Validation of the German Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire and replication of sensory processing differences in students with higher and lower Autism-Spectrum Quotient

Abstract

Background The Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire (GSQ) gives insight into sensory processing differences (hypo- and hyper-sensitivity across modalities), which is a clinically defining characteristic of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Because there is no validated German version of this instrument, this study aimed at validating the German GSQ. Further, a replication of the GSQ’s sensory processing differences was intended. Methods University students of Technische Universität or Universitätsklinikum in Dresden, Germany, were recruited via email distribution or the university homepage and 297 German-speaking students completed the online survey, comprising the German GSQ, Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and Symptom-Checklist (SCL-90). For validation of the German GSQ, confirmatory factor analyses followed by exploratory factor analyses were applied. Results The German GSQ has moderate to low validity, good to acceptable reliability, and a different internal structure from the original GSQ. Replicating the sensory processing differences in students with higher and lower AQ was not successful. Conclusions Results indicate that the GSQ, developed especially for individuals with ASD, is less informative for the general population if there are not enough individuals with higher AQ scores in the sample.

Aplicaciones de perfiles sensoriales en adolescentes y adultos en el ámbito de salud: una revisión narrativa de la literatura

“…Por otro lado, el cuestionario de procesamiento sensorial mide los sistemas que están involucrados en cada cuadrante de los perfiles sensoriales (Blanche et al, 2014), mientras que el cuestionario sensorial de Glasgow está destinado, fundamentalmente, a población adulta con trastornos del espectro autista y trata de conocer la frecuencia de eventos atípicos de procesamiento sensorial específicamente la hipersensibilidad y la hiposensibilidad a las siete modalidades sensoriales: visual, auditiva, gustativa, olfativa, táctil, vestibular y propioceptiva. En los últimos años se ha validado para población francesa (Sapey-Triomphe et al, 2018), holandesa (Kuiper et al, 2019) y alemana (Zeisel et al, 2023).…”

Sensory profile applications in adolescents and adults in the health care: a narrative review of the literature

“…On the other hand, the sensory processing questionnaire measures the systems that are involved in each quadrant of the sensory profiles (Blanche et al, 2014), while the Glasgow sensory questionnaire is intended, fundamentally, for the adult population with autism spectrum disorders and treats to know the frequency of atypical sensory processing events, specifically hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity to the seven sensory modalities: visual, auditory, gustatory, olfactory, tactile, vestibular and proprioceptive. In recent years it has been validated for the French (Sapey-Triomphe et al, 2018), Dutch (Kuiper et al, 2019) and German (Zeisel et al, 2023) populations.…”