Sensory Processing Measure-HK Chinese version: Psychometric properties and pattern of response across environments

This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Sensory Processing Measure-Hong Kong Chinese version (SPM-HKC), and to study the pattern of behavioral response of children towards sensory events across home and school settings. The two major forms of the SPM, Home Form and Main Classroom Form, were translated into Chinese in this study. The content validity of the SPM-HKC was reviewed by 20 expert panel members. A total of 547 typically developing children and 140 children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) were recruited for the field test on its reliability and validity. The findings of this study showed that the SPM-HKC was a valid and reliable tool in the screening for sensory processing difficulty of children aged 5–12 among the Chinese populations. But the correlation between the Home Form and the Main Classroom Form was low. It is recommended to use separate forms and norms to measure the performance of children across the home and school environments for more thorough understanding of difficulty in encountering daily sensory events.

► The psychometric properties of the Sensory Processing Measure-Hong Kong Chinese version (SPM-HKC) were examined. ► The pattern of behavioral response of children towards sensory events across home and school settings was studied. ► The reliability and validity of the SPM-HKC were found to be satisfactory. ► The correlation between response towards sensory event at home and at school was found to be low in Hong Kong Chinese children. ► Use of separate forms and norms to measure the performance of children across the home and school environments was recommended.