Adult sensory assessment: who does it and what to expect

This guide is for adults who want their own sensory processing assessed, and the people helping them. An occupational therapist assesses how sound, light, touch or movement affect your daily life. That is not a diagnosis: other clinicians diagnose autism and ADHD, and sensory processing disorder lacks a formal diagnosis in the DSM-5.⁠^1,2,3,4

What is an adult sensory assessment, and what can it tell you?

An adult sensory assessment looks at how you notice and respond to sensations, and how those responses help or get in the way of what you need and want to do. It is usually part of an occupational therapy evaluation, which AOTA describes as "an evaluation made just for you" that builds your occupational profile.⁠¹⁴ The senses involved go beyond the familiar five; a 2024 study lists auditory, visual, tactile, smell, taste, vestibular (balance and movement), proprioceptive (body position) and interoceptive (signals from inside the body, such as hunger) systems.⁠¹⁵

A good assessment helps you put into words:

• which situations are hard, such as an open-plan office, a crowded store or certain clothes, and which are easy;
• what happens before, during and after a hard situation, and how long recovery takes;
• what already helps, and what it costs you;
• which changes to your surroundings, routine or methods might make a specific activity workable.

It cannot settle whether you are autistic or have ADHD, which other clinicians assess, or explain a new medical symptom.⁠^2,3 The sensory survival guide for adults covers working out your own profile; this guide covers the formal assessment.

Why do sensory services so often seem to be only for children?

Because most of the research, and many of the services, were built around children. A 2026 scoping review notes that sensory features of autism "have mostly been studied in children, with people over the age of 18 underrepresented in research," and a 2024 study describes "limited research on sensory assessment and interventions among autistic adults."⁠^15,16 AOTA’s page on sensory integration and processing lists an official document and a practice recommendation written for children and youth.⁠¹

So ask directly whether a clinic assesses adults and how it fits the assessment to adult work, self-care and home life; you do not need to describe your needs through a parent’s eyes.

Who provides an adult sensory assessment, and who diagnoses?

An occupational therapist provides the sensory assessment; a different clinician makes any diagnosis of autism, ADHD or a medical condition. AOTA says occupational therapy practitioners "play a central role in identifying and addressing sensory integration and processing challenges," and that OT services are "provided by licensed occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants."⁠^1,14 When Medicare pays, only a clinician such as the therapist, not an assistant, may perform the evaluation; an assistant’s measurements can be included, but the clinician must "actively and personally participate."⁠¹²

Diagnosis sits with other professionals:

• Autism. NIMH says adults can be referred "to a neuropsychologist, psychologist, or psychiatrist who has experience with ASD," who asks about social interaction and communication, sensory issues, repetitive behaviors and restricted interests.⁠²
• ADHD. NIMH describes a primary care provider or mental health professional using clinical interviews, behavior rating scales or symptom checklists.⁠³ The guide to occupational therapy for adults with ADHD covers what OT adds.
• Balance and hearing. For balance problems, NIDCD says a primary doctor may suggest an otolaryngologist, a physician and surgeon for the ear, nose and throat, and an audiologist, who specializes in hearing and the vestibular system.⁠¹⁷
• Auditory processing. An audiologist diagnoses auditory processing disorder, a separate question covered in the FAQ below.⁠^18,19

Can an occupational therapist diagnose autism or ADHD in adults?

Not through a sensory assessment. For adults, NIMH names neuropsychologists, psychologists and psychiatrists for an autism evaluation, and primary care or mental health professionals for ADHD; only for young children does it list occupational therapists among the specialists who may sit on an autism diagnostic team.⁠^2,3 If you are also seeking a diagnosis, give the diagnostician a copy of the OT’s report as a record of your daily difficulties.

Is sensory processing disorder a diagnosis an adult can be given?

Not as a formal diagnosis, as the sources describe it. Writing about children in 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics said that "because there is no universally accepted framework for diagnosis, sensory processing disorder generally should not be diagnosed," and that other developmental and behavioral disorders "must always be considered."⁠⁵ A 2025 review describes interest in how sensory processing relates to mental disorders in adults "despite the lack of a formal diagnosis in DSM‑5 and ICD classifications."⁠⁴

Sensory differences still count in diagnosis. Under the DSM-5, sensory processing dysfunction is one criterion for autism, and NIMH lists being more or less sensitive than others to light, sound, clothing or temperature among the sensory differences autistic people often have.⁠^2,15

Which professional should you see for your sensory concern?

A long-standing daily difficulty points to an OT, a diagnostic question to a diagnostician, and a new or sudden change to a doctor.

When should a new sensory change go to a doctor first?

When it is new, sudden or comes with other symptoms, see a doctor before an OT. NIDCD calls sudden hearing loss, a rapid loss "either all at once or over a few days," a medical emergency, and says to see a doctor immediately because delay can make treatment less effective.⁠²⁰ For dizziness, it advises talking to your doctor if you feel unsteady, feel the room spinning even briefly, or feel you are moving when you are still.⁠¹⁷

A slower change deserves attention too. If sounds or crowds you used to manage have become much harder over weeks or months, tell your doctor as well as the OT; for autistic adults, the page on autistic burnout describes reduced tolerance to sensory input as one of its features.

What happens during an adult sensory assessment with an OT?

Expect an interview about your daily life, standardized questionnaires, often observation of a task, then findings and recommendations.

What does the interview part of a sensory assessment cover?

It builds your occupational profile, which AOTA’s template describes as a summary of your occupational history and experiences, patterns of daily living, interests, values, needs and contexts, "obtained from the client’s perspective through both formal and informal interview techniques and conversation."⁠²² Its prompts run from why you are seeking services and where you feel successful, through your routines, roles and surroundings and your sensory and other body functions, to your priorities and the outcomes you want.⁠²² That last prompt matters: you decide what to work on, so ask the therapist to record your priorities in your own words.

Which questionnaires are used to assess adult sensory processing?

A 2024 study compared two adult self-report tools: the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile, which it calls the most common sensory tool for adolescents and adults, and the adult forms of the Sensory Processing Measure, Second Edition (SPM-2).⁠¹⁵ Each publisher describes its own:

• Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (Pearson; Catana Brown and Winnie Dunn; 2002): for ages 11 and older, with 60 items in which "an individual answers questions regarding how he or she generally responds to sensations, as opposed to how he or she responds at any given time"; Pearson lists it as untimed.⁠⁶
• SPM-2 adult forms (WPS; 2021): an Adult Self-Report Form and an Adult Rater Report Form, each for ages 21 to 87; WPS describes the SPM-2 as "rating scales completed by various raters in examinee’s life."⁠⁷

Every questionnaire has limits. The 2024 study notes that the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile asks nothing about interoception, which limits the picture it gives, and suggests using it with other questionnaires.⁠¹⁵ Pearson lists qualification level B for its forms and WPS requires level C, and the assessment adds the interview, observation and the therapist’s interpretation, so a copy found online is no substitute.⁠^6,7

What should the written report from a sensory assessment contain?

It should state the problem, what was measured and observed, the therapist’s judgment, and whether therapy is recommended. When Medicare pays, the evaluation must include a diagnosis where state law allows or a description of the specific problem, the clinician’s judgments where they add to the measurements, and "a determination that treatment is not needed, or, if treatment is needed a prognosis" with a plan of care.⁠¹² Other payers and clinics set their own formats, so ask whether a written report and feedback appointment are included.

A useful report also keeps three things apart: what you reported, what the therapist observed or measured, and what the therapist concludes from both.

What does research say about sensory approaches for adults?

It is limited: most sensory research involves children, and reviews of adult approaches find few studies, mixed results and weak methods, so treat a recommendation as something to try and review.⁠^15,16

• Sensory approaches in mental health care. A 2015 scoping review of 17 studies found people generally reported less distress, with mixed effects on seclusion and restraint, and said methodological limitations mean results "should be interpreted with caution."⁠⁸ A 2023 scoping review of 17 articles, nearly half of them pilot studies, called sensory modulation for adults with mental illness "evolving."⁠²³
• Sensory rooms. A 2023 systematic review of 18 studies in adult psychiatric inpatient units found "a lack of evidence" that sensory rooms reduce seclusion, restraint or violence, though they are "likely to support a reduction in patient distress."⁠⁹
• Weighted blankets. A 2020 systematic review of 8 studies concluded they may help reduce anxiety but found "not enough evidence to suggest they are helpful with insomnia."⁠²⁴ A 2024 meta-analysis of 8 trials with 426 people with mental disorders found a small decrease in anxiety, with half the trials at high risk of bias, and a 2024 scoping review found more evidence of effectiveness in adults than in children, with variable study quality.⁠^10,25
• Autistic adults. A 2022 scoping review of sleep and sensory processing in autism found that interventions with a central sensory component "have not been well studied in autistic children or adults," and none of its studies were of high quality.⁠²⁶

Better established is a link between sensory processing and daily functioning, though not that any one intervention helps: a 2026 systematic review of 20 studies found consistent associations between sensory processing difficulties and problems with personal autonomy, social participation and emotional self-regulation, and called for more research, "especially in undiagnosed adults and community settings."⁠²⁷ For children, the AAP called the research on sensory integration therapy "limited and inconclusive" and suggested a trial period and teaching families how to judge whether a therapy is working, a habit that serves adults as well.⁠⁵

What should you ask about a recommended sensory approach?

Ask what it is meant to change, what supports it for adults like you, and how you and the therapist can tell whether it is working. AOTA’s recommendation against sensory-based interventions without "documented assessment results" is written for children and youth; asking for the assessment to come first is a fair request at any age.⁠²⁸

• Which activity should get easier, and how do we measure that?
• Does the evidence for this come from adults, or from children?
• What does it cost in time, money and effort, and does it carry any risk?
• Is there a change to my surroundings or routine to try first?
• When do we review it, and what happens if nothing changes?

How do you pay for an adult sensory assessment?

Usually as an occupational therapy evaluation, billed to your health plan when it is medically necessary, or paid by you; ask the clinic how it bills it, then ask your plan. The guide to what adult occupational therapy costs gives Medicare’s 2026 amounts for the OT evaluation codes and the questions that get a clinic’s price.

Does Medicare pay for an occupational therapy sensory evaluation?

It can, when the OT is medically necessary and the paperwork is in place. Part B "helps pay for medically necessary outpatient occupational therapy if your doctor or other health care provider certifies you need it," and after the Part B deductible you pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount.⁠¹¹ What is certified is your plan of care, the written treatment plan your therapist sets and your doctor or other practitioner signs, as soon as possible and again at least every 90 days; the rule says nothing in it requires an order or referral for OT.⁠²⁹

Two points matter for an assessment:

• An evaluation on its own. When the evaluation is the only service, it can serve as the plan of care, and if you came without a referral or order and need no treatment, "a physician referral/order or certification of the evaluation is required for payment of the evaluation."⁠¹² Ask your doctor for a referral before you book.
• Medical necessity. Medicare describes OT as "medically prescribed treatment concerned with improving or restoring functions which have been impaired by illness or injury," and its examples include restoring sensory-integrative function for a stroke patient.⁠¹² Ask the clinic and your doctor how your reason for the assessment fits that, and what you would owe if Medicare does not pay.

A Medicare Advantage plan must cover all the services Part B covers; the Medicare therapy coverage guide covers both kinds of Medicare.⁠³⁰

Does a private health plan pay for an adult sensory assessment?

It depends on the plan’s own documents, starting with your Summary of Benefits and Coverage, an "easy-to-read summary" of costs and coverage you can request from the insurer.⁠³¹ Look for occupational therapy under rehabilitative services, which help you keep, get back or improve skills lost or impaired by sickness, injury or disability, and habilitative services, which help you keep, learn or improve skills.⁠^32,33 If the plan requires preauthorization, an approval "isn’t a promise" that it pays.⁠³⁴

Ask the plan whether an OT evaluation is covered for the reason or diagnosis the clinic gives you, whether you need a referral or prior authorization, and whether the clinic is in network at its address. If no in-network OT assesses adults, see what to ask when no in-network therapist is available; if the plan says no, see appealing a therapy denial.

What should you ask for if you pay for the assessment yourself?

Ask for a written good faith estimate. If you have no coverage for the service, or have it but choose not to have a claim sent to your plan, the clinic must treat "any discussion or inquiry regarding the potential costs" as a request for an estimate and give it within 3 business days.⁠¹³ Ask whether it includes the questionnaires, a written report and a feedback appointment; the guide to adult therapy without insurance covers other ways to pay.

How do you find an occupational therapist who assesses adults?

Look for clinics that see adults and list sensory processing, then call before you book, because a children’s sensory program does not mean a clinic sees adults. DrSensory’s occupational therapy directory lets you search by ZIP code, choose who the care is for, an adult among the options, and pick a specialty such as sensory processing. DrSensory is free for families and lists occupational, physical and speech therapy clinics for children and adults. It lists clinics rather than individual therapists and does not check clinical quality, so a listing is not a recommendation: confirm with the clinic that it assesses adults. If a listing lets you message the clinic, the clinic reads your message in its portal and replies from its own address.

What should you ask a clinic before booking a sensory assessment?

Ask whether it assesses adults, what the assessment includes, and what you get.

What should you bring to an adult sensory assessment?

Bring a one-page history of the situations that are hard, any earlier reports, and what you have tried; two or three recent situations are enough, and do not record other people without their permission.

Also bring your insurance card, any referral your plan or Medicare needs, and copies of earlier evaluations, such as an autism or ADHD assessment report. If you have a vision, hearing or speech disability, a clinic, like any business serving the public, must provide aids and services when needed to communicate effectively with you, such as a sign language interpreter.⁠³⁵ Ask ahead for anything else you need, such as lower lighting or breaks.

Can a partner, relative or friend take part in the assessment?

Yes, if you want them to. The SPM-2 has an Adult Rater Report Form for someone who knows you, and NIMH notes that adult ADHD and autism evaluations may include talking with partners or family members about your history.⁠^2,3,7 Under the privacy rule, a provider may share your information with a family member or friend involved in your care if you say it can or do not object, and is never required to share it with them unless they are your personal representative.⁠³⁶ Tell the clinic who may join and what they may hear.

If you are the partner or relative, your part is support, with the adult’s agreement; the goals belong to the person being assessed.

What might an adult sensory assessment look like from start to finish?

It can run from a phone call, through one visit, to a report you put to use, as in this example.

What can you do with the results of a sensory assessment?

Use them to change specific situations, to inform further care and, if you choose, to support a request at work.

• A plan with the OT. If therapy is recommended, AOTA describes "an intervention plan that is unique to you" followed by an outcomes evaluation to check that the goals you set are being met.⁠¹⁴
• Further assessment. If the therapist suggests an autism, ADHD, hearing or medical evaluation, take the report with you.
• Work. When a disability or the need for an accommodation is not obvious, an employer may ask for reasonable documentation, and the EEOC lists occupational therapists among the professionals it can come from. The employer can ask only for what establishes the disability and the need for the accommodation, and in most situations cannot ask for your complete medical records.⁠²¹ The sensory survival guide for adults covers what to ask for at work and how much to disclose.

A report on its own does not make you eligible for an accommodation or a program; each decides under its own rules.

Sources

1. American Occupational Therapy Association. Sensory Integration & Processing (clinical topic page). Checked October 24, 2026.
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   “Occupational therapy practitioners play a central role in identifying and addressing sensory integration and processing challenges with clients across the lifespan.”; “supporting people’s participation in desired activities in home, school, and community settings”; “Sensory Integration Approaches for Children and Youth Within Occupational Therapy Practice (2023)”; “Don’t provide sensory-based interventions to individual children or youth without documented assessment results of difficulties processing or integrating sensory information”.
2. National Institute of Mental Health. Autism Spectrum Disorder (brochure, NIH Publication No. 25-MH-8084, revised 2025). Checked October 24, 2026.
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   “Being more sensitive or less sensitive than other people to sensory input, such as light, sound, clothing, or temperature”; “This team may include child neurologists, developmental behavioral pediatricians, speech-language pathologists, child psychologists and psychiatrists, educational specialists, and occupational therapists.”; “Adults who have questions about whether they may be on the autism spectrum should talk with a health care provider and ask for a referral for an ASD evaluation. Although evaluation for ASD in adults is still being refined, adults can be referred to a neuropsychologist, psychologist, or psychiatrist who has experience with ASD. The expert will ask about:”; “Social interaction and communication challenges”; “Sensory issues”; “Repetitive behaviors”; “Restricted interests”; “The evaluation may also include a conversation with caregivers and family members to learn about the person’s early developmental history”.
3. National Institute of Mental Health. ADHD in Adults: 4 Things to Know (fact sheet, NIH Publication No. 24-MH-3573). Checked October 24, 2026.
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   “ADHD can be diagnosed in childhood or adulthood.”; “To help diagnose ADHD, a primary care provider or mental health professional may ask to talk to people who know you well, such as a partner, family members, and friends, to learn about your behavior in different situations and during childhood.”; “Complete clinical interviews, behavior rating scales, or symptom checklists to determine whether you meet the criteria for a diagnosis of ADHD.”.
4. Grobelna N, Rutkowski R, Rybakowski F, Rybakowski J, Ferensztajn-Rochowiak E. The phenomenon of sensory processing: historical overview, theoretical models, and neurophysiological underpinnings (Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis, published January 14, 2025;84(4):359-370; doi:10.55782/ane-2024-2556; PMID 39812532; abstract). Checked October 24, 2026.
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   “There has been an interest in the relationship between SP and mental disorders in adults, despite the lack of a formal diagnosis in DSM‑5 and ICD classifications.”.
5. Section on Complementary and Integrative Medicine; Council on Children with Disabilities; American Academy of Pediatrics; Zimmer M, Desch L. Sensory integration therapies for children with developmental and behavioral disorders (AAP policy statement, Pediatrics 2012;129(6):1186-1189; doi:10.1542/peds.2012-0876; PMID 22641765; abstract). Checked October 24, 2026.
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   “Because there is no universally accepted framework for diagnosis, sensory processing disorder generally should not be diagnosed.”; “Other developmental and behavioral disorders must always be considered, and a thorough evaluation should be completed.”; “parents should be informed that the amount of research regarding the effectiveness of sensory integration therapy is limited and inconclusive.”; “talking with families about a trial period of sensory integration therapy, and teaching families how to evaluate the effectiveness of a therapy.”.
6. Pearson Assessments. Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (publisher's product page; Catana Brown and Winnie Dunn). Checked October 24, 2026.
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   “helps measure sensory processing patterns and effects on functional performance. An individual answers questions regarding how he or she generally responds to sensations, as opposed to how he or she responds at any given time.”; “Publication date: 2002”; “Age range: 11 years and older”; “Qualification level: B”; “Completion time: Untimed”; “The Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile includes 60 items (15 items for each quadrant).”; “Generates an individualized profile of sensory processing across the four quadrants.”; “Quadrant scores represent patterns of sensory processing as described in Dunn’s (1997a) Model of Sensory Processing.”.
7. WPS. (SPM-2) Sensory Processing Measure, Second Edition (publisher's product page; L. Diane Parham and colleagues). Checked October 24, 2026.
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   “Rating scales completed by various raters in examinee’s life”; “20 to 30 minutes for each of the 12 main forms; 10 minutes for each Environment Form”; “Publish Date 2021”; “Level C required.”; “SPM-2 Adult Self-Report Form, Ages 21-87 Years”; “SPM-2 Adult Rater Report Form, Ages 21-87 Years”.
8. Scanlan JN, Novak T. Sensory approaches in mental health: A scoping review (Australian Occupational Therapy Journal 2015;62(5):277-285; doi:10.1111/1440-1630.12224; PMID 26358506; abstract). Checked October 24, 2026.
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   “A total of 17 studies were included in the final review.”; “In general, consumers reported reductions in distress associated with engaging in sensory interventions. Results in terms of reduction of seclusion and restraint were mixed”; “Methodological limitations in the studies reviewed mean that results should be interpreted with caution.”.
9. Haig S, Hallett N. Use of sensory rooms in adult psychiatric inpatient settings: A systematic review and narrative synthesis (International Journal of Mental Health Nursing 2023;32(1):54-75; doi:10.1111/inm.13065; PMID 36082841; abstract). Checked October 24, 2026.
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   “Eighteen studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review.”; “There is a lack of evidence as to whether sensory rooms are effective at reducing seclusion, restraint, or violence. They are, however, likely to support a reduction in patient distress.”.
10. Zhao Y, Zhang Q, Liu Z, Zhao Z, Zhu Q. Safety and effectiveness of weighted blankets for symptom management in patients with mental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (Complementary Therapies in Medicine 2024;87:103104; doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2024.103104; PMID 39447684; abstract). Checked October 24, 2026.
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    “Eight studies involving a total of 426 patients were included in this review. Half of the included studies were rated as having a high risk of bias”; “the use of weighted blankets induced a small magnitude decrease (standardized mean difference within studies [SMD]= 0.40) in anxiety management”; “these results need to be further confirmed due to the limited number of studies included in this review, the small sample size and the significant heterogeneity across these primary studies.”.
11. Medicare.gov. Occupational therapy services (what Part B covers). Checked October 24, 2026.
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    “Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) helps pay for medically necessary outpatient occupational therapy if your doctor or other health care provider certifies you need it”; “Your doctor or other health care provider (including a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or physician assistant) must certify you need this care.”; “After you meet the Part B deductible , you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for these services when they’re medically necessary”.
12. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15: Covered Medical and Other Health Services (Pub. 100-02, Rev. 13889, issued July 30, 2026; sections 220.3 and 230.2). Checked October 24, 2026.
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    “The initial evaluation, or the plan of care including an evaluation, should document the necessity for a course of therapy through objective findings and subjective patient self-reporting.”; “Only a clinician may perform an initial examination, evaluation, re-evaluation and assessment or establish a diagnosis or a plan of care.”; “the clinician must actively and personally participate in the evaluation or re-evaluation”; “A diagnosis (where allowed by state and local law) and description of the specific problem(s) to be evaluated and/or treated.”; “In many cases, both a medical diagnosis (obtained from a physician/NPP) and an impairment based treatment diagnosis related to treatment are relevant. The treatment diagnosis may or may not be identified by the therapist, depending on their scope of practice.”; “Clinician’s clinical judgments or subjective impressions that describe the current functional status of the condition being evaluated, when they provide further information”; “A determination that treatment is not needed, or, if treatment is needed a prognosis for return to premorbid condition or maximum expected condition with expected time frame and a plan of care.”; “When an evaluation is the only service provided by a provider/supplier in an episode of treatment, the evaluation serves as the plan of care”; “If the patient presented for evaluation without a referral or order and does not require treatment, a physician referral/order or certification of the evaluation is required for payment of the evaluation.”; “Occupational therapy is medically prescribed treatment concerned with improving or restoring functions which have been impaired by illness or injury”; “The evaluation, and reevaluation as required, of a patient’s level of function by administering diagnostic and prognostic tests;”; “The planning and implementing of therapeutic tasks and activities to restore sensory-integrative function; e.g., providing motor and tactile activities to increase sensory input and improve response for a stroke patient with functional loss resulting in a distorted body image;”.
13. 45 CFR. §149.610, Requirements for provision of good faith estimates of expected charges for uninsured (or self-pay) individuals (No Surprises Act rule). Checked October 24, 2026.
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    “An individual who does not have benefits for an item or service under a group health plan”; “but who does not seek to have a claim for such item or service submitted to such plan or coverage”; “shall consider any discussion or inquiry regarding the potential costs of items or services under consideration as a request for a good faith estimate”; “When a good faith estimate is requested by an uninsured (or self-pay) individual: Not later than 3 business days after the date of the request.”; “A good faith estimate must be provided in written form either on paper or electronically”.
14. American Occupational Therapy Association. What is occupational therapy? (consumer page). Checked October 24, 2026.
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    “an evaluation made just for you that lets us know your history, life experiences, and your interests. We call this your occupational profile, and it tells us what values and activities are important to you during this conversation.”; “an intervention plan that is unique to you to improve your ability to perform daily activities and reach your goals,”; “and an outcomes evaluation to make sure that the goals you set with your occupational therapy practitioner are being met.”; “Occupational therapy services are provided by licensed occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants, to people of all ages in homes, communities, schools, and healthcare settings.”.
15. Skocic D, Brown T, Yu ML, Reed K. Convergent validity of two adult self-report sensory scales: Comparing the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile and the Sensory Processing Measure 2-Adult Form (Australian Occupational Therapy Journal 2024;71(6):897-909; doi:10.1111/1440-1630.12963; PMID 38738292; full text). Checked October 24, 2026.
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    “Occupational therapists use scales to assess adults’ sensory processing skills.”; “sensory systems include auditory, visual, tactile, olfactory, gustatory, vestibular, proprioceptive, and interoceptive”; “sensory processing dysfunction is a criterion for diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder”; “there remains limited research on sensory assessment and interventions among autistic adults”; “The A/ASP remains the most common sensory tool for use in adolescents and adults”; “The absence of questions related to interoception and internal sensory processing limits the ability of the A/ASP to provide a holistic view of an individual”; “use of the assessment in combination with other questionnaires will enable clinicians to understand the breadth of person and environmental factors”; “may be best supported by observations within various environments”.
16. Gričar N, Bucik V, Bratun U. Sensory Issues and Occupational Participation in Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism: A Scoping Review (Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, online August 17, 2026; doi:10.1080/01942638.2026.2718157; PMID 42605839; abstract). Checked October 24, 2026.
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    “To date, sensory features of ASD have mostly been studied in children, with people over the age of 18 underrepresented in research.”.
17. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Balance Disorders (health information page). Checked October 24, 2026.
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    “your primary doctor may suggest that you see an otolaryngologist and an audiologist. An otolaryngologist is a physician and surgeon who specializes in diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, neck, and throat. An audiologist is a clinician who specializes in the function of the hearing and vestibular systems.”; “If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, talk to your doctor:”; “Do I feel unsteady?”; “Do I feel as if the room is spinning around me, even for a very brief time?”; “Do I feel as if I’m moving when I know I’m sitting or standing still?”.
18. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Understanding Auditory Processing Disorders in Children (consumer page). “the diagnosis of APD can only be made by an audiologist.”; “To diagnose APD, the audiologist will administer a series of tests in a sound-treated room.”. Checked October 24, 2026.
19. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Central Auditory Processing Disorder (Practice Portal clinical topic). “The scope of this page is central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) in children and adults.”. Checked October 24, 2026.
20. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Sudden Deafness (health information page). Checked October 24, 2026.
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    “is an unexplained, rapid loss of hearing either all at once or over a few days.”; “Sudden deafness frequently affects only one ear.”; “you should consider sudden deafness symptoms a medical emergency and visit a doctor immediately.”; “delaying SSHL diagnosis and treatment (when warranted) can decrease treatment effectiveness.”.
21. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Enforcement Guidance on Reasonable Accommodation and Undue Hardship under the ADA (enforcement guidance). Checked October 24, 2026.
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    “When the disability and/or the need for accommodation is not obvious, the employer may ask the individual for reasonable documentation about his/her disability and functional limitations.”; “Reasonable documentation means that the employer may require only the documentation that is needed to establish that a person has an ADA disability, and that the disability necessitates a reasonable accommodation.”; “in most situations an employer cannot request a person’s complete medical records”; “Appropriate professionals include, but are not limited to, doctors (including psychiatrists), psychologists, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, vocational rehabilitation specialists, and licensed mental health professionals.”.
22. American Occupational Therapy Association. AOTA Occupational Profile Template (PDF, 2022). Checked October 24, 2026.
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    “The occupational profile is a summary of a client’s (person’s, group’s, or population’s) occupational history and experiences, patterns of daily living, interests, values, needs, and relevant contexts”; “The information is obtained from the client’s perspective through both formal and informal interview techniques and conversation.”; “Why is the client seeking services, and what are the client’s current concerns relative to engaging in occupations and in daily life activities?”; “In what occupations does the client feel successful, and what barriers are affecting their success in desired occupations?”; “What are the client’s patterns of engagement in occupations, and how have they changed over time? What are the client’s daily life roles?”; “What aspects of their contexts (environmental and personal factors) does the client see as supporting engagement in desired occupations, and what aspects are inhibiting engagement?”; “Body functions (p. 51)”; “(e.g., mental, sensory”; “What are the client’s priorities and desired targeted outcomes”.
23. Kandlur NR, Fernandes AC, Gerard SR, Rajiv S, Quadros S. Sensory modulation interventions for adults with mental illness: A scoping review (Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy 2023;36(2):57-68; doi:10.1177/15691861231204896; PMID 38027047; abstract). Checked October 24, 2026.
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    “17 articles were found to be relevant.”; “the rest were pilot interventional studies (N = 8)”; “SMI as an occupational therapy intervention for individuals with mental illnesses is evolving and more robust studies in the future are recommended.”.
24. Eron K, Kohnert L, Watters A, Logan C, Weisner-Rose M, Mehler PS. Weighted Blanket Use: A Systematic Review (American Journal of Occupational Therapy 2020;74(2):7402205010; doi:10.5014/ajot.2020.037358; PMID 32204779; abstract). Checked October 24, 2026.
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    “Only 8 studies were included”; “Weighted blankets may be an appropriate therapeutic tool in reducing anxiety; however, there is not enough evidence to suggest they are helpful with insomnia.”.
25. Dawson S, Charlton K, Ng L, et al. Weighted Blankets as a Sleep Intervention: A Scoping Review (American Journal of Occupational Therapy 2024;78(5):7805205160; doi:10.5014/ajot.2024.050676; PMID 39163284; abstract). “Methodological quality of included studies regarding effectiveness was variable.”; “Currently, there is more evidence of effectiveness with adults, although parents are favorable regarding weighted blanket use for children.”. Checked October 24, 2026.
26. Lane SJ, Leão MA, Spielmann V. Sleep, Sensory Integration/Processing, and Autism: A Scoping Review (Frontiers in Psychology 2022;13:877527; doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.877527; PMID 35656493; abstract). “No studies were of high quality.”; “Interventions that purposefully include a central sensory component have not been well studied in autistic children or adults.”. Checked October 24, 2026.
27. Gibello-Rufo A, Garrido-Ardila EM, Jiménez-Palomares M, et al. Sensory processing and its relevance to occupational performance: a systematic review (Frontiers in Psychology 2026;17:1844400; doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1844400; PMID 42266782; abstract). Checked October 24, 2026.
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    “Twenty studies were included”; “Consistent associations were identified between sensory processing disorders-especially hyperactivity, avoidance, and under-registration-and difficulties in personal autonomy, motor planning, social participation, emotional self-regulation, and psychological well-being.”; “The importance of further research using rigorous methodologies, especially in undiagnosed adults and community settings, is highlighted.”.
28. American Occupational Therapy Association. Practice Smart (AOTA's list of practice recommendations). “Don’t provide sensory-based interventions to individual children or youth without documented assessment results of difficulties processing or integrating sensory information.”. Checked October 24, 2026.
29. 42 CFR. §424.24, Requirements for medical and other health services furnished by providers under Medicare Part B (the certification rule for outpatient therapy). Checked October 24, 2026.
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    “The services were furnished under a plan of treatment that meets the requirements of § 410.61 of this chapter.”; “The initial certification must be obtained as soon as possible after the plan is established.”; “the certification must be signed by a physician or by a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or physician assistant who has knowledge of the case”; “Recertification is required at least every 90 days.”; “No references to an order or referral in this subsection shall be construed to require an order or referral for outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech-language pathology services.”.
30. 42 CFR. §422.101, Requirements relating to basic benefits (Medicare Advantage). “Provide coverage of, by furnishing, arranging for, or making payment for, all services that are covered by Part A and Part B of Medicare (if the enrollee is entitled to benefits under both parts) or by Medicare Part B (if entitled only under Part B)”. Checked October 24, 2026.
31. HealthCare.gov. Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) (glossary). “An easy-to-read summary that lets you make apples-to-apples comparisons of costs and coverage between health plans.”; “or request an SBC from the health insurance company.”. Checked October 24, 2026.
32. HealthCare.gov. Rehabilitative/rehabilitation services (glossary). “help you keep, get back, or improve skills and functioning for daily living that have been lost or impaired because you were sick, hurt, or disabled. These services may include physical and occupational therapy”. Checked October 24, 2026.
33. HealthCare.gov. Habilitative/habilitation services (glossary). “help you keep, learn, or improve skills and functioning for daily living.”; “These services may include physical and occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and other services for people with disabilities”. Checked October 24, 2026.
34. HealthCare.gov. Preauthorization (glossary). “Sometimes called prior authorization, prior approval or precertification.”; “Preauthorization isn’t a promise your health insurance or plan will cover the cost.”. Checked October 24, 2026.
35. U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. ADA Requirements: Effective Communication (ADA.gov guidance). Checked October 24, 2026.
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    “title III entities (businesses and nonprofit organizations that serve the public) communicate effectively with people who have communication disabilities”; “the person with a vision, hearing, or speech disability”; “Covered entities must provide auxiliary aids and services when needed to communicate effectively with people who have communication disabilities.”; “In a doctor’s office, an interpreter generally will be needed for taking the medical history of a patient who uses sign language”.
36. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. Family Members and Friends (HIPAA for individuals; content last reviewed December 23, 2022). Checked October 24, 2026.
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    “The Privacy Rule does not require a health care provider or health plan to share information with your family or friends, unless they are your personal representatives.”; “However, the provider or plan can share your information with family or friends if:”; “They are involved in your health care or payment for your health care,”; “You tell the provider or plan that it can do so,”; “You do not object to sharing of the information, or”.
37. 45 CFR. §164.524, Access of individuals to protected health information (HIPAA right of access). Checked October 24, 2026.
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    “the covered entity must act on a request for access no later than 30 days after receipt of the request”; “The covered entity must provide the individual with access to the protected health information in the form and format requested by the individual, if it is readily producible in such form and format”; “the covered entity may impose a reasonable, cost-based fee”; “the covered entity may extend the time for such actions by no more than 30 days”; “The covered entity may have only one such extension”.

Medical disclaimer. This page is for general educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider about your individual situation.