Measuring change in somatosensation across the lifespan

Winnie Dunn; James W Griffith; Dory Sabata; Mary T Morrison; Joy C MacDermid; Amy Darragh; Roseann Schaaf; Brian Dudgeon; Lisa Tabor Connor; Leeanne Carey; Jennifer Tanquary

doi:10.5014/ajot.2015.014845

Measuring change in somatosensation across the lifespan

Am J Occup Ther. 2015 May-Jun;69(3):6903290020p1-9. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2015.014845.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Winnie Dunn, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, is Professor and Chair, Department of Occupational Therapy Education, School of Health Professions, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City; wdunn@kumc.edu.
² James W. Griffith, PhD, is Research Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago.
³ Dory Sabata, OTD, OTR, FAOTA, is Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy Education, School of Health Professions, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City.
⁴ Mary T. Morrison, OTD, OTR, is Adjunct Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy Education, School of Health Professions, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City.
⁵ Joy C. MacDermid, PhD, OTR, is Professor, School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
⁶ Amy Darragh, PhD, OTR, is Assistant Professor, Division of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus.
⁷ Roseann Schaaf, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, is Professor and Chair, Department of Occupational Therapy, Jefferson School of Health Professions, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
⁸ Brian Dudgeon, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, is Professor and Chair, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions, University of Alabama, Birmingham.
⁹ Lisa Tabor Connor, PhD, MSOT, is Inaugural Chair and Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston.
¹⁰ Leeanne Carey, PhD, OTR, is Head, Division of Neurorehabilitation and Recovery, National Stroke Research Institute, and Adjunct Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
¹¹ Jennifer Tanquary, MEd, is Research Program Administrator, Department of Occupational Therapy Education, School of Health Professions, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City.

Abstract

Objective: The study aim was to determine natural variability in somatosensation across age groups using brief measures. We validated measures in a community-dwelling population as part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Toolbox for Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function (NIH Toolbox; http://www.nihtoolbox.org).

Method: Participants included community-dwelling children and adults (N=367, ages 3-85 yr) across seven sites. We tested haptic recognition, touch detection-discrimination, and proprioception using brief affordable measures as required by the NIH Toolbox.

Results: Accuracy improved from young children to young adults; from young to older adults, the pattern reversed slightly. We found significant differences between adults and older adults. One proprioception test (kinesthesia; p=.003) showed gender differences (females more accurate). We provide expected score ranges for age groups as a basis for understanding age-related expectations for somatosensory perception.

Conclusion: The age-related patterns of somatosensory perception from this study refine decision making about performance.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging / physiology*
Child
Child, Preschool
Discrimination, Psychological
Female
Humans
Kinesthesis / physiology*
Male
Middle Aged
Proprioception / physiology
Recognition, Psychology
Reproducibility of Results
Sex Factors
Touch / physiology
Touch Perception / physiology*
Young Adult