Abstract
Background
Sensory processing differences are reported both in children with ADHD and in children with autism. Given the substantial overlap between autism and ADHD, the current study examined which sensory features were uniquely predictive of autistic traits after controlling for ADHD symptoms, age, IQ, and sex in a sample of children and adolescents with autism aged 6–17 years.
Methods
The sample included 61 children and adolescents with autism. The Sensory Profile was used to examine Dunn’s quadrant model (seeking, sensitivity, avoiding, registration), ADHD symptoms were measured using hyperactivity and attention problems BASC-2 T-scores, and autistic traits were measured using the AQ.
Results
After controlling for age, IQ, sex, and ADHD symptoms, Dunn’s sensitivity quadrant predicted autistic traits.
Conclusions
Findings provide insight into the phenotype of autism and ADHD. Sensory sensitivity may be unique to autism over and above elevated ADHD symptoms that are commonly seen in this population.
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Notes
Since we are speaking predominantly about children and adolescents, we primarily use person-first language; however, when referring to studies including adult participants or when referring to autistic traits, identity-first language is used (Bury et al. in J Autism Dev Disord 53(2):677–687, 2020; Kenny et al. in Autism 20(4):442–462, 2016; Lei et al. in Autism 25(5):1349– 1367, 2021).
Abbreviations
- SP:
-
Sensory profile
- AQ:
-
Autism spectrum quotient
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Winnie Dunn for personally sharing the most updated item formulary for SP quadrant scoring (2006). Special thanks to Grace Baranek and Emily Campi for providing insight into the current study’s findings. Special thanks also to the participating families, all current and previous CARE Lab members for their assistance in data collection, as well as Beth Prieve and Devon Pacheco from the Pediatric Audiology Lab.
Funding
This project was supported by the National Institutes of Health 1R01MH101536-01 (PI: Russo), the Hill Collaboration for Environmental Medicine (PI: Russo), and the Collaboration for Unprecedented Success and Excellence (PI: Russo).
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NR and ECM: conceptualized the idea for this project. ECM: wrote the paper and analyzed the data. KMA: contributed to the design and intellectual feedback. WRK: participated in intellectual feedback. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Masters, E.C., Antshel, K.M., Kates, W.R. et al. Brief Report: Sensory Features Associated with Autism After Controlling for ADHD Symptoms. J Autism Dev Disord (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-023-06046-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-023-06046-y