Adolescent & Adult SPD Checklist

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 the "red flags" that may warrant attention; i.e., further observation, evaluation and/or treatment. It can also be used as part of the questionnaire and history gathering process during an evaluation by an OT qualified to diagnose and treat adults with Sensory Processing Disorder.

If you are concerned after going through the 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 issues. It is the clusters and intensity of symptoms that we are looking for here, as they apply to, and are based upon sensory stimuli.

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

Do You Have An Adult SPD Story To Share?

If you are dealing with Sensory Processing Disorder as an adult, then share your experience, ideas, struggles, questions and solutions you have discovered with the readers of Sensory-Processing-Disorder.com

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Can SPD be self treated by adults? 
Can SPD be self treated by adults?

Am I an adult with spd? 
In reading this I believe I have SPD. I see that it is best to get help early in life but I am 31 now and only have stumbled on this.

I was diagnosed ...

Cyclical Sensory problems 
Hi there,

I'm 39 and have been dealing with pretty extreme sensory processing problems for most of my life... in the two weeks before my period. The ...

Still trying to figure out what I'm doing 
I'm a college student from Utah and was diagnosed with SPD about four years ago. I've got a lot of stuff from this checklist, but my biggest problems are ...

Adult with SPD in AZ 
My name is Miranda and I am a 26 year old suffering from Sensory Processing Disorder. This disorder has nearly killed me, literally. Although it may not ...

Started reading this for my son and saw me! SENSORY MODULATION: pg 1 
SENSORY MODULATION:
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Low sexual drive 
I am newly curious about whether my extremely low sex drive could be related to a sensory integration issue. Any thoughts?

Adults with SPD 
My daughter was diagnosed at an early age with a cerebellum that is 1/4 smaller than it should be. She did a lot of therapy for fine and gross motor skills....

List Time Part 1 
I am pretty sure my husband and I both have SPD. We are over thirty and have been happily married eight years. I am not going to so much tell a story as ...

Not able to feed my body  
Many of us as an adult know what children have yet to figure out, how to work in the body we have.

When in school, I coped pretty well. I was a drifty ...

Trauma history 
Many to most of these are common among survivors of repeated childhood and later trauma.

30 YEAR OLD PICKY EATER 
I came across this site while trying to find help to an eating disorder. I found the children section on picky eating first and went on to discovering ...

My 'texture issues' have always been a little joke with my friends 
But Ive never thought about some of the weird habits/issues I have with some things until someone told me about synesthesia (which sounds interesting, but ...

All Alone 
I'm 59 years ago and up to about 15 minutes ago, have lived with my eating habits with the thought of being the only person to have such peculiar ways ...

Sensory Sensitivity 
I was misdiagnosed as having panic/anxiety disorder and defiant disorder. When really I have issues with touch, smell, taste, visual and auditory.

Touch:...

Sensitive to particular noises 
I am 44 and have often wondered what is wrong with me! Noises... especially smacking, gum popping absolutely drive me crazy. It is impossible go anywhere ...

Alone and Irritated Adult 
Good Evening,

I'm a 30 year old female and I was diagnosed with ADHD 3 years ago. However, ADHD doesn't explain my extremely sensitive hearing or sensitivity ...

Healthy adult with eye contact strain when listening in conversation 
This concerns an adult patient of mine. He has difficulty making eye contact comfortably when he is listening to anyone he is in conversation with. He ...

Adult sensory overload with clothing 
Wearing bras hurt. I've had breast reduction to help this, however this was only a temporary fix. Plus after the surgery I had to wear a bra 24/7. I'...

How Can Adults Get Help? 
Dearest people who invented and helped work on this great, great site. I have a son, six years old with SPD and he must have somehow inherited it from ...

Visual Processing Deficits In Adults 
Are any of them successfully employed and, if so, what do they do for a living?

I have visual processing issues. I am almost 50 years old and know ...

Sensory Audio... I Thought I Was Just Going Crazy 
I am 31yrs old, married for 11yrs and have 3 children. I was looking into SPD because of my middle child, of which fits much of what I have read, when ...

Wondering what adults do to deal with it in themselves? 
Hi, I am new to this site. I also experience SPD. I am 38 years old, and have had it my entire life. It was always in different degrees though, due to ...

Baggy Clothes Only 
I am just learning about SPD and wonder if my life-long discomfort with snug (or even semi-snug) clothing can be attributed to this. The feeling of pants ...

rachael nelson's story 
I am facing a nasty divorce all because of a unteachable family about SPD with ADHD after being married 16 years today. That family was never worth my ...

Is this me?  Not rated yet
I am in my 40's and I just today heard the expression "Sensory Issues" in reference to disliking the feel of something. I googled it, because I'd never ...

Am I just melodramatic??  Not rated yet
I was partially just wondering what I do with the results? Do you have a graph or something somewhere?

Sometimes I just feel like it's all in my head,...

Part of my story  Not rated yet
Amen to your story. Boy can I relate to being a rebellious person. I believe in living and let live. So why don't people mind their own business as I mind ...

Was looking up SPD for my son and found myself. pg 4 SOCIAL / EMOTIONAL and Internal Regulation:  Not rated yet
SOCIAL / EMOTIONAL:
1. "cries easily, over things others usually don't, very "emotional" and "sensitive." This bugs the crap out of me and embarrasses ...

Was looking up SPD and saw myself. pg 3 SENSORY-BASED MOTOR SKILLS:  Not rated yet
SENSORY-BASED MOTOR SKILLS:
1. "difficulty learning to ride a bike or other "moving" equipment." My son is 12 yo and has yet to learn how to ride a bike....

started reading this web site about my son and saw me. pg 2 SENSORY DISCRIMINATION:  Not rated yet
SENSORY DISCRIMINATION:
1. "bothered by hands or face being dirty." Who isn't? My son! Who "doesn't seem to notice if his hands or face are dirty."
2....

I am a 68 year old and just been shown this article from newspaper. Wow do I fit it to a T. Where can a get a sharing group to attend  Not rated yet
Ok I just was shown an article in newspaper. (Dear Abby) And boy can I relate. Am 68 yrs of age and Have had this problem many years never knowing what ...

This is not an adult disorder, it's a special ordering of senses.  Not rated yet
I have always been interested in hands and feet. I see the energy patterns in people's bodies, and can effect changes for their healing. I also can't ...

From existing in a box to living with the top down A balancing act  Not rated yet
My name is Jaclyn. I am a 29 year old single mother. I was born with sensory processing disorder. I am amazed their are other adults out there like me ...

Help! My clothes are killing me!  Not rated yet
Is there anyone out there who not only has issues with the materials in clothes - like tags, or anything made of something other than cotton - but also ...

I am adult with mild cp and functional with adl except for mild spd help  Not rated yet
As a child I did not realize until about 25 years old what affects SPD symptoms would have on my ability to drive and ride a bike.I have had constant job ...

List Time Part 2  Not rated yet
Part 2

I'm a little ambidextrous. Both my brother and I started out left-handed as babies and our father taught us firmly to be right-handed, which ...

Exciting to see all resources in one site  Not rated yet
I am excited to see all that is available for this. Growing up, I was very sensitive to certain items to the touch- i.e. styrofoam, chalk, eraser, flat ...

Trouble my whole life  Not rated yet
As a kid I would freak out if I saw a gum wrapper near me or any kind of small trash near me. I would throw a fit until someone got rid of it.

I hated ...

Is this me?  Not rated yet
My 7 yr old son was diagnosed with sensory integration issues when he was 5 years old. He had difficulty in school (with the lone exception of the special ...

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I am a new OT working with adults in day habilitation programs. I have a individual who appears to be "sensory" and I am beginning an intensive program ...

Adult with many SPD symptoms, sees sounds sometimes   Not rated yet
I work with children who have special needs, many of which have sensory issues and see bits of myself in many of my clients. My experiences give me a ...

SPD got worse for me in middle age  Not rated yet
I have SPD at 55, finally self-diagnosed after fifty years of problems. Intelligence and good grades have gotten me nowhere: I couldn't handle the smells,...

Adolescent/Adult SPD Checklist   Not rated yet
My husband and I suspect that we both struggle with SPD, at opposite ends of the "spectrum"! We've filled out the checklists for both of us; now...is ...

Hanging in there  Not rated yet
I have severe sensitivity to sounds, smells, and touches. I cut tags out of clothing, a sharpy marker is a good thing to have around, black and silver!...

Faulty processing system  Not rated yet
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Nicole F.   Not rated yet
Oh. My. Gosh.

My whole life, I have been such a picky eater, it's incredible. I always had such a hard time going to restaurants; I almost always ...

How to get diagnosed and helped  Not rated yet
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Environmental Health and Safety Specialist  Not rated yet
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Wow  Not rated yet
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I need direction for OT training in sensory processing for adults.   Not rated yet
I am an OTR/L who has only received sensory training from when I was in OT school and one seminar on sensory. I now work with adult men (ages 18-58 years ...

Adult Options for a "Sensory Diet"?  Not rated yet
I'm currently searching for a way to get help for SPD, as it would appear that I very likely have this disorder. That said, it could be a while before ...

Frustrated SPD Adult... Why not!!  Not rated yet
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Is This What I Have??  Not rated yet
I finally wrote about my problem on a parenting website and someone directed me here. I just thought it was normal the way I was feeling... like everyone ...

Finding An Adult OT For SPD Evaluation  Not rated yet
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I'm 46 Years Old Finally Starting Treatment. What Took So Long? And, Is My Reaction To Therapy "Normal"?  Not rated yet
The O.T. who I work with is the first to attempt helping me and even though I am an adult... she is a pediatric O.T.

She said I was born with SPD and ...

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