About SPD - Red Flags of SPD

Sensory Processing Disorder Checklist

Many of the symptoms listed below are common among children and adults with Sensory Processing Disorder. If more than a few of the symptoms listed below fit you or your child, go to Getting Started to take the next step toward evaluation.

Download this list as a PDF file

Infants and Toddlers

____My infant/toddler has problems eating.
____My infant/toddler refused to go to anyone but me.
____My infant/toddler has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
____My infant/toddler is extremely irritable when I dress him/her; seems to be uncomfortable in clothes.
____My infant/toddler rarely plays with toys, especially those requiring dexterity.
____My infant/toddler has difficulty shifting focus from one object/activity to another.
____My infant/toddler does not notice pain or is slow to respond when hurt.
____My infant/toddler resists cuddling, arches back away from the person holding him.
____My infant/toddler cannot calm self by sucking on a pacifier, looking at toys, or listening to my voice.
____My infant/toddler has a "floppy" body, bumps into things and has poor balance.
____My infant/toddler does little or no babbling, vocalizing.
____My infant/toddler is easily startled.
____My infant/toddler is extremely active and is constantly moving body/limbs or runs endlessly.
____My infant/toddler seems to be delayed in crawling, standing, walking or running.

Pre-schoolers

____My child has difficulty being toilet trained.
____My child is overly sensitive to stimulation, overreacts to or does not like touch, noise, smells, etc.
____My child is unaware of being touched/bumped unless done with extreme force/intensity.
____My child has difficulty learning and/or avoids performing fine motor tasks such as using crayons and fasteners on clothing.
____My child seems unsure how to move his/her body in space, is clumsy and awkward.
____My child has difficulty learning new motor tasks.
____My child is in constant motion.
____My child gets in everyone else's space and/or touches everything around him.
____My child has difficulty making friends (overly aggressive or passive/ withdrawn).
____My child is intense, demanding or hard to calm and has difficulty with transitions.
____My child has sudden mood changes and temper tantrums that are unexpected.
____My child seems weak, slumps when sitting/standing; prefers sedentary activities.
____It is hard to understand my child's speech.
____My child does not seem to understand verbal instructions.

Grade schoolers

____My child is overly sensitive to stimulation, overreacts to or does not like touch, noise, smells, etc.
____My child is easily distracted in the classroom, often out of his/her seat, fidgety.
____My child is easily overwhelmed at the playground, during recess and in class.
____My child is slow to perform tasks.
____My child has difficulty performing or avoids fine motor tasks such as handwriting.
____My child appears clumsy and stumbles often, slouches in chair.
____My child craves rough housing, tackling/wrestling games.
____My child is slow to learn new activities.
____My child is in constant motion.
____My child has difficulty learning new motor tasks and prefers sedentary activities.
____My child has difficulty making friends (overly aggressive or passive/ withdrawn).
____My child ïgets stuck' on tasks and has difficulty changing to another task.
____My child confuses similar sounding words, misinterprets questions or requests.
____My child has difficulty reading, especially aloud.
____My child stumbles over words; speech lacks fluency, and rhythm is hesitant.

Adolescents and adults

____I am over-sensitive to environmental stimulation: I do not like being touched.
____I avoid visually stimulating environments and/or I am sensitive to sounds.
____I often feel lethargic and slow in starting my day.
____I often begin new tasks simultaneously and leave many of them uncompleted.
____I use an inappropriate amount of force when handling objects.
____I often bump into things or develop bruises that I cannot recall.
____I have difficulty learning new motor tasks, or sequencing steps of a task.
____I need physical activities to help me maintain my focus throughout the day.
____I have difficulty staying focused at work and in meetings.
____I misinterpret questions and requests, requiring more clarification than usual.
____I have difficulty reading, especially aloud.
____My speech lacks fluency, I stumble over words.
____I must read material several times to absorb the content.
____I have trouble forming thoughts and ideas in oral presentations.

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