Understanding the sensory assessment
A clearer picture of everyday sensory experiences.
The Sensory Processing Measure, Second Edition (SPM-2) is a standardised assessment tool used by occupational therapists, educators and other professionals to better understand how a child processes and responds to sensory information in everyday life.
See how the service works
Assessment results provide information and context. They are not a diagnosis.
What is the SPM-2?
Standardised
Everyday-focused
Professionally interpreted
Information gathered from real life, brought into a consistent structure.
The SPM-2 looks at sensory processing in the environments where daily life happens. Rather than relying on a single clinical moment, it brings together observations about how a child experiences and responds to sensory input across familiar settings.
That structured information can help build a clearer picture of sensory strengths and challenges, and give professional discussion a more informed place to begin.
- 01
Build a clearer picture
Bring sensory strengths and challenges into view through a standardised assessment structure.
- 02
Consider everyday participation
Explore how sensory processing may relate to behaviour, learning and participation in daily activities.
- 03
Inform appropriate support
Help guide intervention planning, including therapy goals and classroom or home supports.
Who it is for
Different settings can reveal different parts of the picture.
The SPM-2 is designed for children and students typically ages 2 to 21, with Preschool, School-age and Adolescent profiles.
- Preschool
- School-age
- Adolescent
- Parents and caregivers
- Teachers and school staff
Information is gathered from parents and caregivers, and teachers and school staff. Forms for home and school environments help create a more well-rounded understanding of the child across different settings.
What the SPM-2 measures
Seven connected areas, considered as one fuller picture.
Each area adds a different perspective to how a child experiences, responds to and participates in everyday life.
- 01
Visual input
Vision
How a child responds to the visual information around them.
- 02
Auditory input
Hearing
How a child experiences and responds to sounds.
- 03
Tactile processing
Touch
How a child responds to touch and tactile experiences.
- 04
Proprioception
Body awareness
Awareness of body position and the amount of force used during movement and activity.
- 05
Vestibular processing
Balance and movement
How a child responds to balance and movement experiences.
- 06
Praxis
Planning and ideas
How a child plans and organises movement and actions.
- 07
Participation with others
Social participation
How sensory processing may relate to a child’s interactions and participation with other people.
What the results can tell us
Patterns become a starting point for understanding.
After the questionnaires are completed, the SPM-2 provides scores that can help identify patterns in a child’s sensory processing.
The results are not a diagnosis. They provide information that can be professionally interpreted and used to make informed recommendations.
- 01
Responsiveness
Highlight areas where a child may be more sensitive to sensory input or less aware of it.
- 02
Everyday impact
Show how sensory processing may be relating to behaviour, attention, coordination and social participation.
- 03
Areas for further support
Help indicate whether sensory processing is within a typical range or may benefit from further support.
Why professional context matters
Scores are useful. Understanding the individual child is essential.
A questionnaire organises observations into a consistent format, but the scores are not the whole story. They need to be considered alongside the child’s everyday experiences and the context in which those experiences happen.
Taryn draws on her Occupational Therapy experience to review the assessment results, identify the sensory areas most relevant to the child and help families consider appropriate areas of support.
Why this can be useful
Look beyond a behaviour to consider what may be shaping the experience.
A clearer understanding of your child’s sensory patterns can help make sense of some of the things you notice in everyday life. The assessment may highlight areas where your child is more sensitive to sensory input or less aware of it, and show how sensory processing may relate to behaviour, attention, coordination and participation.
When these patterns are considered alongside your child’s everyday experiences, they can provide a more informed picture of where support may be helpful. This can guide practical recommendations aimed at supporting regulation, confidence and participation at home, at school and in the community.
A considered next step
Start with a conversation about what you are noticing.
You do not need to decide which assessment profile is appropriate before getting in touch. We can help clarify the next step.