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. 2008 Sep;38(8):1485-98.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-007-0528-4. Epub 2008 Feb 27.

Sensory sensitivities and performance on sensory perceptual tasks in high-functioning individuals with autism

Nancy J Minshew  1 , Jessica A Hobson
Affiliations

Sensory sensitivities and performance on sensory perceptual tasks in high-functioning individuals with autism

Nancy J Minshew et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2008 Sep.

Abstract

Most reports of sensory symptoms in autism are second hand or observational, and there is little evidence of a neurological basis. Sixty individuals with high-functioning autism and 61 matched typical participants were administered a sensory questionnaire and neuropsychological tests of elementary and higher cortical sensory perception. Thirty-two percent of autism participants endorsed more sensory sensitivity items than any control participants. Both groups made few errors on elementary sensory perception items. Controls made few errors on higher cortical sensory perception items, but 30% of the autism participants made high numbers of errors. These findings support the common occurrence of sensory symptoms in high functioning autism based on first person report, and the presence of neurological abnormalities in higher cortical sensory perception.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Number of tactile sensitivity symptoms endorsed on self-report version of SSQ (0 – 3)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Number of low pain/temperature threshold symptoms endorsed on self-report version of SSQ (0 – 2)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Number of high pain/temperature threshold symptoms endorsed on self-report version of SSQ (0 – 2)
Figure 4
Figure 4
Number of other sensory symptoms endorsed on self-report version of SSQ (0 – 6)
Figure 5
Figure 5
Mean number of errors for sensory processing domains by diagnosis.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Distribution of scores on the Simple Sensory Composite
Figure 7
Figure 7
Distribution of scores on the Complex Sensory Composite
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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