The validity of sensory systems as distinct constructs.
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abstract
This study investigated the validity of sensory systems as distinct measurable constructs as part of a largerproject examining Ayres’s theory of sensory integration. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conductedto test whether sensory questionnaire items represent distinct sensory system constructs. Data wereobtained from clinical records of two age groups, 2- to 5-yr-olds (n 5 231) and 6- to 10-yr-olds(n 5 223). With each group, we tested several CFA models for goodness of fit with the data. The acceptedmodel was identical for each group and indicated that tactile, vestibular–proprioceptive, visual, and auditorysystems form distinct, valid factors that are not age dependent. In contrast, alternative models that groupeditems according to sensory processing problems (e.g., over- or underresponsiveness within or acrosssensory systems) did not yield valid factors. Results indicate that distinct sensory system constructs can bemeasured validly using questionnaire data.
