The SENSOR project

Welcome to the SENSOR research project!

Who can take part:

  • Toddlers aged 3 years (or about to turn 3 soon!) who do not have significant developmental delay, or visual or hearing impairments.

Our Research Focus:

Our research seeks to better understand why some children behave differently in response to everyday visual, tactile, and auditory sensory stimuli. For example, why do some children hate the feeling of a clothing label on the back of our jumper, whilst some don’t notice when their teacher has coloured their hair a different shade of red.

The aim of our research is to advance knowledge of early sensory development to inform how best to support for children with sensory-related difficulties. We will assess your child at age 3, 4 and 5 years to help us understand how sensory processing differences change over time, and how they impact on key aspects of child development.

How does it work?

Prerequisite Survey Pathway:

  1. Read our Information Sheet and Consent Form
    using this link HERE: https://research.sc/participant/login/dynamic/BD89B018-702C-49AC-8BE3-6CE6769D8487
     
  2. Once you have completed Step 1, complete our 30 minutes survey using the link provided at the end of the Consent Form.


For participating in the survey, we will enter you into a raffle for a chance to win one of three £20 shopping vouchers!

 

Optional In-Person Pathway: 

  1. Selected families that complete our survey may be contacted to take-part in the second part of the project with their toddler for an in-person day of sensory play observations, virtual reality games, and measures of brain activity at the ToddlerLab in London!
    We will schedule these visits at a time and day that works best for your family.

  2. We will give you a new Information Sheet, Consent Forms and Survey with more details about these assessments. You can ask any questions you like before agreeing to take part.

  3. Come back again when your child turns age 4 and then again when they are age 5


For participating in our in-person study, you will receive a £10 Amazon voucher for each in-person visit! Your travel expenses will be reimbursed (up to £40 each visit). We will provide lunch for you and your child. Your toddler will also receive our very own CBCD gifts and certificate each visit!

 

How much time will it take: 

  • The survey pathway will take up to 30 minutes. 

  • The in-person lab visit will take approximately 5 hours. This includes lunch and snack breaks!!

 

To see what a day at the lab is like on the SENSOR project, watch the video clip below!

 

To download our project flyer, please click on this link

 

SEE YOU SOON!

If you have any questions or want to chat about the study, contact us at cbcd-sensor-study@bbk.ac.uk

 

FAQ

  • How do I get to the TodderLab?

In addition to all the London buses, Russell Square, Goodge Street, Euston, Euston Square, Warren Street and King's Cross & St Pancras stations are all within walking distance. If you prefer to use a taxi service, you can arrange that yourself or ask us to do so for you. Travel costs of up to a total of £40.00 will be reimbursed. If you decide to drive to the ToddlerLab, we can offer free parking right in front of our building for visiting parents.

  • Can I bring other children?

Yes! You are more than welcome to bring other children or siblings. We have a comfortable waiting room with toys and space to play and can arrange for one of our DBS checked staff to sit with them whilst you and your child are taking part in the studies. However, we do ask that you let us know in advance if you are bringing anyone else so we can make the necessary arrangement. You are also welcome to bring your own carer, such as another family member or friend on your visit. All of their travel costs are also reimbursed.

  • What are the benefits and risks of taking part?

Your participation will be helpful for understanding the reasons why some children are more or less response to everyday sensory experiences. This will hopefully help us understand how to better support children with sensory-related difficulties.

  • Will you use my data to make a diagnosis for my child?

No. The assessments we use in our research studies cannot diagnose psychiatric or neurodevelopmental conditions. However, if you have any concerns about your child, or want to access your data, we can send you data from the questionnaires and assessments we conduct if that would be helpful.