Skip to main content
Log in

Sensory Processing Subtypes in Autism: Association with Adaptive Behavior

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Children with autism are frequently observed to experience difficulties in sensory processing. This study examined specific patterns of sensory processing in 54 children with autistic disorder and their association with adaptive behavior. Model-based cluster analysis revealed three distinct sensory processing subtypes in autism. These subtypes were differentiated by taste and smell sensitivity and movement-related sensory behavior. Further, sensory processing subtypes predicted communication competence and maladaptive behavior. The findings of this study lay the foundation for the generation of more specific hypotheses regarding the mechanisms of sensory processing dysfunction in autism, and support the continued use of sensory-based interventions in the remediation of communication and behavioral difficulties in autism.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

References

  • Adamson, A., O’Hare, A., & Graham, C. (2006). Impairments in sensory modulation in children with autistic spectrum disorder. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 69, 357–364.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.) (text revision). Arlington, VA: Author.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ashburner, J., Ziviani, J., & Rodger, S. (2008). Sensory processing and classroom emotional, behavioral, and educational outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorder. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62, 564–573.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, A. E. Z., Lane, A., Angley, M. T., & Young, R. L. (2008). The relationship between sensory processing patterns and behavioural responsiveness in autistic disorder: A pilot study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38, 867–875.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baranek, G. T., Boyd, B. A., Poe, M. D., David, F. J., & Watson, L. R. (2007). Hyperresponsive sensory patterns in young children with autism, developmental delay and typical development. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 112, 233–245.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baranek, G. T., David, F. J., Poe, M. D., Stone, W. L., & Watson, L. R. (2006). Sensory experiences questionnaire: Discriminating sensory features in young children with autism, developmental delays, and typical development. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 47, 591–601.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baranek, G. T., Foster, L. G., & Berkson, G. (1997). Tactile defensiveness and stereotyped behaviors. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 51, 91–95.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bennetto, L., Kuschner, E. S., & Hyman, S. L. (2007). Olfaction and taste processing in autism. Biological Psychiatry, 62, 1015–1021.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Sasson, A., Cermak, S. A., Orsomond, G. I., Tager-Flusberg, H., Carter, A. S., Kadlec, M. B., et al. (2007). Extreme sensory modulation behaviors in toddlers with autism spectrum disorders. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61, 584–592.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Sasson, A., Hen, L., Fluss, R., Cermak, S. A., Engel-Yeger, B., & Gal, E. (2009). A meta-analysis of sensory modulation symptoms in individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39, 1–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bölte, S., & Poustka, F. (2002). The relation between general cognitive level and adaptive behavior domains in individuals with autism with and without co-morbid mental retardation. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 33(2), 165–172.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, W. (1999). Sensory profile: User’s manual San Antonio. TX: The Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, M. A., Gomes, H., & Gravel, J. (2008). Mismatch negativity in children with autism and typical development. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38, 52–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dziuk, M. A., Gidley Larson, J. C., Apostu, A., Mahone, E. M., Denclkla, M. B., & Mostofsky, S. H. (2007). Dyspraxia in autism: Association with motor, social, and communicative deficits. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 49, 734–739.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ermer, J., & Dunn, W. (1998). The sensory profile: A discriminant analysis of children with and without disabilities. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 52, 283–290.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Field, D., Garland, M., & Williams, K. (2003). Correlates of specific childhood feeding problems. Journal of Paediatric Child Health, 39, 299–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, B. J., Del’Homme, M., Guthrie, D., & Zhang, F. (1999). Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale scores as a function of age and initial IQ in 210 autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 29(5), 379–384.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hilton, C., Graver, K., & LaVesser, P. (2007a). Relationship between social competence and sensory processing in children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 1, 164–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hilton, C., Wente, L., LaVesser, P., Ito, M., Reed, C., & Herzberg, G. (2007b). Relationship between motor skill impairment and severity in children with asperger syndrome. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 1, 339–349.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kern, J. K., Garver, C. R., Carmody, T., Andrews, A. A., Mehta, J. A., & Trivedi, M. H. (2008). Examining sensory modulation in individuals with autism as compared to community controls. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2, 85–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kern, J. K., Garver, C. R., Grannemann, B. D., Trivedi, M. H., Carmody, T., Andrews, A. A., et al. (2007a). Response to vestibular sensory events in autism. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 1, 67–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kern, J. K., Trivedi, M. H., Grannemann, B. D., Garver, C. R., Johnson, D. G., Andrews, A. A., et al. (2007b). Sensory correlations in autism. Autism, 11, 123–134.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kielhofner, G. (2006). Research in occupational therapy: Methods of inquiry for enhancing practice. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis.

  • Koenig, K. P., & Kinnealey, M. (2008). Research brief: Sensory, motor, and communication challenges for persons with autism spectrum disorders. Special Interest Section Quarterly: Sensory Integration, 31, 3–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kraijer, D. (2000). Review of adaptive behavior studies in mentally retarded persons with autism/pervasive developmental disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30(1), 39–47.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leekam, S. R., Nieto, C., Libby, S. J., Wing, L., & Gould, J. (2007). Describing the sensory abnormalities of children and adults with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37, 894–910.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liss, M., Saulnier, C., Fein, D., & Kinsbourne, M. (2006). Sensory and attention abnormalities in autistic spectrum disorders. Autism, 10, 155–172.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Pickles, A., McLennan, J., Rutter, M., Bregman, J., Folstein, S., et al. (1997). Diagnosing autism: Analyses of data from the Autism Diagnostic Interview. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 27(5), 501–517.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malaspina, D., & Coleman, E. (2003). Olfaction and social drive in schizophrenia. Archives of General Psychiatry, 60, 578–584.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martins, Y., Young, R. L., & Robson, D. C. (2008). Feeding and eating behaviors in children with autism and typically developing children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38, 1878–1887.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McIntosh, D. N., Miller, L. J., Shyu, V., & Dunn, W. (1999a). Overview of the short sensory profile. In W. Dunn (Ed.), The sensory profile examiner’s manual (pp. 59–73). San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • McIntosh, D. N., Miller, L. J., Shyu, V., & Hagerman, R. (1999b). Sensory-modulation disruption, electrodermal responses, and functional behaviors. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 41, 608–615.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, L. J., Anzalone, M. E., Lane, S. J., Cermak, S. A., & Osten, E. T. (2007). Concept evolution in sensory integration: A proposed nosology for diagnosis. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61, 135–140.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, L. J., Schoen, S., Coll, J., Brett-Green, B., & Reale, M. (2005). Final report: Quantitative psychophysiologic examination of sensory processing in children with autism spectrum disorders. Los Angeles, CA: Cure Autism Now.

    Google Scholar 

  • Piek, J. P., & Dyck, M. J. (2004). Sensory-motor deficits in children with developmental coordination disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autistic disorder. Human Movement Science, 23, 475–488.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, S. J., & Ozonoff, S. (2005). Annotation: What do we know about sensory dysfunction in autism? A critical review of the empirical evidence. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46, 1255–1268.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schreck, K. A., & Williams, K. (2006). Food preferences and factors influencing food selectivity for children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 27, 353–363.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sparrow, S. S., Balla, D. A., & Cicchetti, D. V. (1984). Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales: Interview edition survey form manual. Minnesota: American Guidance Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tecchio, F., Benassi, R., Zappasodi, F., Gialloreti, L. E., Palermo, M., Seri, S., et al. (2003). Auditory sensory processing in autism: A magnetoencephalographic study. Biological Psychiatry, 54, 647–654.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tomchek, S. D., & Dunn, W. (2007). Sensory processing in children with and without autism: A comparative study using the short sensory profile. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61, 190–200.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tomita, M. R. (2006). Methods of analysis: From univariate to multivariate statistics. In G. Kielhofner (Ed.), Research in occupational therapy: Methods of inquiry for enhancing practice. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watling, R. L., Deitz, J., & White, O. (2001). Comparison of sensory profile scores of young children with and without autism spectrum disorders. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 55, 416–423.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhong, S., & Ghosh, J. (2003). A unified framework for model-based clustering. Journal of Machine Learning Research, 4, 1001–1037.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We wish to express our gratitude to: the participating children and their parents, Ms Carrie Partington, for her involvement in data collection; Drs Paul Williamson and Simon Dennis for statistical support and advice; and Drs Lucy Miller and Sarah Schoen for their comments on early versions of this paper. This study was supported in part by the Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation, South Australia.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alison E. Lane.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lane, A.E., Young, R.L., Baker, A.E.Z. et al. Sensory Processing Subtypes in Autism: Association with Adaptive Behavior. J Autism Dev Disord 40, 112–122 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0840-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0840-2

Keywords

Navigation