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A Systematic Review of the Evidence for Hyporesponsivity in ASD

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Abstract

Sensory modulation difficulties are common in children with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Whilst both hyporesponsivity and hyperresponsivity have been established in ASD comparative to typically developing controls, it has been proposed that hyporesponsivity may distinguish the sensory profile of ASD from other neurodevelopmental conditions. This paper aimed to systematically evaluate evidence for a syndrome-specific profile of hyporesponsivity in individuals with ASD when compared to individuals from clinical comparison groups, evaluating 10 eligible papers. Support was cautiously identified for a syndrome-specific sensory profile of hyporesponsivity. Four factors that reduced variability in findings were as follows: chronological age, type of comparison group, sensory measure and quality of study. Whilst hyporesponsivity in ASD was identified, the use of poorly defined comparison groups, over-representation of children with ASD and intellectual disabilities, and younger age ranges complicate generalisation of this body of work. Recommendations for further research in this field are offered.

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Notes

  1. There is, of course, the third possibility that an individual may show neurological signs of registration, in the absence of conscious recognition of this registration, and thus no behavioural response.

  2. There must be an alternative causal explanation for the hyporesponsivity of registering/non-responders other than hypo-arousal. It is possible that the registering/non-responders are motivated by hyperresponsivity, rather than hyporesponsivity. Grandin writes, ‘My hearing is like having a hearing aid with the volume control stuck on "super loud." It is like an open microphone that picks up everything. I have two choices: turn the mike on and get deluged with sound, or shut it off. Mother reported that sometimes I acted like I was deaf’ (in Melillo, 2015).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Newcastle University, Ridley Building, Newcastle, NE1 7RU, UK

    Sarah Jane Watts

  2. Clinical Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Ridley Building, Newcastle, NE1 7RU, UK

    Jacqueline Rodgers

  3. Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK

    Deborah Riby

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  1. Sarah Jane Watts
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Correspondence to Sarah Jane Watts.

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Watts, S.J., Rodgers, J. & Riby, D. A Systematic Review of the Evidence for Hyporesponsivity in ASD. Rev J Autism Dev Disord 3, 286–301 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-016-0084-y

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