Many professionals donít think sensory processing disorder is a
valid diagnosis. A. Jean Ayres was an occupational therapist and
developmental psychologist. She first wrote about the concept in
the early 1970s. Ask The Expert February 04, 2013 Many
professionals dont think sensory processing disorder is a valid
diagnosis. A. Jean Ayres was an occupational therapist and
developmental psychologist. She first wrote about the concept in
the early 1970s. Dr. Ayres believed some children are prone to
sensory overload. Their senses overwhelm them. Sights, sounds,
smells, tastes or physical contact make them uncomfortable. In
theory, this overload leads to social, emotional and behavior
problems. Examples are fidgeting, outbursts of anger and
difficult conduct. Many experts question the diagnosis, however.
Kids with autism, attention deficit disorder, and mood disorders
develop similar problems. So its not clear that a separate label
is needed. Current diagnostic manuals do not list sensory
processing disorder as a d