Linking sensory processing patterns and somatosensory thresholds to behavioural and emotional symptoms in adolescents with ADHD

Sensory difficulties in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) exacerbate behavioural and emotional challenges. Despite their clinical prevalence, objective psychophysical assessments of sensory performance in ADHD patients remain scarce, leaving a critical gap in our neurobiological understanding. This study multimodally investigated sensory processing via the Adult/Adolescent Sensory Profile (AASP), Somatosensory Detection (SDT) and Temporal Discrimination Thresholds (STDT) in 26 adolescents with ADHD and 29 comparison adolescents. The link between sensory processing and ADHD-related behavioural and emotional symptoms was assessed via the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Significant differences emerged in AASP tactile sensitivity ( p = 0.016) and avoidance ( p = 0.008), although objective thresholds (SDT/STDT) did not reach statistical significance between the groups. Tactile sensory seeking was correlated with externalizing symptoms ( r = 0.444). Tactile low registration was correlated with externalizing ( r = 0.443) and hyperactivity symptoms ( r = 0.517). While subjective sensory processing behaviours differ significantly in ADHD, the accompanying statistical trends in objective detection thresholds warrant caution, as they may point to subtle psychophysical variations that require larger cohorts to evaluate conclusively.