Sensory Processing and Participation Across Contexts: Strengthening the Evidence Base

This special section of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy presents important international developments in occupational therapy research related to sensory processing and participation across a range of contexts and occupations. Taken as a whole, this collection of articles provides evidence that sensory processing differences affect children across the developmental continuum, transcending specific diagnostic criteria and significantly influencing participation in diverse occupational environments. Although this may not seem like a novel insight to experienced occupational therapy practitioners, its significance lies in strengthening the empirical support underlying these practice-based “commonsense” claims.

This collection of articles presents important international developments in occupational therapy research related to sensory processing and participation across a range of contexts and provides evidence that sensory processing differences affect children across the developmental continuum, transcending specific diagnostic criteria and significantly influencing participation in diverse occupational environments.