Sensory Processing Patterns in Preterm Toddlers

Year 2025, Issue: 26, 525 - 533, 31.08.2025

Ayşe Yıldız , Zehra Ebrar Bakırcı , Ramazan Yıldız

https://doi.org/10.38079/igusabder.1628977

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the sensory processing patterns of preterm toddlers aged 12 to 24 months and compare them with term peers. Sensory processing difficulties in this population may contribute to developmental delays and behavioral challenges later in life; thus, early identification is critical.
Method: A total of 49 preterm toddlers born before 37 weeks of gestation and 45 healthy term toddlers were included in the study. Sensory processing skills were evaluated using the Toddler Sensory Profile-2, a caregiver-reported assessment tool that examines responses to sensory input across multiple domains, including auditory, visual, tactile, vestibular, and oral. The sensory quadrants of low registration, sensory sensitivity, sensory avoidance, and sensory seeking were also analyzed.
Results: Atypical sensory processing patterns were seen more frequently in preterm toddlers than in their peers (p<0.05). Atypical sensory processing patterns in the low registration, sensory sensitivity, sensory avoidance, and sensory seeking sensory quadrants were statistically higher in preterm toddlers (p<0.05). In addition, atypical sensory processing patterns were statistically more common in preterm toddlers in all sensory processing areas, such as auditory, visual, tactile, verbal, behavioral, and movement (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The study highlights that preterm toddlers process sensory stimuli atypically compared to their counterparts. These differences may hinder the child's ability to adapt to their environment and affect their participation in daily activities.

Keywords

Premature birth , sensory processing , child

Yürümeye Yeni Başlayan Preterm Çocuklarda Duyusal İşlemleme Paternleri

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, 12 ila 24 aylık preterm bebeklerin duyusal işleme modellerini araştırmak ve term akranlarıyla karşılaştırmaktır. Bu popülasyondaki duyusal işleme problemleri, yaşamın ilerleyen dönemlerinde gelişimsel gecikmelere ve davranışsal zorluklara katkıda bulunabilir; bu nedenle erken teşhis kritik öneme sahiptir.
Yöntem: Çalışmaya 37 haftadan önce doğan toplam 49 preterm bebek ve 45 sağlıklı term bebek dahil edildi. Duyusal işleme becerileri, işitsel, görsel, dokunsal, vestibüler ve oral olmak üzere birden fazla alanda duyusal girdiye verilen yanıtları inceleyen, bakıcı tarafından bildirilen bir değerlendirme aracı olan Yeni Yürümeye Başlayan Çocuk Duyu Profili-2 kullanılarak değerlendirildi. Düşük kayıt, duyusal duyarlılık, duyusal kaçınma ve duyusal arama kadranları da analiz edildi.
Bulgular: Preterm bebeklerin duyusal işleme performansı term bebeklerden önemli ölçüde farklıydı (p<0,05). Düşük kayıt, duyusal hassasiyet, duyusal kaçınma ve duyusal arama gibi örüntüler preterm bebeklerde daha sık gözlendi. Preterm bebekler işitsel, görsel, dokunsal, oral, davranışsal ve hareket işleme alt alanlarında atipik puanlar aldı (p<0,05).
Sonuç: Çalışma, preterm bebeklerin duyusal uyaranları akranlarına kıyasla atipik olarak işlediğini vurgulamaktadır. Bu farklılıklar çocuğun çevresine uyum sağlama yeteneğini engelleyebilir ve günlük aktivitelere katılımını etkileyebilir.

Keywords

Erken doğum , duyusal işlemleme , çocuk

Ethical Statement

The Erzurum Technical University Ethics Committee approved the study to conduct the study (Meeting number: 7, Decision number: 5, Date: 06.06.2024).

Supporting Institution

The study was supported by TUBITAK (Application No. 1919B012314473) under the 2209-A Program, 2nd term, 2023.

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