| Participation in social aspects of daily life is crucial to children's development of appropriate behaviors and the skills necessary as they become adults. Although it is recognized that disability status can impact children's ability to participate in social activities with family and friends, little is understood about the impact of sensory processing disorders (SPD) on the social participation of children. This study examined the social participation pattern of two groups of children: (a) children with SPD and (b) their typically developing peers.; The children, their parents, and their teachers were asked to complete a variety of assessments to document the children's social skills, problem behaviors, use of free time, activity preferences, and competence with common tasks. These data were analyzed to determine the extent of potential differences in the behaviors of the two groups of children. Results show that children with SPD were more likely to demonstrate problem behaviors and poor social skills than their typically developing peers. Both groups of children demonstrated generally similar patterns of activity preferences and use of free time, with significant differences between the groups in areas related to intensity and enjoyment of involvement as well as social networks. In addition, the parents and teachers of children with SPD were more likely to rate the children lower on a scale of competence with common tasks than the children themselves. Possible implications for future research and interventions are discussed. |
