Validating the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile and examining its ability to screen sensory processing difficulties among Israeli people

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to (1) validate the Hebrew version of the Adolescent /Adult Sensory Profile (AASP); (2) screen sensory processing difficulties, as expressed in daily living in a vast range of ages of healthy Israeli adolescents, adults and older people; and (3) examine gender effect on sensory processing in the different age groups. Procedure: Eight hundred and eighty-two Israelis participated in this study. Their ages ranged from 11 to 94 years. All participants completed the AASP. Findings: Good internal consistency was found for each of the AASP quadrants, although factor analysis did not find total similarity between the Hebrew version of the AASP and the original AASP. Sensory processing difficulties were shown by 22-42% of the participants in the different age groups. Older participants had lower tendency for Sensation Seeking. Females were more sensitive than males in the age groups of 11-17 years and 18-64 years. Conclusion: In general, the Hebrew version of the AASP was found to be valid and succeeded in profiling sensory processing difficulties along the life span of typical Israeli adolescents and adults. Further studies should apply the Hebrew version of the AASP to screen sensory processing difficulties among individuals with disabilities and elaborate their impact on people's performance/participation in daily activities.