When your child covers their ears at the sound of the vacuum cleaner, refuses to wear certain clothing, or seems unable to sit still for more than a moment, you might wonder if there’s more to these behaviours than typical childhood development. These responses could signal sensory processing differences—variations in how the brain receives and interprets information from the environment and body. Understanding whether your child experiences sensory processing difficulties begins with a comprehensive assessment, a process that can feel overwhelming for parents navigating it for the first time.
Sensory processing assessments provide clarity about why your child responds to the world in particular ways. These evaluations examine how your child perceives and reacts to sensory input across multiple systems, from touch and sound to movement and body awareness. With research indicating that between 5-10% of children without disabilities and 60-95% of children with autism spectrum disorder experience sensory processing differences, these assessments serve a significant portion of Australian families seeking answers and support.
For families across Brisbane, North Lakes, Sydney, Melbourne, and throughout Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania, accessing professional sensory processing assessments through qualified occupational therapists offers a pathway to understanding your child’s unique sensory needs and developing strategies to support their participation in everyday activities.
What Exactly Is a Sensory Processing Assessment?
A sensory processing assessment is a comprehensive evaluation conducted by an occupational therapist that examines how your child’s brain receives, organises, integrates, and responds to sensory information. Rather than a single test, the assessment combines standardised tools, caregiver questionnaires, and clinical observations to create a complete picture of your child’s sensory processing abilities.
The assessment evaluates eight distinct sensory systems: tactile (touch), auditory (sound), visual (sight), vestibular (balance and movement), proprioceptive (body awareness), olfactory (smell), gustatory (taste), and interoceptive (internal body sensations like hunger and temperature). By examining each system, occupational therapists identify patterns in how your child responds to sensory input and how these responses affect daily functioning.
Research published in Frontiers in Pediatrics describes sensory processing assessment as “a process that includes the use of standardised tests, administration of caregiver questionnaires, and clinical observations.” This multi-faceted approach ensures that the assessment captures your child’s sensory experiences across different environments—home, school, and community settings—rather than relying on a single snapshot of behaviour.
The assessment doesn’t simply identify whether sensory differences exist; it examines the functional impact on your child’s ability to participate in age-appropriate activities. This includes evaluating effects on social skills, motor development, academic learning, emotional regulation, self-confidence, and engagement in daily living activities such as dressing, eating, and sleeping.
How Do I Know If My Child Needs a Sensory Processing Assessment?
Parents often recognise sensory processing concerns through everyday observations of their child’s behaviour and responses. Whilst every child has preferences and dislikes, certain patterns may indicate that a professional assessment would be beneficial.
Consider whether your child exhibits extreme reactions to sensory stimuli—perhaps they become distressed by loud noises, bright lights, or particular textures that other children tolerate comfortably. Some children show unusual sensitivity or insensitivity to pain, appearing either overly reactive to minor bumps or seemingly unaware of significant injuries.
Clothing-related challenges frequently signal sensory difficulties. If your child consistently refuses certain fabrics, becomes distressed by tags or seams, or insists on wearing the same outfit regardless of weather or cleanliness, these behaviours may reflect tactile sensitivities rather than simple stubbornness.
Motor coordination provides another indicator. Children with sensory processing differences may appear clumsy, struggle with balance, have difficulty with activities requiring coordination, or show poor body awareness in space. They might bump into furniture, have trouble judging distances, or struggle with tasks like climbing stairs or riding a bicycle.
Behavioural responses to environments offer significant clues. Does your child experience meltdowns in busy shops or shopping centres? Do they withdraw in noisy classrooms or become overwhelmed during school assemblies? These reactions may indicate sensory overload rather than behavioural issues.
Conversely, some children display sensory-seeking behaviours—constantly seeking movement, crashing into furniture, spinning, jumping, or engaging in rough play far beyond what seems typical for their age. They might chew on clothing, touch everything they encounter, or struggle to remain seated during activities that require stillness.
Difficulties with daily self-care tasks can also indicate sensory processing challenges. If your child resists teeth brushing, hair washing, nail cutting, or tolerating different food textures, sensory sensitivities may underlie these struggles.
According to research from the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, functional impairments associated with sensory processing difficulties include “decreased social skills, decreased collaboration in daily practice, lack of adaptive responses, impaired self-confidence or self-esteem, diminished fine and gross motor skill development; delay in learning and language, and decreased executive and self-regulatory function.” When these impacts affect your child’s ability to participate in age-appropriate activities, a professional assessment provides valuable insight.
What Assessment Tools Will the Occupational Therapist Use?
Occupational therapists have access to multiple evidence-based assessment tools, each designed to evaluate different aspects of sensory processing. The selection depends on your child’s age, specific concerns, and the assessment’s purpose.
| Assessment Tool | Age Range | Format | Administration Time | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sensory Profile 2 | Birth to 14 years 11 months | Parent/teacher questionnaire | 20 minutes | Most comprehensive; captures behaviours in real-life contexts; standardised with 1,791 children |
| Sensory Processing Measure-2 | 4 months to 87 years | Home and school questionnaires | 15-20 minutes per form | Evaluates sensory processing, praxis, and social participation across environments |
| Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests | 4 to 8 years 11 months | Performance-based test battery | 2-3 hours | “Gold standard” for sensory discrimination; 17 subtests; requires specialised certification |
| Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration | 3 to 12 years | Performance-based with 20 tests | 2 hours | Based on Ayres theory; measures tactile and visual perception, motor planning |
| Short Sensory Profile | 3 to 15 years | Screening questionnaire | 10-15 minutes | Quick screening tool; demonstrates >95% discriminative validity |
The Sensory Profile 2 represents the most widely used questionnaire-based assessment. Parents, teachers, or other caregivers complete the questionnaire, which examines sensory processing patterns, behavioural responses, and self-regulation across multiple contexts. Different versions accommodate various age groups, from infants through adolescents, with additional school-specific versions to capture educational environment challenges.
The Sensory Processing Measure-2, updated in 2021, provides separate home and school forms to evaluate how sensory processing differs across environments. This tool particularly benefits children whose sensory responses vary significantly between settings, helping identify environmental triggers and supports.
For in-depth evaluation, the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests offer comprehensive performance-based assessment but require extensive training and certification. The 17 subtests evaluate tactile processing, vestibular and proprioceptive function, praxis (motor planning), bilateral integration, and visual perception. Due to the lengthy administration time and specialised requirements, occupational therapists typically reserve this assessment for complex cases requiring detailed analysis.
The newer Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration, released in 2023, provides a more accessible alternative for performance-based assessment. Designed as an open-access tool with more affordable training, it measures similar constructs whilst requiring less extensive certification.
Occupational therapists often combine multiple tools—perhaps using questionnaires like the Sensory Profile 2 alongside observational assessments and specific performance-based measures—to create a comprehensive understanding of your child’s sensory processing.
What Happens During the Assessment Process?
Understanding the assessment process helps reduce anxiety for both parents and children. Whilst specific procedures vary based on the tools used and your child’s needs, most sensory processing assessments follow a similar structure.
The process typically begins with an initial consultation, where the occupational therapist gathers detailed information about your child’s developmental history, current concerns, and daily routines. This conversation explores specific sensory sensitivities, your child’s responses to various environments, and how sensory difficulties impact functioning at home, school, and in the community. The therapist will ask about your child’s birth history, developmental milestones, medical background, and any previous evaluations or interventions.
Following the initial consultation, you’ll complete standardised questionnaires. These might include the Sensory Profile 2 or similar tools that ask specific questions about your child’s responses to sensory experiences. Teachers or other caregivers who regularly interact with your child may also complete questionnaires to provide insight into sensory responses across different settings.
The observation component involves the occupational therapist watching your child engage in various activities. Depending on the assessment format, this might occur in a clinic, your home, or your child’s school. The therapist observes how your child moves, plays, interacts with objects and people, and responds to different sensory inputs. They evaluate posture, balance, coordination, and motor planning whilst noting behaviours that suggest sensory processing differences.
For comprehensive evaluations, standardised testing provides objective measurement of specific sensory processing abilities. Performance-based assessments might include tasks that evaluate how your child discriminates between different textures, responds to movement activities, or plans and executes motor actions. These tests help quantify sensory processing abilities and compare your child’s performance to age-matched peers.
Environmental assessments examine how different settings affect your child’s sensory experiences. The occupational therapist may visit your home or school to identify environmental factors—lighting, noise levels, spatial organisation, sensory equipment availability—that either support or challenge your child’s sensory processing.
The entire assessment process typically spans several appointments. For NDIS participants and private clients in Australia, expect an initial appointment lasting 1-2 hours, parent intake sessions of approximately one hour, and additional time for standardised testing if required. Report preparation generally takes 2-4 weeks following assessment completion, followed by a feedback session where the occupational therapist explains results and recommendations.
Families across Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania increasingly have access to flexible assessment formats. Traditional in-clinic evaluations remain common, but home visits allow assessment in your child’s natural environment where sensory challenges most frequently occur. School-based assessments capture educational setting concerns, whilst telehealth options provide access to professional assessment for families in regional and remote areas or those with scheduling constraints.
What Will the Assessment Report Tell Me About My Child?
The comprehensive report you receive following a sensory processing assessment provides far more than a diagnosis or list of problems. It offers a detailed profile of your child’s sensory strengths and challenges, explaining how these factors affect daily functioning and participation.
The report typically identifies your child’s sensory processing patterns using research-based frameworks. Dunn’s model, commonly referenced in assessment reports, describes four primary patterns:
- Registration (also called Low Registration) describes children with high neurological thresholds who passively respond to sensory input. These children may miss sensory events that others notice—they might not respond to their name, appear unaware of pain or temperature changes, or seem oblivious to sounds that distract other children.
- Sensory Seeking characterises children with high neurological thresholds who actively pursue intense sensory experiences. These children constantly seek movement, crash into furniture, spin, jump, touch everything, or engage in rough play. They actively create sensory experiences to meet their nervous system’s needs.
- Sensitivity (or Sensor) applies to children with low neurological thresholds who passively experience sensory input. These children notice sensory stimuli easily—they become distracted by background noises, overwhelmed by visual clutter, or distressed by tags in clothing. They notice everything but don’t actively avoid it.
- Avoiding describes children with low neurological thresholds who actively attempt to control or limit sensory input. These children withdraw from noisy environments, refuse certain clothing, avoid messy play, or display anxiety in stimulating settings. They actively manage their environment to prevent sensory overload.
Understanding your child’s sensory pattern helps explain behaviours that previously seemed puzzling. A child who constantly moves isn’t necessarily “hyperactive” but may be seeking proprioceptive and vestibular input their nervous system needs. A child who refuses social gatherings isn’t necessarily antisocial but may be avoiding overwhelming sensory environments.
The report examines functional impacts across multiple life areas. This includes effects on social participation, academic performance, self-care abilities, play skills, and emotional regulation. Rather than simply listing sensory difficulties, the report connects these differences to real-world challenges your child experiences.
You’ll receive specific recommendations tailored to your child’s needs. These typically include therapy goals, environmental modifications for home and school, sensory strategies for daily routines, self-regulation techniques, and suggestions for assistive technology or adaptive equipment. For NDIS participants, recommendations link to plan goals and support needs, providing evidence for funding requests and plan reviews.
Many reports include a sensory diet—a customised schedule of activities designed to provide optimal sensory input throughout the day. This might include specific movement activities before school, fidget tools during seated work, or calming strategies for transitions and bedtime.
The report’s language aims to reframe behaviours previously interpreted as defiance or attention-seeking as neurological differences in how your child processes sensory information. This shift in understanding often reduces frustration for families and promotes more supportive responses to challenging behaviours.
How Does This Assessment Help My Child in Practical Terms?
The value of a sensory processing assessment extends far beyond understanding your child’s sensory profile. The insights gained translate into practical supports that improve daily functioning and quality of life.
Early identification enables intervention during periods of high brain plasticity when children respond most effectively to support. Research emphasises that early intervention increases chances of successful outcomes, supports school readiness, and prevents secondary problems such as social difficulties and low self-esteem.
For families navigating the National Disability Insurance Scheme, sensory assessments provide essential evidence for funding requests. The NDIS covers sensory processing assessments under capacity-building supports, and comprehensive reports justify therapy funding, assistive technology, and environmental modifications. Assessment findings help demonstrate how sensory processing differences create functional impairments that require support, strengthening your child’s NDIS plan and supporting funding requests for ongoing occupational therapy.
School-based supports become more accessible with professional assessment documentation. The report provides evidence for classroom accommodations—modified seating arrangements, access to movement breaks, sensory tools, adjusted lighting or noise levels, and alternative assessment methods. Teachers gain understanding of the neurological basis for behaviours they might otherwise interpret as defiance or inattention.
At home, the assessment translates into practical strategies that reduce daily conflicts. Understanding that your child’s refusal to wear certain clothing stems from tactile sensitivity rather than stubbornness transforms how you approach morning routines. Recognising that sensory seeking behaviours reflect neurological needs rather than deliberate disruption guides you toward providing appropriate sensory input through structured activities.
The assessment removes stigma and promotes understanding. When family members, teachers, and other caregivers comprehend that your child’s responses result from differences in sensory processing rather than behavioural issues, they respond with greater patience and implement appropriate supports. This understanding significantly affects your child’s self-esteem and social relationships.
Baseline measurements from the initial assessment allow tracking progress over time. Subsequent evaluations can measure improvements in sensory processing abilities, effectiveness of interventions, and changes in functional participation, informing adjustments to therapy approaches and environmental supports.
Accessing Support When You Need It
Parents across Australia increasingly have access to comprehensive sensory processing assessments through qualified occupational therapists. Whether you’re located in Brisbane, North Lakes, Sydney, Melbourne, or throughout the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, and regional areas of Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania, professional support is available.
Mobile occupational therapy services bring assessments directly to your home or community, eliminating travel barriers and enabling evaluation in your child’s natural environment where sensory challenges most frequently occur. For families in remote locations or those with scheduling constraints, telehealth options provide access to professional assessment and ongoing support.
Understanding your child’s sensory processing represents the first step toward supporting their participation in activities they find meaningful. Professional assessment provides the foundation for effective intervention, environmental modifications, and strategies that help your child navigate their sensory world more comfortably.
Have questions? Need help? Contact Astrad Occupational Therapy today.
How long does a sensory processing assessment take from start to finish?
The complete assessment process typically spans 3-6 weeks from initial contact to receiving the final report. The initial appointment and observation sessions usually require 1-2 hours of direct contact time, with parent intake and questionnaire completion adding another hour. Following data collection, report preparation generally takes 2-4 weeks, after which you’ll attend a feedback session lasting approximately one hour. The total clinical time varies based on assessment complexity, your child’s age and needs, and the specific tools used, but typically ranges from 5-20 hours including report writing and feedback.
Are sensory processing assessments covered by the NDIS?
Yes, the NDIS covers sensory processing assessments under capacity-building supports for eligible participants. These assessments help justify therapy funding, assistive technology, and environmental modifications in your child’s NDIS plan. The assessment report provides evidence for plan reviews and supports requests for ongoing occupational therapy services. Current NDIS hourly rates sit at $193.99 per hour for standard occupational therapy services. For private clients not funded through the NDIS, comprehensive sensory assessments typically cost between $1,150-$4,000 depending on complexity and clinical time required.
Can sensory processing assessments be conducted via telehealth?
Telehealth assessments have become increasingly available across Australia, particularly since 2020. Whilst some performance-based tests require in-person administration, many assessment components adapt effectively to online formats. Parent and teacher questionnaires, interviews, and discussions about sensory concerns transfer seamlessly to video consultations. Occupational therapists can observe your child during play and daily activities through video, and parents can implement specific assessment tasks with remote guidance. Telehealth assessments work particularly well for families in regional and remote areas where in-person services may be limited.
What’s the difference between a sensory screening and a comprehensive assessment?
Sensory screening tools, such as the Short Sensory Profile, provide quick identification of potential sensory processing concerns. These brief questionnaires, typically completed in 10-15 minutes, indicate whether further evaluation is warranted. Screening tools are not diagnostic—they simply flag areas of concern. A comprehensive sensory processing assessment involves multiple components: detailed parent interviews, standardised questionnaires, clinical observations, and often performance-based testing. Comprehensive assessments provide detailed sensory profiles, identify specific patterns and functional impacts, and generate recommendations for intervention.
At what age should my child have a sensory processing assessment?
Sensory processing assessments are available for children from infancy through adolescence, with specific tools designed for different age ranges. If you notice concerning sensory responses in your child at any age, professional assessment can be beneficial. Early assessment—during preschool and early primary years—provides opportunities for intervention when brain plasticity is highest and before sensory difficulties significantly impact school performance and social relationships. However, children of any age can benefit from assessment if sensory processing concerns are affecting daily functioning, participation in activities, or quality of life. The critical factor isn’t reaching a specific age but rather recognising when sensory differences impact your child’s ability to engage in age-appropriate activities.
