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Sensory Assessment

Sensory Processing Measure 2 (SPM-2): Understanding Your Sensory Struggles
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Sensory Struggles

Do you cringe at the sound of a vacuum cleaner or insist on wearing certain types of clothing?

 

Are you someone who seems overly sensitive to lights or textures, perhaps avoiding crowded places or reacting strongly to particular smells?

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Do ordinary sounds of daily life—the hum of a refrigerator, the rustle of leaves, or the ticking of a clock—become overwhelming, like a cacophony of noise assaulting your senses?

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Does the sensation of certain fabrics against your skin feeling like sandpaper, or the taste of certain foods triggering an almost unbearable response?

 

For some individuals, this is not just a fleeting discomfort, but a daily reality due to a condition known as Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). 

 

SPD is like having the volume turned up too high on the world. Imagine feeling every touch, smell, taste, sound, and sight intensely, without the ability to filter or modulate these sensations appropriately.

 

The brain may struggle to organize and interpret the incoming sensory signals, leading to challenges in responding to and interacting with the environment in a typical way.

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It's crucial to approach SPD with compassion and understanding. Imagine being in a constant state of sensory overload, where the world feels chaotic and unpredictable. People with SPD aren't being difficult or picky; they are navigating a world that bombards their senses in ways that can be challenging to articulate.

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By recognizing and acknowledging SPD, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment. It's not just about accommodating differences; it's about understanding and embracing the unique sensory experiences of individuals with SPD, fostering empathy, and providing the necessary tools and strategies to help them thrive in a world that can sometimes be overwhelming.

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(Please note that SPD can impact one's sex life. If this is happening for you, you can get relationship help at the Neurodiverse Couples Counseling Center. You can start at this link.)

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Sensory Assessment: The SPM-2


The Sensory Processing Measure 2, known as SPM-2, is a valuable tool we use to explore how your body processes sensory information from the environment. Think of your senses as the gateways to your emotions and behaviors.

 

The SPM-2 helps us unlock these mysteries, guiding you toward a more harmonious relationship with your surroundings.

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What Does SPM-2 Measure?


SPM-2 delves into the intricate world of your senses, examining how you respond to various stimuli like touch, sound, and movement.

 

More specifically, it provides a norm-referenced measure of function in the following sensory systems:

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  • Visual

    • The visual test items measure a range of visual processing challenges, including over- and under-reactivity to visual stimulation, excessive seeking of visual input, problems with perception, and ocular-motor difficulties thought to affect the integration of visual with vestibular and proprioceptive information.
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  • Auditory

    • The hearing test items measure a range of auditory processing challenges, such as over- and under-reactivity, auditory-seeking behavior, and perception problems.
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  • Tactile

    • The touch test items measure a range of tactile processing challenges, such as over- and under-reactivity to tactile stimulation, tactile-seeking behaviors, and perception.
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  • Olfactory & gustatory

    • The taste and smell test items measure a range of taste and smell processing challenges, such as over- and under-reactivity to smells or tastes, active seeking of taste or smell stimuli, and perception of taste or smell sensations.
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  • Proprioceptive (body awareness)

    • The body awareness test items measure body awareness, or proprioception, a client’s ability to sense precisely both the static position and dynamic changes in the position of limbs, fingers, and other body parts.
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  • Vestibular (balance and motion) 

    • The vestibular test items measure a client’s vestibular function, or their balance and equilibrium while sitting, standing still, or in motion. These items also measure over- or under-reactivity to sensations of moving through space.​

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It also measures:

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  • Praxis

    • "Praxis" is the ability to conceptualize, plan, and organize movements in order to complete unfamiliar motor tasks. Praxis is not a sensory system, but a higher level function that depends on the integration of multiple sensory systems.
       

  • Social participation

    • measure a person’s participation in social activities in the home, community, or school. The item content addresses general social participation, including items referring to specific aspects of verbal and nonverbal communication, conflict resolution, and flexibility in peer and social interaction.​

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This assessment helps us decipher the unique language your body speaks, allowing us to understand your sensory preferences and sensitivities. 

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How Can SPM-2 Be Helpful to You?


With this information, we can begin to work with you to build a personalized roadmap to navigate your sensory world. SPM-2 gives us the information and language to co-create strategies that suit your sensory needs. By recognizing your sensitivities and preferences, we can design environments and activities that bring you comfort and joy. 

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We believe that understanding your sensory processing is a transformative step toward a more fulfilling life. By embracing the insights provided by SPM-2, we can collaborate to enhance your well-being, nurture your relationships, and create environments where you thrive.

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Stand Alone or Part of an Assessment

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There are two ways for you to receive the SPM-2 assessment:

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  • As an add-on to an ASD or ADHD assessment provided by one of our clinicians, or
     

  • As a stand-alone assessment.

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Because the post-assessment therapy is essential to gaining the full value of the SPM-2, we do not offer the SPM-2 without an accompanying plan for on-going therapy.

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The cost for the assessment is $250 and the additional related therapy would be at the regular session rate for your therapist.

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NOTE:

Please note that Sensory Processing Disorder is not an official disorder in the DSM-5; however, it is very real for many of our clients.

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