Sensory Processing DisorderSPDNCT07256327
Chiropractic for Kids With Sensory Processing Challenges
An observational study of Sensory Processing Disorder, run by Life University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The main aim of this pilot observational study is to investigate the feasibility of implementing our novel assessment battery in tandem with normal and customary chiropractic care in a practice-based setting using a pediatric population with parent-reported sensory processing disorder (SPD). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 5 to 12 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Sensory Processing Disorder
- How many people
- 17 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Aug 2026to Dec 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 5 to 12 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Study population: Children aged 5-12 years whose parents/caregivers identify the presence of symptoms associated with sensory processing disorder (SPD). A formal clinical diagnosis is not required for inclusion.
Who may be able to join
- 5-12 years of age.
- SSP total scores ≤154
Who cannot join
- A known heart condition, including pacemakers
- Chiropractic care within the past 30 days
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site
Well Adjusted Students
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, 54729
About this study
Official title: The Effects of Chiropractic on Kids With Sensory Processing Challenges: a Pilot Observational Study
The main aim of this pilot observational study is to investigate the feasibility of implementing our novel assessment battery in tandem with normal and customary chiropractic care in a practice-based setting using a pediatric population with parent-reported sensory processing disorder (SPD). The secondary aim is to assess potential changes in objective and subjective outcomes.
Read the detailed description
Up to 17 students with probable or definite parent-reported SPD as determined by the Short Sensory Profile (SSP) will be enrolled. The primary outcomes are 1) eligibility, 2) tolerability, 3) adherence, and 4) retention. The secondary aim is to assess the potential effects of subluxation-based pediatric chiropractic care on electrocardiography (ECG)-derived heart rate variability (HRV) and parent-reported outcomes (PROs). Results from this study will inform the feasibility of a larger study powered to assess the effectiveness of pediatric chiropractic care on clinical outcomes in a pediatric population with SPD.
- Conditions
- Sensory Processing Disorder
- Keywords
- Pediatrics, Chiropractic, Autonomic Nervous System, Pilot Projects, Sensation Disorders, Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Medical subject headings
- Sensation Disorders, Neurodevelopmental Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Children (5-12) with SPD-Related Symptoms | Children aged 5-12 years whose parents/caregivers identify the presence of symptoms associated with sensory processing disorder (SPD). A formal clinical diagnosis is not required for inclusion. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Proportion of students enrolled
Number of students enrolled, divided by the total number of eligible students identified via the online screen. This assesses 'Enrollment'
Measured: From online screen submission to consent (up to 4 weeks)
Proportion of completed assessment sessions
The number of completed ECG sessions, divided by the total number of scheduled ECG sessions (excludes sessions scheduled after withdrawal). This assesses 'Compliance'
Measured: From enrollment to end of trial participation (up to 12 weeks)
Proportion of students adhering to the care plan
The number of students attending at least 90% of their scheduled chiropractic care sessions, divided by the total number of students enrolled (excludes sessions schedule after withdrawal). This assesses 'Adherence'.
Measured: From enrollment to the end of participation (up to 12 weeks)
Proportion of students retained
The number of participants attending the final ECG session, divided by the total number of students enrolled. This assesses 'Retention'.
Measured: From enrollment to the end of the 12 week study period.
Secondary outcomes (3)
Change in Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
Change in resting-state heart rate variability (HRV) from baseline. Children will undertake 3 minutes of electrocardiography (ECG) while seated. ECG data will be used to derive HRV.
Measured: From enrollment to the end of participation (up to 12 weeks)
Change in Short Sensory Profile (SSP) Scores
Change in SSP scores from baseline. The SSP is a 38-item parent-report designed to assess a child's responsiveness to sensory stimuli including tactile sensitivity, taste/smell sensitivity, and visual/auditory sensitivity.
Measured: From enrollment to the end of participation (up to 12 weeks)
Change in Pediatric Autonomic Symptom Scales (PASS) Scores
Change in PASS scores from baseline. The PASS is an 80-item parent-report questionnaire designed to assess autonomic function in children across four main subscales: 1) mood, behavior, and emotion; 2) secretomotor/sensory integration; 3) urinary/gastrointestinal systems; 4) circulation, thermoregulation, sleep, and breathing.
Measured: From enrollment to the end of participation (up to 12 weeks)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Dec 2025
- Study startAug 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionDec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Sensory Processing DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 17 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Life University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Tyson Perez, DC, PhD, Life University
- Investigators
- Tyson Perez, DC, PhD, Principal investigator, Life University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07256327
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- EXPTP011226
- Acronym
- SPD
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 20 Nov 2025
- Last updated
- 19 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Deidentified IPD necessary to reproduce results.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 19 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effects of Chiropractic on Kids With Sensory Processing Challenges: a Pilot Observational Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07256327
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SPD / EXPTP011226
- Conditions
- Sensory Processing Disorder
- Keywords
- Pediatrics, Chiropractic, Autonomic Nervous System, Pilot Projects, Sensation Disorders, Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 17 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Life UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 1 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The main aim of this pilot observational study is to investigate the feasibility of implementing our novel assessment battery in tandem with normal and customary chiropractic care in a practice-based setting using a pediatric population with parent-reported sensory processing disorder (SPD). The secondary aim is to assess potential changes in objective and subjective outcomes.
Detailed description
Up to 17 students with probable or definite parent-reported SPD as determined by the Short Sensory Profile (SSP) will be enrolled. The primary outcomes are 1) eligibility, 2) tolerability, 3) adherence, and 4) retention. The secondary aim is to assess the potential effects of subluxation-based pediatric chiropractic care on electrocardiography (ECG)-derived heart rate variability (HRV) and parent-reported outcomes (PROs). Results from this study will inform the feasibility of a larger study powered to assess the effectiveness of pediatric chiropractic care on clinical outcomes in a pediatric population with SPD.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Children (5-12) with SPD-Related Symptoms | – | –Children aged 5-12 years whose parents/caregivers identify the presence of symptoms associated with sensory processing disorder (SPD). A formal clinical diagnosis is not required for inclusion. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 5 to 12 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
- Study population
- Children aged 5-12 years whose parents/caregivers identify the presence of symptoms associated with sensory processing disorder (SPD). A formal clinical diagnosis is not required for inclusion.
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- 5-12 years of age.
- SSP total scores ≤154
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- A known heart condition, including pacemakers
- Chiropractic care within the past 30 days
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Proportion of students enrolled
Time frame: From online screen submission to consent (up to 4 weeks)
Number of students enrolled, divided by the total number of eligible students identified via the online screen. This assesses 'Enrollment'
Proportion of completed assessment sessions
Time frame: From enrollment to end of trial participation (up to 12 weeks)
The number of completed ECG sessions, divided by the total number of scheduled ECG sessions (excludes sessions scheduled after withdrawal). This assesses 'Compliance'
Proportion of students adhering to the care plan
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of participation (up to 12 weeks)
The number of students attending at least 90% of their scheduled chiropractic care sessions, divided by the total number of students enrolled (excludes sessions schedule after withdrawal). This assesses 'Adherence'.
Proportion of students retained
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of the 12 week study period.
The number of participants attending the final ECG session, divided by the total number of students enrolled. This assesses 'Retention'.
3 secondary outcomes
Change in Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of participation (up to 12 weeks)
Change in Short Sensory Profile (SSP) Scores
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of participation (up to 12 weeks)
Change in Pediatric Autonomic Symptom Scales (PASS) Scores
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of participation (up to 12 weeks)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 19 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Deidentified IPD necessary to reproduce results.
Related trials for Sensory Processing Disorder
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Adapting the Sensory Environment to Reduce Stress in Children With Autism During Dental Visits
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Tyson Perez, DC, PhD principal investigator
Life University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Sensory Processing Disorder, run by Life University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Research Programs & Grants Administrator (678-331-4527, angela.seckington@life.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Proportion of students enrolled (time frame: From online screen submission to consent (up to 4 weeks)). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 Aug 2026.