Understanding Sensory Differences:
The Role of the SPM-2

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What If the World Feels Too Loud, Too Bright, or Just Too Much?

Do you feel overwhelmed in crowds, flinch at sudden noises, or feel agitated by certain fabrics or smells?

Maybe the taste or texture of certain foods instantly triggers discomfort—or even a need to escape.

If any of this resonates, you may be navigating the world with sensory differences that go beyond simple preference. These sensitivities can impact how you work, connect, and move through your day.

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What Are Sensory Differences?

Some people refer to this as Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), but it’s important to know that SPD is not an official diagnosis in the DSM-5.

That said, sensory processing challenges are very real—and they’re a core part of the autism diagnosis criteria.
 

Instead of focusing on labels, we focus on understanding your unique sensory profile—how your brain interprets the input it receives from your senses—and how that affects your daily life.

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What Is the SPM-2?

The Sensory Processing Measure 2 (SPM-2) is a research-based tool that helps us explore and understand your sensory world. It highlights how you respond to things like sound, touch, motion, and social demands.
 

We use this assessment to identify:
 

• What overwhelms or soothes you

• Where your body is working overtime to process input

• How these patterns might be impacting your relationships, routines, or ability to focus and function

 

 

What Sensory Systems Does the SPM-2 Explore?

The SPM-2 covers seven sensory systems, plus two key areas of daily life:

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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?

 

We offer the SPM-2 as a clinical add-on to our diagnostic assessments for autism or ADHD—or as a stand-alone option for clients in therapy with us.

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Add On Assessment:​

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• Available as an add on to a diagnostic assessment of autism or ADHD. 

• One session to review

• $300

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Stand-Alone Use (For Therapy Clients Only):

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• May be used to guide treatment planning

• Requires ongoing therapy for follow-up

• Speak to your clinician about whether it’s right for you

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Notes:

1. 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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2. Please note that your sensory profile can impact your 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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