What a sensory assessment looks at
Everyone processes sensory information differently. For some people, especially many autistic people and people with intellectual disability or acquired brain injury, sensory differences have a big effect on daily life. Busy shops may be overwhelming, clothing may be unbearable, or a person may seek constant movement to stay regulated.
A sensory assessment looks at how a person responds across the senses, including touch, sound, sight, taste, smell, movement and body awareness, and how this affects sleep, eating, dressing, learning, work, relationships and behaviour.
What happens in the assessment
An occupational therapist usually combines several sources of information:
- Standardised questionnaires completed by a parent, teacher or the person themselves
- Observation at home, school, work or in the clinic
- Interviews about routines, triggers, what helps and what makes things harder
- Information from other reports, such as speech pathology, psychology or a behaviour support plan
The Sensory Profile 2
The Sensory Profile 2 is one of the most widely used tools. Versions cover children from birth to 14 years and 11 months, with separate forms for infants, toddlers and children, and a school companion completed by teachers. The Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile covers people aged 11 and over.
Results are based on Dunn's model of sensory processing and are grouped into four patterns: seeking, avoiding, sensitivity and registration. They help explain why someone reacts the way they do, which guides the strategies.
What you get from it
A useful report turns the results into practical, everyday recommendations. These may include:
- A sensory diet: a planned set of activities through the day to help the person stay calm, alert and regulated
- Changes to the environment, such as quieter spaces, lighting changes or seating options
- Strategies for specific hard times, such as showering, haircuts, meals or transitions
- Advice for family, teachers, support workers or employers
- Recommendations for equipment, where it is needed for the person's disability
Cost and NDIS funding
OTs charge by the hour, including report writing, up to the NDIS price limit of $193.99 an hour for occupational therapy in 2026/27 in most of Australia. Ask for a written quote that includes the report.
NDIS participants usually fund sensory assessment and therapy from the improved daily living skills part of their Capacity Building budget. That budget is reduced by 10% when a plan is created, reassessed or renewed under the October 2026 support determination, so check what is left before booking.
Sensory processing differences on their own do not usually give someone access to the NDIS. They are usually assessed as part of a broader disability.
Tips for getting the most from it
- Keep notes for a week or two about hard moments, what happened before them and what helped
- Ask the OT how the recommendations link to your NDIS goals
- Make sure the strategies fit your real routine and home
- Share the report with school, carers and support workers so everyone uses the same approach
- Book a follow up session to adjust strategies once you have tried them