The info on this page is directly copied from the site listed above. I wanted to have this info on my own page as well as the link, so I have reproduced it here because I like the way they have presented it. The highlighted items on the list are those I identify in myself.
Please use this adult SPD checklist as a guide only. This is NOT meant to officially diagnose Sensory Processing Disorder.
It should be used ONLY to indicate "red flags" that may warrant attention; i.e., further observation, evaluation and/or treatment. If you are concerned after going through this checklist that you or your teenager's life may be significantly impacted by sensory processing issues, please contact a local Occupational Therapist. For hints, tips and tricks on how to find one, read Finding an OT. Again, disorder means that it is SIGNIFICANTLY interfering with ones ability to perform daily activities (work, rest, or "play"/leisure)
An open mind may help you see that what appeared to be a "mental health", "behavioral", or "compulsive" behavior or issue may actually be based on inefficient sensory processing. As with any "problem", it will not get better until you know the cause! Treat it for what it actually is... no more "band-aids".ALL of you will check off several of the items on this checklist, as many of them indicate normal sensory preferences or difficulties. That does NOT mean you have SPD. Look at HOW MANY you have checked off, the AMOUNT OF HIGH NUMBERS you indicated, WHICH SENSORY SYSTEMS are targeted, and HOW MUCH they impact your everyday FUNCTIONING.
Also, keep in mind, many of these symptoms can be indications of other disorders and mental health
Again, if you feel these sensory processing issues are significantly impacting your life (pay attention to FREQUENCY, TIMING, AND DURATION), I urge you to seek a knowledgeable professional for help. AND, if you are really bothered by sensory issues, you may also want to think back to childhood, or earlier years, and fill out the Sensory Processing Disorder Checklist For Kids.
Keep in mind, the more information you can give the evaluator, the more accurate your diagnosis and treatment will be. If concerned, keep journals and bring that, and these checklists to your Doctor, Psychologist, or Occupational Therapist who is familiar with SPD to decide if an evaluation and further treatment is indicated.
Check off the following "behaviors" and sensory preferences if they are a part of YOUR life, and rate how often each applies to you, on a scale of 0-5 ("0" being NEVER, "5" being ALWAYS).
ADOLESCENT / ADULT SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER CHECKLIST
SENSORY MODULATION:__ __ bothered by clothes; certain materials, tags, seams, pantyhose, ties, belts, turtlenecks, have to wear shorts, skirts, or pants exclusively, etc.
__ __ bothered by "light touch"; someone lightly touching/rubbing your hand, face, leg or back
__ __ excessively ticklish
__ __ distressed by others touching you; would rather be the "toucher" than the "touchee", difficulty "snuggling" with your partner
__ __ have to fidget and "fiddle" with things all the time; change in your pocket, your keys, a pen/pencil, paper clip, rubber band, ANYTHING within reach
__ __ often touching and twisting your own hair
__ __ very sensitive to pain, especially as compared to others
__ __ don't seem to notice pain; get shots/cuts/bruises and hardly feel a thing
__ __ dislike the feeling of showers or getting splashed
__ __ difficulty going to the beach; the sand blowing on your skin or getting on your body
__ __ avoid touching anything "messy"; if you do, you have to go wash your hands right away and/or only touch it with your fingertips
__ __ can not wear new or "stiff" clothes that have not been washed or soaked in fabric softener
__ __ hate to be barefoot or hate to wear shoes and/or socks
__ __ frequently get car sick, air sick, motion sick
__ __ a thrill seeker; loves fast and/or dangerous rides, leisure activities, and sports
__ __ difficulty riding on elevators, escalators, or moving sidewalks
__ __ avoid amusement park rides that spin or go upside down
__ __ seek out fast, spinning, and/or upside down carnival rides
__ __ will often rock or sway body back and forth while seated or standing still
__ __ frequently tips chair on back two legs
__ __ restless when sitting through a lecture, presentation, or movie
__ __ constantly chews on ends of pens and pencils
__ __ smokes cigarettes
__ __ difficulty eating foods with mixed textures, or one particular texture
__ __ prefer foods with very strong tastes and flavors
__ __ prefer very bland foods, dislike anything spicy
__ __ has a diagnosed eating disorder or has major eating "sensitivities"
__ __ constantly biting nails or fingers
__ __ bites lips or inside of cheeks
__ __ frequently shake your leg while sitting or falling asleep
__ __ love to sleep with multiple or heavy blankets on top of you
__ __ seek out crashing and "squishing" activities
__ __ cracks knuckles often
__ __ loves crunchy foods (popcorn, carrots, chips, nuts, pretzels, etc.)
__ __ frequently have gum or hard candy in your mouth
__ __ has an "endless" supply of air fresheners, scented candles, odor masking sprays, etc.
__ __ becomes nauseated or gags from certain cooking, cleaning, perfume, public restroom, or bodily odors
__ __ identifies objects by smell, have to smell everything, judge whether you like something or someone by smell
__ __ becomes overstimulated / overaroused when people come to the house or in crowded places
__ __ very high or very low energy level
__ __ avoids crowds and plans errands at times when there will be fewer people
__ __ overly exited/aroused in group settings
__ __ hides or disappears when guests come over
__ __ substance abuse
__ __ drinks excessive amounts of coffee or caffeinated beverages
__ __ notice and bothered by noises other people do not seem bothered by... clocks, refrigerators, fans, people talking, outdoor construction, etc.
__ __ sensitive to loud sounds or commotion
__ __ easily distracted by auditory or visual stimuli
__ __ can not attend certain public events or places due to excessive noise
SENSORY DISCRIMINATION:
__ __ can't identify objects by feel if your eyes are closed
__ __ difficulty finding things in your purse or pocket without looking
__ __ don't seem to notice if your hands or face are dirty
__ __ bothered by hands or face being dirty
__ __ loves to touch and be touched, has to touch everything
__ __ have a hard time feeling where a bug has bitten you or whether you are being bitten
__ __ difficulty heating food to the correct temperature, feeling if it is too hot or too cold
__ __ difficulty locating items in a cupboard, drawer, in your closet, or on a grocery shelf
__ __ difficulty with recognizing/interpreting/following traffic signs
__ __ difficulty judging distances about where your car is in relation to other cars, in parking spaces, or near a curb (fail miserably at parallel parking!!)
__ __ difficulty merging into oncoming traffic on road, rotary, or highway
__ __ get disoriented and/or lost easily in stores, buildings, hiking, etc.
__ __ can't sleep if room isn't completely dark
__ __ fearful of heights
__ __ difficulty concentrating on or watching a movie/tv show when there is background noise or distractions
__ __ difficulty remembering or understanding what is said to you
__ __ difficulty following directions if given two or three at one time
__ __ can not complete concentrated tasks if noises present
__ __ sensitive, or over reacts, to sirens, dogs barking, vaccuum cleaners, blenders, or other sudden/loud sounds
__ __ talks too loud or too soft
__ __ lethargic, hard to get going, appears "lazy" and unmotivated
__ __ become engrossed in one single activity for a long time and seems to tune out the rest of their environment
__ __ spend hours at a time on fantasy or video games and activities
__ __ great difficulty settling body down for sleep or waking up in the morning (did you even hear the alarm that has been going off for 15 minutes?)
__ __ has difficulty licking an ice cream cone neatly
__ __ difficulty with speech and annunciation
__ __ bumps into things frequently
__ __ often pushes too hard on objects, accidentally breaking them
__ __ difficulty judging how much pressure to apply when doing tasks or picking something up
__ __ difficulty identifying which key on your ring belongs to what
__ __ numbers and letters often reversed or backwards
__ __ difficulty telling time on an analogue clock
__ __ difficulty reading and understanding a map, bus schedule, directions
__ __ difficulty organizing and grouping things by categories, similarities, and/or differences
__ __ can't seem to find words in word search puzzles
__ __ unable to identify foods that have gone bad by smell
__ __ difficulty being able to smell dangerous smells, i.e., smoke, noxious/hazardous solvents
__ __ difficulty being able to smell when something is burning on the stove or in the oven
__ __ difficulty distinguishing different tastes and/or flavors of food and/or drink items
SENSORY-BASED MOTOR SKILLS:
__ __ difficulty learning to ride a bike or other "moving" equipment
__ __ clumsy, uncoordinated, and accident prone
__ __ difficulty walking on uneven surfaces
__ __ difficulty with fine motor tasks such as buttoning, zipping, tying, knitting, sewing, playing games with small parts, closing zip loc bags
__ __ confuses right and left sides
__ __ prefers sedentary tasks, avoiding sports or physical activities
__ __ difficulty with handwriting; hard to read, takes a long time to write
__ __ frequently bumps into people and things
__ __ easily fatigued with physical tasks
__ __ frequently misses when putting objects on a table
__ __ messy eater, difficulty with eating utensils, spills and drops food
__ __ knocks drinks or other things over when reaching for them
__ __ frequently drops items
__ __ has to talk self through tasks
__ __ hums or vocalizes while concentrating on a task
__ __ significant difficulty learning to tie a tie
__ __ difficulty with motor tasks requiring several steps
__ __ difficulty lining up numbers correctly for math problems and/or balancing a checkbook
__ __ difficulty learning new motor tasks...a new dance, sport or exercise activity, how to drive
__ __ lose balance frequently
__ __ significant difficulty learning to type the "proper" way
SOCIAL / EMOTIONAL:
__ __ dislikes changes in plans or routines, needs structure
__ __ may be described as "stubborn", "defiant", or "uncooperative"
__ __ cries easily, over things others usually don't, very "emotional" and "sensitive"
__ __ can't seem to finish anything
__ __ difficulty making decisions
__ __ rigid and controlling
__ __ prefers solitary activities, avoids groups
__ __ impatient and/or impulsive
__ __ difficulty with social cues and non verbal language
__ __ difficulty with authority figures
__ __ trouble relating to and socializing with peers and colleagues
__ __ a "sore loser"
__ __ strong feelings of anger or rage
__ __ easily frustrated
__ __ needs sameness and routines; needs to know what to expect
__ __ have panic or anxiety attacks
__ __ plagued by fears and/or phobias
__ __ OCD-type qualities; can't let foods touch each other on your plate, have to wear clothes a certain way, will only do ____, repetitively does ____, can not do _____ without doing _____, has to have ____ like ____
__ __ distractible and unorganized
__ __ hates surprises
__ __ difficulty seeking out and maintaining relationships
__ __ avoids eye contact
Internal Regulation:
__ __ difficulty falling asleep or getting on a sleep schedule
__ __ heart rate speeds up, and won't slow down when at rest, or won't speed up for tasks that require a higher heart rate
__ __ respiration too fast or slow for the appropriate state of arousal
__ __ over or under sensitivity to bowel and bladder sensations
__ __ over or under sensitivity to the sensation of hunger/appetite
__ __ irregular, inconsistent bowel, bladder and appetite sensations
__ __ difficulty with temperature regulation of body
Copyright © www.sensory-processing-disorder.com
