Comparison of the sensory integrative function of South African infants to normative data on two standardised tests

Abstract

Background: The Infant Toddler Sensory Profile and the Test of Sensory Functions in Infants are two standardised tests that are widely used by South African therapists to assess sensory integrative function in infants. There is however no research available on the validation of these standardised tests on a South African population. This research determined whether the normative data established in the United States of America on the Infant Toddler Sensory Profile and the Test of Sensory Functions in Infants was valid for use with South African infants between the ages of 7 to 18 months.

Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional, descriptive, correlation study design was used to investigate the equivalence between the United States of America normative data, and a sample of typically developing South African infants.

Findings: Results indicated that the mean scores for the South African sample on five of the six processing sections of the Infant Toddler Sensory Profile and all quadrant scores, were in the lower range of the typical performance as per the United States of America normative data. On the oral processing section and sensation seeking quadrant, test results should be interpreted with caution due to the medium effect size indicating clinical differences to the reported norms. A higher percentage of South African infants presented with definite difference 'more than others' compared to the United States of America normative data. On the Test of Sensory Functions in Infants means for the frequency distribution for deficient, at risk and typical for all five sections and the total test scores for the South African sample were significantly different from the United States of America normative data and mean scores fell into the lower range or below the range for the typical performance reported in the test manual.

Conclusions and Recommendations: The Infant Toddler Sensory Profile can be used without substantial re-norming based on the findings related to this South African sample. Due to significant differences in the scores on the Test of Sensory Functions in Infants, the researcher questions the use of the test and recommends further research on South African infants.

Key words: Ayres Sensory Integration^®, Infant Toddler Sensory Profile, Test of Sensory Functions in Infants, Sensory Integrative Dysfunction, Sensory processing.