Prevalence and patterns of sensory processing behaviors in a large clinical sample of children with prenatal alcohol exposure.

Background: Atypical behavioral responses to sensation are reported in a large proportion of children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). Systematic examination of symptoms across the fetal alcohol spectrum in a large clinical sample is needed to inform diagnosis and intervention.

Aims: To describe the prevalence and patterns of atypical sensory processing symptoms in a clinical sample of children with PAE.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of diagnostic clinical data from the University of Washington Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Diagnostic and Prevention Network (FASDPN). Participants were ages 3 through 11 years, had a diagnosis on the fetal alcohol spectrum, and Short Sensory Profile (SSP) assessment. The proportions of children categorized with definite differences on the SSP across selected clinical and demographic features were examined with chi-square analyses.

Outcomes: The sample consisted of 325 children; 73.2 % had SSP total scores in the definite difference range. Atypical sensory processing symptoms were significantly more prevalent among children with higher reported levels of PAE. The prevalence of atypical symptoms was comparably high across age, levels of diagnostic severity, and other prenatal/postnatal risks.

Conclusions: Results lend support for altered sensory processing as another domain of brain function affected by the teratogenic impact of PAE, guiding clinical work and research.