Initial Development of the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile

Abstract

We report on initial development of the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile; a parent questionnaire assessing a child's sensory processing abilities. Parents of 401 typically developing infants and toddlers completed the 81-item questionnaire. Findings suggest that 48 of 81 items best characterized sensory processing for children 7 to 36 months of age, whereas 36 items appeared relevant for children birth to 6 months of age. Principal component analysis for 7 to 36 month olds produced an 8-component structure accounting for 47% of score variance. Reliability analyses were consistent with clusters previously identified in Dunn's model of sensory processing for older children (Dunn, 1997a). Implications for future work include replication with a large national sample and with specific disability groups.