Sensory Processing Patterns in Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Typical Development
Abstract
AIMS: The purpose of this study was to examine sensory processing in children ages 3-14 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and typical development (TD) using the Sensory Profile 2nd Edition (Dunn, 2014). METHODS: Participants included 239 children (ASD = 77; ADHD = 78; TD = 84) matched on age and gender. Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to compare the extent to which the three grsoups differed on sensory processing patterns (i.e., sensitivity, avoiding, registration, seeking) and sensory systems (i.e., auditory, visual, touch, movement, body position, oral, conduct, attention, social). We also examined the effect of chronological age. RESULTS: Children with ASD and ADHD did not differ in sensory processing patterns which were elevated as compared to a TD group. Children with ASD showed the highest rate of oral processing differences, followed by ADHD and TD. Children with ADHD had higher visual processing scores than children with ASD and TD. Older children had lower scores for seeking, auditory, visual, movement, touch, and conduct than younger children, regardless of diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that sensory features may be an area of overlap of behaviors in ASD and ADHD, which may have implications for intervention approaches for children with these conditions.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The visual sensory system of ASD individuals seems to be similar to TD peers, as opposed to their auditory system.
“The visual sensory system of ASD individuals seems to be similar to TD peers, as opposed to their auditory system (Little et al. 2018).”
From Autism Spectrum Disorder and auditory sensory alterations: a systematic review on the integrity of cognitive and neuronal functions related to auditory processing (2023) · cites this paper as Little et al. 2018
Sensory hypersensitivity is reported to be a significant component of feeding problems or disorders in children with ASDs.
“Furthermore, not only social interactions are affected by sensory sensitivity; sensory hypersensitivity is reported to be a significant component of feeding problems or disorders in children with ASDs [40].”
From Food Selectivity and Its Implications Associated with Gastrointestinal Disorders in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (2022) · cites this paper as [40]
Cites
Willcutt, E. G., Doyle, A. E., Nigg, J. T., Faraone, S. V., & Pennington, B. F. (2005) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.02.006 · Cited by 3,568 · see citing works
Tomchek, S. D., & Dunn, W. (2007) · American Journal of Occupational Therapy · doi:10.5014/ajot.61.2.190 · Cited by 1,534 · cited 2× · see citing works
“…with ASD show differences in sensory processing from those with other developmental disabilities (Baranek et al., 2006; Ben-Sasson et al., 2007; Tomchek & Dunn, 2007) and others suggest children with ADHD demonstrate sensory processing differences from children with typical development (Dunn &…”
BackgroundSelf-citationExecutive dysfunction in autism☆
Hill, E. L. (2004) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2003.11.003 · Cited by 1,468 · see citing works
A meta-analysis of sensory modulation symptoms in individuals with autism spectrum disorders
Ben-Sasson, A., Hen, L., Fluss, R., Cermak, S. A., Engel-Yeger, B., & Gal, E. (2009) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-008-0593-3 · Cited by 1,047 · cited 2× · see citing works
“Additionally, we hypothesized that only children with ASD would demonstrate increased scores on registration (Ben-Sasson et al., 2009).”
BackgroundResultBaranek, G. T., David, F. J., Poe, M. D., Stone, W. L., & Watson, L. R. (2006) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2005.01546.x · Cited by 975 · cited 3× · see citing works
“Research shows that difficulties in registration (i.e., hyporesponsiveness) may be a more distinctive sensory processing pattern in ASD versus those with other developmental disabilities (Baranek et al., 2006; Baranek et al., 2013).”
BackgroundConcept Evolution in Sensory Integration: A Proposed Nosology for Diagnosis
Miller, L. J., Anzalone, M. E., Lane, S. J., Cermak, S. A., & Osten, E. T. (2007) · American Journal of Occupational Therapy · doi:10.5014/ajot.61.2.135 · Cited by 953 · see citing works
Nigg, J. T., Willcutt, E. G., Doyle, A. E., & Sonuga-Barke, E. J. S. (2005) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2004.08.025 · Cited by 886 · see citing works
Vision in autism spectrum disorders
Simmons, D. R., Robertson, A. E., McKay, L. S., Toal, E., McAleer, P., & Pollick, F. E. (2009) · Vision Research · doi:10.1016/j.visres.2009.08.005 · Cited by 827 · see citing works
Enhanced pitch sensitivity in individuals with autism: a signal detection analysis
Bonnel, A., Mottron, L., Peretz, I., Trudel, M., Gallun, E., & Bonnel, A.-M. (2003) · Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience · doi:10.1162/089892903321208169 · Cited by 527 · see citing works
Ashburner, J., Ziviani, J., & Rodger, S. (2008) · American Journal of Occupational Therapy · doi:10.5014/ajot.62.5.564 · Cited by 515 · see citing works
The pattern of sensory processing abnormalities in autism
Kern, J. K., Trivedi, M. H., Garver, C. R., Grannemann, B. D., Andrews, A. A., Savla, J. S., Johnson, D. G., Mehta, J. A., & Schroeder, J. L. (2006) · Autism · doi:10.1177/1362361306066564 · Cited by 515 · see citing works
Sensory and attention abnormalities in autistic spectrum disorders
Liss, M., Saulnier, C., Fein, D., & Kinsbourne, M. (2006) · Autism · doi:10.1177/1362361306062021 · Cited by 450 · see citing works
Sensori-motor and Daily Living Skills of Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Jasmin, E., Couture, M. M., McKinley, P. A., Reid, G., Fombonne, E. J., & Gisel, E. G. (2008) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-008-0617-z · Cited by 403 · see citing works
Tactile Perception in Adults with Autism: a Multidimensional Psychophysical Study
Cascio, C., McGlone, F., Folger, S., Tannan, V., Baranek, G., Pelphrey, K. A., & Essick, G. (2008) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-007-0370-8 · Cited by 380 · see citing works
Sensory integration and the perceptual experience of persons with autism
Iarocci, G., & McDonald, J. (2006) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-005-0044-3 · Cited by 376 · see citing works
Baker, A. E. Z., Lane, A., Angley, M. T., & Young, R. L. (2008) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-007-0459-0 · Cited by 366 · see citing works
The Use of Visual Supports to Facilitate Transitions of Students with Autism
Dettmer, S., Simpson, R. L., Myles, B. S., & Ganz, J. B. (2000) · Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1177/108835760001500307 · Cited by 332 · see citing works
Dunn, W. (2007) · Infants & Young Children · doi:10.1097/01.iyc.0000264477.05076.5d · Cited by 329 · see citing works
Self-citationAutism and ADHD: Overlapping and discriminating symptoms
Mayes, S. D., Calhoun, S. L., Mayes, R. D., & Molitoris, S. (2012) · Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2011.05.009 · Cited by 324 · see citing works
Altered auditory and multisensory temporal processing in autism spectrum disorders
Kwakye, L. D., Foss-Feig, J. H., Cascio, C. J., Stone, W. L., & Wallace, M. T. (2011) · Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnint.2010.00129 · Cited by 311 · see citing works
Baranek, G. T., Watson, L. R., Boyd, B. A., Poe, M. D., David, F. J., & McGuire, L. (2013) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579412001071 · Cited by 307 · see citing works
Sensory modulation dysfunction in children with attention-deficit–hyperactivity disorder
Mangeot, S., Miller, L. J., McIntosh, D. N., McGrath‐Clarke, J., Simon, J., Hagerman, R. J., & Goldson, E. (2001) · Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology · doi:10.1017/s0012162201000743 · Cited by 302 · see citing works
The Sensory Profile: A Discriminant Analysis of Children With and Without Disabilities
Ermer, J., & Dunn, W. (1998) · American Journal of Occupational Therapy · doi:10.5014/ajot.52.4.283 · Cited by 292 · see citing works
Self-citationSomatosensory processing in neurodevelopmental disorders
Cascio, C. J. (2010) · Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s11689-010-9046-3 · Cited by 285 · see citing works
Extreme sensory modulation behaviors in toddlers with autism spectrum disorders
Ben-Sasson, A., Cermak, S. A., Orsmond, G. I., Tager-Flusberg, H., Carter, A. S., Kadlec, M. B., & Dunn, W. (2007) · American Journal of Occupational Therapy · doi:10.5014/ajot.61.5.584 · Cited by 281 · see citing works
Self-citationSensory clusters of toddlers with autism spectrum disorders: differences in affective symptoms
Ben‐Sasson, A., Cermak, S. A., Orsmond, G. I., Tager-Flusberg, H. B., Kadlec, M. B., & Carter, A. S. (2008) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2008.01899.x · Cited by 256 · see citing works
Autism and ADHD: how far have we come in the comorbidity debate
Gargaro, B. A., Rinehart, N. J., Bradshaw, J. L., Tonge, B. J., & Sheppard, D. M. (2011) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2010.11.002 · Cited by 244 · see citing works
Baranek, G. T., Boyd, B. A., Poe, M. D., David, F. J., & Watson, L. R. (2007) · American Journal on Mental Retardation · doi:10.1352/0895-8017(2007)112[233:hspiyc]2.0.co;2 · Cited by 240 · see citing works
Zazpe (2014) · doi:10.1177/0883073813498821 · Cited by 239 · see citing works
Enhanced Cortisol Response to Stress in Children in Autism
Spratt, E. G., Nicholas, J. S., Brady, K. T., Carpenter, L. A., Hatcher, C. R., Meekins, K. A., Furlanetto, R. W., & Charles, J. M. (2012) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-011-1214-0 · Cited by 222 · see citing works
Unusual Sensory Sensitivities in Autism: A possible crossroads
Talay‐Ongan, A., & Wood, K. (2000) · International Journal of Disability Development and Education · doi:10.1080/713671112 · Cited by 222 · see citing works
Cheung, P. P. P., & Siu, A. M. H. (2009) · Research in Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2009.07.009 · Cited by 209 · see citing works
Comparing cortisol, stress, and sensory sensitivity in children with autism
Corbett, B. A., Schupp, C. W., Levine, S., & Mendoza, S. P. (2009) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.64 · Cited by 202 · see citing works
Patterns of Sensory Processing in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Dunn, W., & Bennett, D. (2002) · OTJR Occupational Therapy Journal of Research · doi:10.1177/153944920202200102 · Cited by 195 · see citing works
Self-citationLane, A. E., Molloy, C. A., & Bishop, S. L. (2014) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.1368 · Cited by 193 · see citing works
Association of Sensory Processing and Eating Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Nadon, G., Feldman, D. E., Dunn, W., & Gisel, E. G. (2011) · Autism Research and Treatment · doi:10.1155/2011/541926 · Cited by 191 · see citing works
Self-citationHochhauser, M., & Engel-Yeger, B. (2010) · Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2010.01.015 · Cited by 187 · see citing works
Diagnostic Validity of Sensory Over-Responsivity: A Review of the Literature and Case Reports
Reynolds, S., & Lane, S. J. (2007) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-007-0418-9 · Cited by 179 · see citing works
Reynolds, S., Bendixen, R. M., Lawrence, T., & Lane, S. J. (2011) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1173-x · Cited by 176 · see citing works
Ausderau, K., Furlong, M., Sideris, J. H., Bulluck, J., Little, L. M., Watson, L. R., Boyd, B. A., Belger, A., Dickie, V. A., & Baranek, G. T. (2014) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1111/jcpp.12219 · Cited by 167 · see citing works
Self-citationHow Sensory Experiences of Children With and Without Autism Affect Family Occupations
Bagby, M. S., Dickie, V. A., & Baranek, G. T. (2011) · American Journal of Occupational Therapy · doi:10.5014/ajot.2012.000604 · Cited by 160 · see citing works
Johnston, S. S., NELSON, C., Evans, J., & PALAZOLO, K. (2003) · Augmentative and Alternative Communication · doi:10.1080/0743461031000112016 · Cited by 138 · see citing works
Marquenie, K., Rodger, S., Mangohig, K., & Cronin, A. F. (2011) · Australian Occupational Therapy Journal · doi:10.1111/j.1440-1630.2010.00896.x · Cited by 133 · see citing works
Lane, S. J. (2010) · Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnint.2010.00008 · Cited by 126 · see citing works
Responses of Preschool Children With and Without ADHD to Sensory Events in Daily Life
Yochman, A., Parush, S., & Ornoy, A. (2004) · American Journal of Occupational Therapy · doi:10.5014/ajot.58.3.294 · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Somatosensory function in boys with ADHD and tactile defensiveness
Parush, S., Sohmer, H., Steinberg, A., & Kaitz, M. (2007) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2006.11.004 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
Sensory Overresponsivity and Anxiety in Children With ADHD
Reynolds, S., & Lane, S. J. (2009) · American Journal of Occupational Therapy · doi:10.5014/ajot.63.4.433 · Cited by 100 · see citing works
Sensory processing abilities of children with ADHD
Shimizu, V. T., Bueno, O. F. A., & Miranda, M. C. (2014) · Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy · doi:10.1590/bjpt-rbf.2014.0043 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
Sensory Processing Disorders and Social Participation
Cosbey, J., Johnston, S. S., & Dunn, M. L. (2010) · American Journal of Occupational Therapy · doi:10.5014/ajot.2010.09076 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
Engel‐Yeger, B., & Ziv-On, D. (2011) · Research in Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2011.01.008 · Cited by 93 · see citing works
Pfeiffer, B., Daly, B. P., Nicholls, E. G., et al. (2014) · Physical & Occupational Therapy In Pediatrics · doi:10.3109/01942638.2014.904471 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
Mattard-Labrecque, C., Amor, L. B., & Couture, M. M. (2013) · Europe PMC (PubMed Central) · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Early and Concurrent Features of ADHD and Sensory Over-Responsivity Symptom Clusters
Ben‐Sasson, A., Soto, T. W., Heberle, A. E., Carter, A. S., & Briggs‐Gowan, M. J. (2014) · Journal of Attention Disorders · doi:10.1177/1087054714543495 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
The Moderating Role of Sensory Overresponsivity in HPA Activity
Reynolds, S., Lane, S. J., & Gennings, C. (2009) · Journal of Attention Disorders · doi:10.1177/1087054708329906 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Update of a Meta-analysis of Sensory Symptoms in ASD: A New Decade of Research
Ben-Sasson, A., Gal, E., Fluss, R., Katz-Zetler, N., & Cermak, S. A. (2019) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-019-04180-0 · Cited by 263 · see citing works
for ELENA study group, Dellapiazza, F., Michelon, C., Vernhet, C., Muratori, F., Blanc, N., Picot, M.-C., & Baghdadli, A. (2021) · European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1007/s00787-020-01516-5 · Cited by 107 · see citing works
The co‐occurrence of neurodevelopmental problems in dyslexia
Brimo, K., Dinkler, L., Gillberg, C., Lichtenstein, P., Lundström, S., & Åsberg Johnels, J. (2021) · Dyslexia · doi:10.1002/dys.1681 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Gonçalves, A. M., & Monteiro, P. (2023) · Journal of Neural Transmission · doi:10.1007/s00702-023-02595-9 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Supporting Self-Regulation of Children with ADHD Using Wearables: Tensions and Design Challenges
Cibrian, F. L., Lakes, K. D., Tavakoulnia, A., Guzman, K., Schuck, S., & Hayes, G. R. (2020) · Proceedings of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/3313831.3376837 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
Valenzuela-Zamora, A. F., Ramírez-Valenzuela, D. G., & Ramos-Jiménez, A. (2022) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu14132660 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Exploring sensory phenotypes in autism spectrum disorder
Scheerer, N. E., Curcin, K., Stojanoski, B., Anagnostou, E., Nicolson, R., Kelley, E., Georgiades, S., Liu, X., & Stevenson, R. A. (2021) · Molecular Autism · doi:10.1186/s13229-021-00471-5 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
ELENA study group, Dellapiazza, F., Michelon, C., Oreve, M.-J., Robel, L., Schoenberger, M., Chatel, C., Vesperini, S., Maffre, T., Schmidt, R., et al. (2020) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-019-03970-w · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Zulkifli, M. N., Kadar, M., Fenech, M., & Hamzaid, N. H. (2022) · Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2022.101928 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Mikami, M., Hirota, T., Takahashi, M., Adachi, M., Saito, M., Koeda, S., Yoshida, K., Sakamoto, Y., Kato, S., Nakamura, K., et al. (2021) · Child Psychiatry & Human Development · doi:10.1007/s10578-020-01013-5 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Lyons-Warren, A. M., McCormack, M. C., & Holder, J. L. (2022) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci12020137 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Richards, K. L., Karvelis, P., Lawrie, S. M., & Seriès, P. (2020) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0243100 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Fetta, A., Soliani, L., Trevisan, A., Pugliano, R., Ricci, E., Di Pisa, V., Pignataro, V., Angotti, M., Rocca, A., Salce, B., et al. (2022) · Genes · doi:10.3390/genes13020356 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
- Authors
- Little, L. M., Dean, E., Tomchek, S., & Dunn, W.
- Affiliations
- Rush University (US)
- University of Kansas Medical Center (US)
- University of Louisville (US)
- Corresponding author
- Little, Lauren M.
- Venue
- Physical & Occupational Therapy In Pediatrics
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2017-12-14
- Volume
- 38
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 243-254
- ISSN
- 0194-2638 (ISSN-L)
- 1541-3144
- OpenAlex
- W2774024257
- Cited by
- 278
- References
- 54
- Citations by year
- 2026: 91 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 34 · 2022: 35 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 4
- FWCI
- 6.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Physical & Occupational Therapy In Pediatrics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Pearson Publishing (N/A)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Keywords
- sensory processing, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, sensory sensitivity, sensory seeking, sensory avoiding, sensory registration, oral processing, visual processing, children, age effects, typical development
- MeSH terms
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Adolescent, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Child Development, Child, Preschool, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Sensation
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
