What is the Sensory Profile 2 (SP-2)?

Why does your child cover their ears at the school assembly, or seek out spinning and crashing play? The Sensory Profile 2 helps make sense of these everyday moments.

In short

The Sensory Profile 2 (SP-2) is a clinician-administered questionnaire that helps describe how a child takes in and responds to everyday sensory information — sounds, sights, touch, movement, taste and smell. Completed by parents, carers or teachers and interpreted by a qualified professional, it captures a child's sensory patterns across daily life: home, school and play. It is not a diagnosis or a pass-fail test — it is a structured way of understanding how your child experiences the world, so support can be tailored to them.

What the SP-2 assesses

The SP-2 is a family of standardised questionnaires covering children from birth through to around 14 years, with versions for different ages and settings (including an infant/toddler form and a school companion completed by teachers). A familiar adult answers questions about how often the child responds in certain ways to everyday sensory experiences.

It looks at sensory processing across the senses — auditory (hearing), visual, tactile (touch), movement, body position, and oral (taste and smell) — and describes recognisable patterns in how a child responds. For example, some children seek lots of movement and input, some avoid or are overwhelmed by it, some are highly sensitive and notice everything, and some are slow to register sensations and may seem not to notice. None of these patterns is 'good' or 'bad' — they simply explain why a child might find a noisy classroom hard, dislike certain clothing textures, or constantly want to jump and spin. This understanding helps therapists and families adapt the environment and daily routines so the child can be calm, comfortable and ready to learn.

When it is used

An occupational therapist may suggest the SP-2 when sensory responses seem to affect a child's comfort, attention, play or daily routines — such as mealtimes, dressing, sleep or settling at school. It is one piece of a fuller developmental picture, used alongside observation and other assessments, never on its own.

The Pinnacle way

This is general information, not a diagnosis — a clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care, never from an app or form alone. Our occupational therapists may use tools such as the Sensory Profile 2 alongside hands-on observation, then build an individualised plan that may draw on occupational therapy and sensory-friendly strategies for home and school.

Trusted sources

The American Occupational Therapy Association and ASHA on sensory processing and assessment in children; WHO Nurturing Care Framework on supporting early development across everyday settings; the American Academy of Pediatrics and HealthyChildren on understanding children's individual differences.

Next step — If your child's sensory responses are affecting daily comfort, play or learning, book an occupational therapy assessment to understand their unique sensory profile and start the right support.