SENSORY PROFILE

Winnie Dunn, Ph. D, OTR, FAOTA

Interpretation Guide
Dunn's SENSORY PROFILE is a judgmental questionnaire based on caregiver judgment that provides a standard method for
professionals to measure sensory processing skills and determine the effect of sensory processing on a child's daily functional
performance. Each item describes the child's responses to various sensory experiences. The caregiver who has daily contact with
the child completes the questionnaire by reporting the frequency in which such behaviors occur (Always, Frequently, Sometimes,
Almost Never or Never).

Age of Application: The profile is most appropriate for children between 5 and 10 years of age. However, it can be applied in
children 3 and 4 years of age but its correction is performed with different scales.

THRESHOLD PATTERNS FOR INTERPRETATION

> Blank space indicates that this item does not contribute to the input information.
> L (low) indicates that this item contributes to low input information (indicates sensitivity performance patterns).
sensory or sensation avoidance).
> H (high) indicates that this item contributes to high input information (indicates poor recording or sensory seeking
performance patterns).

CUT-OFF SCORES AND GRADING SYSTEM

After you have been sure that each item has an answer, rate each answer according to the following: Always = 1 point
Frequently = 2 points
Sometimes = 3 points
Almost never = 4 points
Never = 5 points

If the caregiver places a mark between two categories, record the most frequent score:
Between Never and Almost Never, register Almost Never (4 points)
Between Almost Never and Sometimes, enter Sometimes (3 points)
Between Sometimes and Often, record Frequently (2 points)
Between Often and Always, record Always (1 point)

Note: Frequent behaviors receive lower scores; therefore, children have lower scores for undesirable performance and higher scores
for desirable performance. Also remember that the items are written so that the highest frequency behavior is undesirable. To
determine the total section raw score, add the item scores for each section. Write this score in the box labeled Total Gross Section
Rating.

The cut-off scores were determined for each section and factor as follows:

> Typical Performance is the score at or above the 1 SD point below the mean. Section and factor raw score totals falling within
this grade indicate typical sensory processing skills.

> Difference Probable is the score at or above the point 2

SD below the mean, but lower than 1 SD below the
mean. Section and factor raw score totals that fall
within this grade indicate questionable areas of
sensory processing skills.

> Defined Difference is the score below the point 2 SD

below the mean. Section and factor raw score totals
falling within this grade indicate sensory processing
problems.
 Rating Sheet
FACTOR 1
FACTOR 2 Emotionally FACTOR 3 Low
Sensory Search
Reactive Resistance / Tone
Item Item Item
Gross Score Gross Score Gross Score
8 92 66
24 100 67
25 101 68
26 102 69
44 103 70
45 104 71
46 105 72
51 106 73
80 107 74
81 108 Total Gross Score Factor:
82 109
83 110
84 111
89 112
90 121
94 122
123 Total Gross Score Factor:
Total Gross Score Factor:

FACTOR 6
FACTOR 4 Oral Sensory FACTOR 5 Inattention / Poor Record
Sensitivity Distraction
Item Item Item
Gross Score Gross Score Gross Score
55 3 35
56 4 42
57 5 43
58 6 95
59 7 99
60 48 115
61 49 116
62 Total Gross Score Factor: 125
63 Total Gross Score Factor:
Total Gross Score Factor:

FACTOR 7 FACTOR 8 Sedentary

Sensory Sensitivity FACTOR 9 Fine Motor
Perception
Item Item Item
Gross Score Gross Score Gross Score
18 85 13
19 86 118
77 87 119
78 88 Total Gross Score Factor:
Total Gross Score Factor: Total Gross Score Factor:
 FOR CHILDREN FROM
3 YEARS OLD
SUMMARY OF FACTORS
Instructions: Transfer the child's score for each factor to the column marked with total raw factor score. Then mark these totals with an X in the
appropriate rating column (typical performance, probable difference, definite difference)*.

FACTORS DESEMPEÑO TÍPICO LIKELY DIFFERENCE DEFINITE DIFFERENCE

TOTAL RAW FACTOR
SCORE
1. Sensory Search /85 85- - -59 58- - -50 49- - -17
2. Emotionally Reactive /80 80- - -58 57- - -52 51- - -16
3. Low Resistance / Tone /45 45- - -40 39- - -38 37- - -9
4. Oral Sensory Sensitivity /45 45- - -32 31- - -27 26- - -9
5. Inattention / Distraction /35 35- - -26 25- - -23 22- - -7
6. Poor Record /40 40- - -33 32- - -29 28- - -8
7. Sensory Sensitivity /20 20- - -16 15---13 12---4
8. Sedentary /20 20- - -12 11---10 9- - -4
9. Fine Motor Perception * * * *
Total: /370 370---276 268---242 234---74

SECTION SUMMARY
Instructions: Transfer the child's score for each section to the total raw section score column. Then mark these totals with an X in the appropriate rating
column (typical performance, probable difference, definite difference)*.

DESEMPEÑO TÍPICO LIKELY DIFFERENCE DEFINITE

TOTAL RAW SECTION
DIFFERENCE
SCORE
SENSORY PROCESSING
A. AUDITORY PROCESSING /40 40- - -30 29- - -27 26- - -8
B. VISUAL PROCESSING /45 45- - -30 29- - -25 24- - -9
C. VESTIBULAR PROCESSING /55 55- - -46 45- - -42 41- - -11
D. TOUCH PROCESSING /90 90- - -70 69- - -62 61- - -18
E. MULTISENSORY PROCESSING /35 35- - -26 25- - -23 22- - -7
F. ORAL SENSORY PROCESSING /60 60- - -45 44- - -39 38- - -12
Total: /325 325- - -247 241- - -218 212- - -65
MODULATION
G. SENSORY PROCESSING RELATED TO STAMINA, /45 45- - -40 39- - -38 37- - -9
TONE
H. MODULATION RELATED TO BODY POSITION /50 50- - -39 38- - -35 34- - -10
AND MOVEMENT
I. MOTION MODULATION AFFECTING ACTIVITY /35 35- - -22 21- - -19 18- - -7
LEVEL
J. MODULATION OF SENSORY INFORMATION THAT /20 20- - -16 15---14 13- - -4
AFFECTS EMOTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
K. MODULATION OF VISUAL INFORMATION THAT /20 20- - -13 12---11 10- - -4
AFFECTS EMOTIONAL REACTIONS AND ACTIVITY
LEVEL
Total: /170 170- - -130 125- - -117 112- - -34
EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL REACTIONS
L. ORAL SENSORY PROCESSING /85 85- - -64 63- - -58 57- - -17
/30 30- - -20 19---17 16----6
M. RESULTS OF SENSORY PROCESSING BEHAVIOR
/15 15---11 10- - -9 8- - -3
N. ITEMS INDICATING THE BASIS FOR RESPONSES
Total: /130 130- - -95 92- - -84 81- - -26
Grand Total: /625 625----472 458----419 405----125

Qualitative Analysis of Results

 FOR CHILDREN FROM
4 YEARS OLD
SUMMARY OF FACTORS
Instructions: Transfer the child's score for each factor to the column marked with total raw factor score. Then mark these totals with an X in the
appropriate rating column (typical performance, probable difference, definite difference)*.

FACTORS DESEMPEÑO TÍPICO LIKELY DIFFERENCE DEFINITE DIFFERENCE

TOTAL RAW FACTOR
SCORE
1. Sensory Search /85 85- - -62 61- - -53 52- - -17
2. Emotionally Reactive /80 80- - -58 57- - -51 50- - -16
3. Low Resistance / Tone /45 45- - -39 38- - -35 34- - -9
4. Oral Sensory Sensitivity /45 45- - -32 31- - -26 25- - -9
5. Inattention / Distraction /35 35- - -26 25- - -24 23- - -7
6. Poor Record /40 40- - -34 33- - -30 29- - -8
7. Sensory Sensitivity /20 20- - -16 15-- -13 12-- -4
8. Sedentary /20 20- - -12 11-- -9 8- - -4
9. Motor Perception Fina * * * *
Total: /370 370---279 271---241 233---74

SECTION SUMMARY
Instructions: Transfer the child's score for each section to the total raw section score column. Then mark these totals with an X in the appropriate rating
column (typical performance, probable difference, definite difference)*.

DESEMPEÑO TÍPICO LIKELY DIFFERENCE DEFINITE

TOTAL RAW
DIFFERENCE
SECTION SCORE
SENSORY PROCESSING
A. AUDITORY PROCESSING /40 40- - -30 29- - -27 26- - -8
B. VISUAL PROCESSING /45 45- - -32 31- - -28 27- - -9
C. VESTIBULAR PROCESSING /55 55- - -47 46- - -43 42- - -11
D. TOUCH PROCESSING /90 90- - -73 72- - -67 66- - -18
E. MULTISENSORY PROCESSING /35 35- - -27 26- - -24 23- - -7
F. ORAL SENSORY PROCESSING /60 60- - -44 43- - -37 36- - -12
Total: /325 325- - -253 247- - -226 220- - -65
MODULATION
G. SENSORY PROCESSING RELATED TO STAMINA, /45 45- - -39 38- - -35 34- - -9
TONE
H. MODULATION RELATED TO BODY POSITION AND /50 50- - -39 38- - -35 34- - -10
MOVEMENT
I. MOTION MODULATION AFFECTING ACTIVITY /35 35- - -23 22- - -20 19- - -7
LEVEL
J. MODULATION OF SENSORY INFORMATION THAT /20 20- - -16 15- - -14 13- - -4
AFFECTS EMOTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
K. MODULATION OF VISUAL INFORMATION THAT /20 20- - -15 14- - -13 12- - -4
AFFECTS EMOTIONAL REACTIONS AND ACTIVITY
LEVEL
Total: /170 170- - -132 127---117 112- - -34
EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL REACTIONS
L. ORAL SENSORY PROCESSING /85 85- - -64 63- - -57 56- - -17
/30 30- - -21 20- - -19 18----6
M. RESULTS OF SENSORY PROCESSING BEHAVIOR
/15 15- - -11* 10* 9- - -3*
N. ITEMS INDICATING THE BASIS FOR RESPONSES
Total: /130 130- - -96 93- - -86 83- - -26
Grand Total: /625 625----481 467----429 415----125

Qualitative Analysis of Results

 FOR CHILDREN FROM 5 TO
10 YEARS OLD
SUMMARY OF FACTORS
Instructions: Transfer the child's score for each factor to the column marked with total raw factor score. Then mark these totals with an X in the
appropriate rating column (typical performance, probable difference, definite difference)*.

FACTORS DESEMPEÑO TÍPICO LIKELY DIFFERENCE DEFINITE

TOTAL RAW
DIFFERENCE
FACTOR SCORE
1. Sensory Search /85 85- - -63 62- - -55 54- - -17
2. Emotionally Reactive /80 80- - -57 56- - -48 47- - -16
3. Low Resistance / Tone /45 45- - -39 38- - -36 35- - -9
4. Oral Sensory Sensitivity /45 45- - -33 32- - -27 26- - -9
5. Inattention / Distraction /35 35- - -25 24- - -22 21- - -7
6. Poor Record /40 40- - -33 32- - -30 29- - -8
7. Sensory Sensitivity /20 20- - -16 15---14 13---4
8. Sedentary /20 20- - -12 11---10 9- - -4
9. Motor Perception Fina /15 15---10 9- - -8 7- - -3
Total: /385 385---288 279---250 241---774

SECTION SUMMARY
Instructions: Transfer the child's score for each section to the total raw section score column. Then mark these totals with an X in the appropriate rating
column (typical performance, probable difference, definite difference)*.

DESEMPEÑO TÍPICO LIKELY DEFINITE

TOTAL RAW DIFFERENCE DIFFERENCE
SECTION SCORE

SENSORY PROCESSING
A. AUDITORY PROCESSING /40 40- - -30 29- - -26 25- - -8
B. VISUAL PROCESSING /45 45- - -32 31- - -27 26- - -9
C. VESTIBULAR PROCESSING /55 55- - -48 47- - -45 44- - -11
D. TOUCH PROCESSING /90 90- - -73 72- - -65 64- - -18
E. MULTISENSORY PROCESSING /35 35- - -27 26- - -24 23- - -7
F. ORAL SENSORY PROCESSING /60 60- - -46 45- - -40 39- - -12
Total: /325 325- - -256 250- - -227 221- - -65
MODULATION
/45 45- - -39 38- - -36 35- - -9
G. SENSORY PROCESSING RELATED TO STAMINA, TONE
/50 50- - -41 40- - -36 35- - -10
H. MODULATION RELATED TO BODY POSITION AND MOVEMENT
/35 35- - -23 22- - -19 18-- -7
I. MOTION MODULATION AFFECTING ACTIVITY LEVEL
J. MODULATION OF SENSORY INFORMATION AFFECTING /20 20- - -16 15-- -14 13-- -4
EMOTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
K. MODULATION OF VISUAL INFORMATION THAT AFFECTS /20 20- - -15 14-- -12 11-- -4
EMOTIONAL REACTIONS AND ACTIVITY LEVEL
Total: /170 170- - -134 129---117 112- - -34
EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL REACTIONS
L. ORAL SENSORY PROCESSING /85 85- - -63 62- - -55 54- - -17
/30 30- - -22 21- - -19 18----6
M. RESULTS OF SENSORY PROCESSING BEHAVIOR
N. ITEMS INDICATING THE BASIS FOR RESPONSES /15 15---12 11-- -10 9- - -3
Total: /130 130- - -97 94- - -84 81- - -26
Grand Total: /625 625----487 473----428 414----125

Qualitative Analysis of Results