Introduction: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a heritable neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by differences in brain development and brain activity resulting in inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity that shows heightened mental health risks and social difficulties persisting into adult life. Sensory processing (SP) describes how the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system receive, interpret, organize, and react to stimuli, both internal, such as the proprioceptive and vestibular system, and external, such as the basic five senses.
Objectives: This study aims to investigate SP in adults with ADHD and ADHD presenting symptoms, compare them to their typically developing peers, and explore its influence on social participation.
Methods and Results: Using three assessments, the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS), The Arabic Adult-Adolescent Sensory Profile (AASP), and a structured social participation questionnaire, we found a significant difference across all SP domains except taste/smell, as well as in social participation, in individuals with ADHD and ADHD presenting symptoms.
Conclusion: Our findings confirm that SP differences in ADHD persist into adulthood, suggesting that interventions addressing social difficulties from a sensory processing perspective in people with ADHD could prove beneficial.