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Abstract
Occupational therapists often use the Infant Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP; CitationDunn, 2002) or the Sensory Processing Measure-Preschool (SPM-P;CitationEcker et al., 2010) to obtain data about children suspected of having sensory processing problems. Therefore, it is essential that such scales are valid and reliable. The aim of the study was to investigate the known-group validity of the SPM-P (Home and School Forms) and the ITSP when used with a group of Australian children ages 23 to 36 months. Using a convenience sampling approach, nine parents/primary caregivers of children presenting with additional needs and attending an early childhood intervention service (ECIS) and nine parents/primary givers of typically developing children were asked to complete a demographic questionnaire, the ITSP, and the SPM-P (Home Form). An ECIS staff member completed the SPM-P (School Form) on the children with additional needs and a childcare teacher completed the SPM-P (School Form) on the typically developing children. A t-test was used to determine whether a statistically significant difference existed between the children with additional needs attending an ECIS and typically developing children. For the ITSP, statistically significant differences were identified for two of five of its subscales: auditory processing and vestibular processing. Four of eight of the SPM-P Home Form subscales had statistically significant differences: touch, body awareness, balance and motion, and planning and ideas. On seven of eight of the SPM-P School Form subscales, statistically significant differences were identified: social participation, vision, hearing, touch, taste and smell, balance and motion, and planning and ideas. The study contributes to the body of knowledge regarding the known-group validity for the ITSP and the SPM-P. This study further demonstrates that the ITSP and the SPM-P can be used with an Australian context.