Are sensory processing difficulties in infancy predictive of child mental health at 5‐years? Findings from the Etude Longitudinale Francaise depuis l'Enfance French national birth cohort

Background People with neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions have been demonstrated to have elevated rates of sensory processing (SP) difficulties in research and practice but the temporal order of this relationship is unclear. Methods This study sought to investigate whether SP difficulties in infancy predicted mental health at 5‐years as measured by the parent‐rated Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Sensory group in infancy was determined by latent class assignment from behavioural indicators proposed by patient and participant involvement. Data from 10,735 5‐year‐olds from a French birth cohort, recruited at birth were analysed using regression techniques. Results Approximately 1 in 10 infants experienced ‘definite’ sensory difficulties This group had significantly higher rates of clinical mental health symptoms at 5‐years (14.8% compared to 5.1% and 5.5% in the ‘typical’ and ‘possible’ sensory groups respectively) x 2 = 166.35, p ≤ 0.001. In fully‐adjusted models (controlling for cumulative sociodemographic risk, sex, history of maternal psychological difficulties), the odds of being in the group experiencing clinical levels of mental health symptoms at 5‐years increased by odds ratio 2.9 (95% confidence interval: 2.4–3.6) for children in the ‘definite’ sensory difficulties group compared to the ‘typical’ sensory group. There was no significant difference in odds between the ‘typical’ and ‘possible’ sensory groups. Conclusion Infants with significant sensory difficulties have much higher rates of mental health symptoms by 5‐years. Sensory difficulties may be prognostic of later child mental health and thus should be addressed in early intervention. Future research in child mental health should include standardised measures of SP as a potential transdiagnostic marker for preventative intervention.