Sensory Processing Disorders and Emotional Distress Among Young Children Exposed to Traumatic Events

Importance: Sensory processing disorders have been found mostly among school-age children exposed to traumatic events or after maltreatment. Therefore, it is important to examine sensory processing and emotional distress among young children exposed to traumatic events after a collective terror attack. Objective: To examine the correlation between sensory processing patterns and emotional distress among young children exposed to traumatic events after a terror attack. Design: Cross-sectional design with purposive criterion sampling. Setting: Community. Participants: Thirty-seven children ages 2 to 7 yr, residents of the Gaza envelope (the populated areas in the Southern District of Israel within 4.3 mi of the Gaza Strip border) in Israel, who were directly affected by the events that followed the October 7, 2023, terror attack. Outcomes and Measures: Demographic questionnaire, the Pediatric Emotional Distress Scale (PEDS), and the Sensory Profile 2. Results: Participants scored significantly higher than the cutoff scores for PEDS Total Score and the Anxious/ Withdrawn, Fearful, and Acting Out subscales. Almost half the participants showed sensory processing patterns that were scored as “more” or “much more” than others, with sensory avoidance and sensitivity being the most prevalent. Significant correlations were found between most of the emotional distress and sensory processing patterns. Conclusions and Relevance: Sensory processing difficulties frequently occurred and were significantly correlated with emotional distress among young children exposed to traumatic events. Occupational therapy practitioners working with children with sensory processing difficulties play a role in addressing the environmental and regulatory needs of young children affected by trauma. Plain-Language Summary: This study examined how young children ages 2 to 7 years were affected by the traumatic events after the October 7, 2023, terror attack in Israel. It focused on the correlation between emotional distress and sensory processing. Emotional distress refers to strong negative feelings that may affect how a child behaves. Among young children, it may show up as fear, anxiety or acting out. Sensory processing is how children notice, interpret, and respond to things they see, hear, touch, taste, or feel. Some children are overly sensitive and can be easily overwhelmed by sights, sounds, or textures. Others may not notice sensations that most people do, some may seek extra stimulation, and some may avoid certain sensations. The study included 37 children living near the Gaza border who directly experienced traumatic events. The results showed that many had high levels of emotional distress and sensory processing difficulties, especially sensitivity and avoidance. Emotional distress and sensory processing were correlated. The findings suggest that early childhood trauma can affect how children feel and respond to inputs in daily life. Occupational therapy practitioners can help these children by supporting their sensory needs to improve their participation in daily activities.