Sensory Integration Education

We are delighted to let you know that UK-wide ethical approval has been granted for the SP3D data collection and the project has commenced in the UK.

What is SP3D?

The SP3D is a new test of sensory processing created by occupational therapists for therapists. Now we need experienced clinicians and/or researchers who want to help us standardise and validate it!

By collecting data with us, you will help develop a highly-anticipated, scientifically valid and clinically useful assessment of sensory processing for children 3 years of age through adulthood. We are about halfway through the necessary data collection - including SP3D normative data, data from clinical samples and data for reliability and validity studies.

Data collectors will be generously compensated at a competitive rate for each case, and for a minimum of 10 hours of training with expert administrators. We also compensate the children and families who you recruit to participate. The SP3D authors, and other members of the SP3D research and development team, will provide support as needed as you gain competence in its administration.

If you are based in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, we invite you to read on and if you are interested, please complete the application form.

Involvement in the project is a great way to learn the current version of the SP3D and have initial training from either Dr Sarah Schoen or Dr Shelley Mulligan prior to starting data collection. Your contract will be with Western Psychological Services (WPS) as a Data Collector. They will be responsible for providing recompense for you, as a Data Collector and for the participants.

Information about the study and how you can be involved

Sensory Integration Education are assisting in collecting data for the construct validity and interrater and test-retest reliability testing of the SP3D assessment. Each therapist (Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Speech and Language Therapist), known as the Data Collector involved in the project, needs to commit to testing 10 cases. For the construct validity arm of the study, it is likely that you will need to see each case on three or four occasions to administer the tests. The test-retest reliability arm requires you to carry out the SP3D twice on the same case. Please note the inclusion and exclusion criteria you, as a Data Collector and for the study participants.

All Data Collectors need to:

• Be SI trained to Sensory Integration Education Practitioner level (PG Cert) or equivalent.
• Be registered with HCPC
• Hold professional indemnity insurance
• Have DBS clearance
• Have a First Aid or First Aid at Work certificate

Participant Inclusion Criteria:

1. Clinical cases will have a current diagnosis by a qualified professional and must be supported by scores from a relevant standardized instrument or assessment. Clinical diagnoses are accepted based on the following criteria:

a. Best: A diagnosis by a qualified professional within the past six months that includes supporting scores from relevant instruments.

b. Acceptable: A diagnosis by a qualified professional within the past year, with or without supporting scores from a relevant instrument. A provider must be able to provide rationale for the diagnosis, and acceptance of such cases is on a site-by-site basis.

c. Minimum: A current administrative or educational diagnosis (i.e., primarily used for clinical or education purposes and possibly “carried” in the participant’s record, without recent testing) from a reputable provider. A provider must be able to provide rationale for the diagnosis, and acceptance of such cases is on a site-by-site basis.

2. Participants with one or more of the following clinical diagnosis will be included in the study.

• Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (including PDD-NOS, Asperger’s)
• Intellectual Disability
• Learning and/or Speech Disorders
• Developmental Disorders (e.g. developmental coordination disorder or global developmental delay)
• Mood and/or Anxiety Disorders
• Other physical conditions or disorders
• Other mental or behavioural health disorders

3. Participants aged 16 and over need to be able to give consent. Parent / carers can give consent on behalf of their child, alongside the child's assent.

4. Participants whom the Data Collector only sees clinically outside of the NHS are eligible for inclusion. e.g. privately, schools, day centres etc.

Participant Exclusion Criteria:

1. Unacceptable: Any unverifiable clinical diagnosis without supporting evidence.

2. Children under 5 years old.

3. Participants who are solely receiving services for their sensory processing difficulties within the NHS.

4. Participants who are pregnant.

5. Participants who are prisoners or part of the criminal justice system.

What do you need to be able to do?

Data Collectors undertaking the inter-rater and test-retest reliability tests need to be proficient in the Sensory Processing Measure. Data Collectors undertaking construct validity testing need to be proficient in using the following tests:

1. Sensory Processing Measure
2. Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Third Edition

and at least one of the below.

1. Peabody Development Motor Scales-2 (PDMS-2)
2. Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency – 2nd Edition (BOT-2)
3. Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT)
4. Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Third Edition (ABAS-3)
5. Test Of Auditory Processing Skills-4 (TAPS-4)

You are welcome to apply to collect data for either the reliability or validity arm of the study, or indeed both.

This presents an exciting opportunity to contribute to the advancement of sensory processing assessment. By joining the SP3D data collection project, you will gain in-depth knowledge of the SP3D assessment, receive initial training from Dr. Sarah Schoen or Dr. Shelley Mulligan, and work as a data collector for Western Psychological Services (WPS). WPS will handle compensation for both data collectors and participants.

To apply for participation in the SP3D data collection project, please complete the application form linked here. If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. We eagerly anticipate your involvement in this exciting project.

Apply Here!