a) physical pain experience, including the sequence of pain sensitivity, pain awareness, pain-related emotional aspects, and pain communication; (b) direct and indirect coping strategies; (c) function and participation outcomes; and (d) suggestions for Healthcare Providers. The findings echo the crucial role of pain awareness and communication in the pain experience of people with ASD. These two factors have been reported as profoundly influencing coping strategies, function, and participation. The results emphasize the need to expand the exploration of pain in this population, calling for greater understanding, and listening to this population’s unique pain profiles and experiences to promote better-suited evaluation, diagnosis, and intervention in pain conditions.