AOTA Sensory Processing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In Dunn's Model of Sensory Processing, which quadrant describes a child who actively seeks out intense sensory experiences to meet high neurological thresholds?
- Sensation Seeking (Correct answer)
- Low Registration
- Sensitivity to Stimuli
- Sensation Avoiding
Correct answer: Sensation Seeking
Sensation Seeking describes individuals with high neurological thresholds who actively seek additional sensory input to reach their threshold.
Question 2: Which sensory system provides information about body position, movement, and force through muscles, joints, and tendons?
- Vestibular
- Tactile
- Proprioceptive (Correct answer)
- Interoceptive
Correct answer: Proprioceptive
The proprioceptive system detects sensations from muscles, joints, and tendons to inform the brain about body position and movement.
Question 3: A therapist notices a child becomes dysregulated after 20 minutes in a noisy classroom but is calm in a quiet room. This pattern best illustrates which concept?
- Habituation failure
- Sensory modulation disorder (Correct answer)
- Dyspraxia
- Postural disorder
Correct answer: Sensory modulation disorder
Sensory modulation disorder involves difficulty regulating behavioral responses relative to sensory input, causing dysregulation in stimulating environments.
Question 4: According to Ayres Sensory Integration theory, the vestibular system's primary contribution to development includes which of the following?
- Fine motor coordination and grasp patterns
- Ocular motor control, postural tone, and bilateral coordination (Correct answer)
- Auditory discrimination and language processing
- Tactile discrimination and body scheme
Correct answer: Ocular motor control, postural tone, and bilateral coordination
Ayres emphasized the vestibular system's foundational role in ocular motor control, postural tone, and bilateral coordination of the body.
Question 5: The term 'adaptive response' in Sensory Integration theory refers to:
- A child's ability to avoid sensory triggers
- A successful, organized response to an environmental challenge (Correct answer)
- A therapist's modification of the treatment environment
- Compensatory strategies taught to parents
Correct answer: A successful, organized response to an environmental challenge
An adaptive response is a purposeful, goal-directed, successful response to a sensory-motor challenge that promotes neural organization.
Question 6: Which assessment tool is specifically designed to measure sensory processing patterns across eight sensory systems using caregiver report for children ages 3–82?
- Sensory Profile 2 (Correct answer)
- Sensory Processing Measure (SPM)
- DeGangi-Berk Test of Sensory Integration
- Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration (EASI)
Correct answer: Sensory Profile 2
The Sensory Profile 2 (Dunn) measures sensory processing patterns across eight systems via caregiver/self-report for a wide age range.
Question 7: A child who gags at the sight of certain foods, dislikes tags in clothing, and avoids standing in lines is most likely demonstrating:
- Vestibular hyposensitivity
- Tactile and gustatory hypersensitivity (Correct answer)
- Proprioceptive discrimination disorder
- Sensory-based motor disorder
Correct answer: Tactile and gustatory hypersensitivity
Gagging at food textures and avoiding light touch from tags and crowds reflects hypersensitivity in the tactile and gustatory systems.
AOTA Sensory Processing 2
In Dunn's Model of Sensory Processing, which quadrant describes a child who actively seeks out intense sensory experiences to meet high neurological thresholds?