The quality of life of adults with sensory integration disorders

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to characterize the quality of life as assessed by surveyed adults with sensory integration disorders in the dimensions of values, goals and motivation. The biographies of the subjects prove that one does not grow out of sensory integration disorders. Undiagnosed children become adults and sensory processing dysfunctions affect development not only in childhood, but also in adulthood. The main problem, the solution to which the conducted research served, took the form of the following question: how do adults with sensory integration disorders assess the quality of their lives? This question allowed the following specific questions to emerge: What values guide the respondents in their lives, which values have priority for them? What areas of life, and to what extent, satisfy the respondents? How do sensory integration disorders affect the respondents' assessment of their quality of life? What is the role of the diagnosis of sensory disorders in assessing the quality of life of respondents diagnosed with dysfunctions in middle adulthood? The qualitative research approach made it possible to address topics that go beyond what is objective and measurable. The individual case study allowed for the phenomenon under study to be described and analysed.