Sensory hypersensitivity may be an early sign of other developmental challenges in children

The study demonstrated a strong association between over-responsive reactions to sensory stimuli and neurodevelopmental difficulties. Children with SOR had a clearly elevated risk for all mapped neurodevelopmental difficulties. Among children whose parents reported neurodevelopmental difficulties or diagnoses, the likelihood of SOR was almost fivefold.

The risk increased in line with the number of neurodevelopmental challenges the child had.

The results suggest that SOR is a common factor across all neurodevelopmental difficulties, and they are important for earlier identification of neurodevelopmental challenges.

“Challenges related to sensory processing often appear before learning or attention difficulties become evident. Instead of viewing SOR solely as a feature of autism spectrum disorder or ADHD, it should be recognized as an early sign of general developmental vulnerability,” says University Lecturer Katja Jussila. She works as the principal researcher in the autism research group at the child psychiatry clinic and leads the SenSO research group in the department of psychology at the University of Oulu.

When the nervous system’s response to sensory input is over-responsive, the threshold for detecting sensory stimuli is lower than usual. The ability to habituate to sensory stimuli may also be reduced. Even minor background noises, bright lighting, the feel of clothing materials and seams against the skin, or unpleasant food textures can make everyday life burdensome for individuals with SOR.

“If neurodevelopmental difficulties go unrecognized, a child is at risk of being left without appropriate support measures. Over the long term, this may lead to various secondary problems, such as challenges in behavior, emotional regulation, and mental health,” emphasizes doctoral researcher Anna Korkiakoski.

Early identification and support measures may help prevent the development of these secondary problems.

“When a child has SOR that limits functioning and clearly complicates daily life, it would be important to monitor their overall development more closely than usual in child health clinics. If necessary, further assessments as well as support and rehabilitation measures should be initiated as early as possible,” Jussila says.

The study is based on cohort data covering 4,424 Finnish eight-year-old children from the Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District (now Pohde).

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine so comprehensively the associations between SOR and all neurodevelopmental challenges.

The study has been published in the scientific journal Nordic Journal of Psychiatry:
Katja Jussila, Anna Korkiakoski, Ainuliina Jussila, Sanna Kuusikko-Gauffin, Leena Joskitt, Mirjami Mäntymaa, Irma Moilanen & Marja-Leena Mattila. Sensory over responsivity (SOR) as a transdiagnostic marker of neurodevelopmental risk. An epidemiological birth cohort study.

DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2025.2572330