The Relationship Between Perinatal Risk Factors and Sensory Processing Difficulties in Preschool Children

This study examined the relationship between reported perinatal risk factors and sensory processing difficulties in young children. The biological mothers of 152 preschool-age children completed two measures: the Maternal Perinatal Scale (MPS), a maternal self-report that surveys complications of pregnancies and medical conditions of the mother, and the Short Sensory Profile (SSP), a measure designed to provide information about the child's ability to process sensory information and the sensory system's effect on functional performance. Using MPS factors as predictors, separate stepwise regression analyses for each SSP section showed early neonatal status, and prenatal and birth/delivery factors to hold the most significant implications for future sensory processing difficulties. Total number of perinatal risk factors was also found to significantly predict some SSP scores. Implications for intervention are discussed.