Pattern of sensory processing disorder in school-aged preterm children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

AIM: To evaluate sensory processing in school-aged children born preterm with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), focusing on sensory processing patterns and sensory and behavioral sections of the Sensory Profile-2 (SP-2).

METHODS

Forty-eight school-aged children born preterm were enrolled. The mean age was 7.9 years, and 62.5% were boys. Participants were divided into an ADHD group (n = 38) and a non-ADHD group (n = 10) and were assessed using the SP-2.

RESULTS

Thirty-two participants (66.7%) showed overall sensory scores outside the typical range, of whom 28 (87.5%) had ADHD. Non-parametric analyses revealed significantly higher scores in the Sensitivity quadrant, the Auditory section, and the Conduct and Attention behavioral sections among children with ADHD.

CONCLUSION

Children without ADHD showed fewer sensory processing difficulties than those with ADHD, suggesting that ADHD may be associated with more pronounced sensory processing difficulties among children born preterm.