Journal Article

Describing the Sensory Abnormalities of Children and Adults with Autism

Nieto, Carmen, Wing, Lorna, Leekam, Susan R., Gould, Judith, Libby, Sarah J.

2007

Overview

Patterns of sensory abnormalities in children and adults with autism were examined using the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO). This interview elicits detailed information about responsiveness to a wide range of sensory stimuli. Study 1 showed that over 90% of children with autism had sensory abnormalities and had sensory symptoms in multiple sensory domains. Group differences between children with autism and clinical comparison children were found in the total number of symptoms and in specific domains of smell/taste and vision. Study 2 confirmed that sensory abnormalities are pervasive and multimodal and persistent across age and ability in children and adults with autism. Age and IQ level affects some sensory symptoms however. Clinical and research implications are discussed.

• Publisher: Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Addition / Adult / Adult and adolescent clinical studies / Adults / Age / Age differences / Algorithms / Auditory Perception / Autism / Autism Spectrum Disorders / Autistic adults / Autistic children / Autistic Disorder - diagnosis / Autistic Disorder - epidemiology / Autistic people / Behavior Patterns / Biological and medical sciences / Blindness / Child / Child clinical studies / Child Development / Child, Preschool / Children / Clinical assessment / Clinical research / Cognitive Ability / Communication / Communication Disorders / Communication Disorders - diagnosis / Communication Disorders - epidemiology / Coping / Deaf Blind / Deafness / Developmental Delays / Developmental disorders / Diagnostic Tests / Disorders / Disorders of higher nervous function. Focal brain diseases. Central vestibular syndrome and deafness. Brain stem syndromes / Female / Humans / Infantile autism / Intelligence / Intelligence Quotient / Intelligence tests / Interviews / Language Disorders - diagnosis / Language Disorders - epidemiology / Language Impairments / Male / Matched Groups / Medical diagnosis / Medical sciences / Mental Health Programs / Miscellaneous / Multiple symptoms / Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes) / Neurology / Nonverbal Communication / Occupational Therapy / Olfaction / Perceptual Impairments / Profiles / Psychological Patterns / Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry / Psychopathology. Psychiatry / Resistance (Psychology) / Responsiveness / Science Laboratories / Sensation Disorders - diagnosis / Sensation Disorders - epidemiology / Sensory evaluation / Sensory Experience / Sensory impairment / Sensory Integration / Sensory stimulation / Sensory stimuli / Severity of Illness Index / Social Behavior / Stimuli / Symptoms / Symptoms (Individual Disorders) / Visual Stimuli