This checklist is intended for awareness and guidance only and should not be used as a diagnostic tool.
If you recognise several of these patterns or have concerns about your child’s development, please contact an occupational therapist for professional assessment.
These examples describe sensory patterns that may appear in daily life and can vary depending on age and environment.
Touch and Tactile Responses
- Child resists being held
- Child resists being cuddled
- Child becomes agitated when having hair washed or face wiped
- Child becomes upset with messy play
- Child does not realise when face or hands are dirty
- Child avoids certain food textures
- Child refuses to drink from cup
Oral and Feeding Behaviours
- Child has difficulty with feeding
- Child chews on non-food objects
- Child mouths objects excessively
Movement and Body Awareness
- Child avoids physical activities
- Child seems weak or “heavy”
- Child becomes upset when placed on back
- Child cries when moved
Attention and Interaction
- Child withdraws from situations
- Child avoids eye contact
- Child takes a long time to respond when name is called
- Child takes a long time to respond to familiar voices
Auditory and Visual Sensitivity
- Child startles easily
- Child is distracted in noisy environments
- Child enjoys looking at spinning objects
- Child takes a long time to adapt to daylight
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