How is SPD identified?
Clinical assessments, parent surveys, and clinical protocols exist to identify children with SPD. Identification of SPD usually begins with a screening, which is basically a professional search for red flags that indicate enough differences in development to warrant more thorough assessment. Screenings can take place at school, in home, and/or an outpatient clinic and most often are conducted by an occupational therapist. A developmental history is often requested to supplement the observations of the evaluator. If sufficient differences exist, an evaluation will follow. This will involve standardized testing, detailed clinical observations to assess movement and reactions to stimulation, and parent report measures.
