Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Brief Report: Assessment of Early Sensory Processing in Infants at High-Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • Brief Report
  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study assessed sensory processing differences between 24-month infants at high-risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), each with an older sibling with ASD, and low-risk infants with no family history of ASD. Sensory processing differences were assessed using the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile, a parent-reported measure. Groups were compared based on 3-year outcomes: (a) high-risk infants subsequently diagnosed with ASD; (b) high-risk infants without an ASD diagnosis; and (c) low-risk infants without an ASD diagnosis. Analyses showed that high-risk infants diagnosed with ASD have more difficulty with auditory processing (i.e., responses to auditory stimuli) and lower registration (i.e., lacking sensation awareness) compared to controls. Thus, behavioral responses to sensory input represent early risk markers of ASD, particularly in high-risk infants.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

References

  • Baranek, G. T. (1999). Autism during infancy: A retrospective video analysis of sensory-motor and social behaviors at 9–12 months of age. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 29, 213–224.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

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

    Article  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. doi:10.1007/s10803-008-0593-3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bryson, S. E., Zwaigenbaum, L., Brian, J., Roberts, W., Szatmari, P., & McDermott, C. (2007). A prospective case series of high-risk infants who developed autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 37, 12–24. doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0328-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clifford, S. M., Hurdy, K., Elsabbagh, M., Charman, T., Johnson, M. H., & The BASIS Team. (2012). Temperament in the first 2 years of life in infants at high-risk for autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43, 673–686. doi:10.1007/s10803-012-1612-y.

  • Crane, L., Goddard, L., & Pring, L. (2009). Sensory processing in adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Autism, 13, 215–228. doi:10.1177/1362361309103794.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dawson, G., Osterling, J., Meltzoff, A. N., & Kuhl, P. (2000). Case study of the development of an infant with autism from birth to two years of age. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 21, 299–313.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • del Rosario, M., Gillespie-Lynch, K., Johnson, S., Sigman, M., & Hutman, T. (2014). Parent-reported temperament trajectories among infant siblings of children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 44, 381–393. doi:10.1007/s10803-013-1876-x.

  • Dickie, V. A., Baranek, G. T., Schultz, B., Watson, L. R., & McComish, C. S. (2009). Parent reports of sensory experiences of preschool children with and without autism: a qualitative study. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63, 172–181. doi:10.5014/ajot.63.2.172.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, W. (2002). Infant/toddler sensory profile: User’s manual. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, W., & Daniels, D. B. (2002). Initial development of the Infant/toddler sensory profile. Journal of Early Intervention, 25, 27–41. doi:10.1177/105381510202500104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garon, N., Bryson, S.E., Zwaigenbaum, L., Smith, I.M., Brian, J., Roberts, W., & Szatmari, P. (2009). Temperament and its relationship to autistic symptoms in a high-risk infant sib cohort. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 37, 59–79. doi:10.1007/s10802-008-9258-0.

  • Gotham, K., Pickles, A., & Lord, C. (2009). Standardizing ADOS scores for a measure of severity in autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39, 693–705. doi:10.1007/s10803-008-0674-3.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kern, J. K., Trivedi, M. H., Garver, C. R., Grannemann, B. D., Andrews, A. A., Savla, J. S., et al. (2006). The pattern of sensory processing abnormalities in autism. Autism, 10, 480–494. doi:10.1177/1362361306066564.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Rutter, M., DiLavore, P. C., & Risi, S. (2002). Autism diagnostic observation (ADOS) manual. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Rutter, M., & LeCouteur, A. J. (1994). Autism diagnostic interview—revised: A revised version of a diagnostic interview for caregivers of individuals with possible pervasive developmental disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 24, 659–685.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mullen, E. (1995). Mullen scales of early learning. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mulligan, S., & White, B. P. (2012). Sensory and motor behaviours of infant siblings of children with and without autism. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66, 556–565. doi:10.5014/ajot2012.004077.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Donnell, S., Deitz, J., Kartin, D., Nalty, T., & Dawson, G. (2012). Sensory processing, problem behaviours, adaptive behavior, and cognition in preschool children with autism spectrum disorders. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66, 586–594. doi:10.5014/ajot.2012.004168.

    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 Ch ild Psychology and Psychiatry, 46, 1255–1268. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2005.01431.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zwaigenbaum, L., Bryson, S., Rogers, T., Roberts, W., Brian, J., & Szatmari, P. (2005). Behavioural manifestations of autism in the first year of life. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, 23, 143–152.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zwaigenbaum, L., Bryson, S. E., Szatmari, P., Brian, J., Smith, I. M., Roberts, W., et al. (2012). Sex differences in children with autism spectrum disorder identified within a high-risk infant cohort. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42, 2585–2596. doi:10.1007/x10803-012-1515-y.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Autism Speaks, Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions, Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, NeuroDevNet and Autism Research Training program. The authors thank all the families who participated in the Canadian Infant Siblings Study. The authors also acknowledge the members of the Canadian Infant Siblings Study Team: Sanne Jilderda, Jonathan Leef, Bonnie MacKinnon, Stacey MacWilliam, Theresa McCormick, Mayank Rehani, Ellen Robertson, Jana Roberto, Ann Thompson and Carol Wilson.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Tamara Germani, Lonnie Zwaigenbaum & Lori Ann R. Sacrey

  2. Autism Research Centre, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Lonnie Zwaigenbaum & Lori Ann R. Sacrey

  3. Dalhousie University/IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada

    Susan Bryson & Isabel Smith

  4. Bloorview Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Jessica Brian

  5. University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Jessica Brian, Wendy Roberts & Peter Szatmari

  6. The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Wendy Roberts & Peter Szatmari

  7. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Peter Szatmari

  8. Peel’s Children Centre, Mississauga, ON, Canada

    Caroline Roncadin

  9. Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB, Canada

    Nancy Garon

  10. University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Tracy Vaillancourt

  11. Department of Pediatrics, Autism Research Centre – E209, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, 10230-111 Avenue, Edmoton, AB, T5G 0B7, Canada

    Tamara Germani

Authors
  1. Tamara Germani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lonnie Zwaigenbaum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Susan Bryson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jessica Brian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Isabel Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Wendy Roberts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Peter Szatmari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Caroline Roncadin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Lori Ann R. Sacrey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Nancy Garon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Tracy Vaillancourt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tamara Germani.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Germani, T., Zwaigenbaum, L., Bryson, S. et al. Brief Report: Assessment of Early Sensory Processing in Infants at High-Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 44, 3264–3270 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2175-x

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2175-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation