Comparison of sensory profile scores of young children with and without autism spectrum disorders
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to describe the sensory-based behaviors of young children with autism as reported by their parents on the Sensory Profile. Factor scores of children with autism were compared with those of children without autism. METHOD: The Sensory Profile questionnaire was completed by parents of 40 children with autism 3 through 6 years of age and parents of 40 children without autism 3 through 6 years of age. RESULTS: The performance of children with autism was significantly different from that of children without autism on 8 of 10 factors. Factors where differences were found included Sensory Seeking, Emotionally Reactive, Low Endurance/Tone, Oral Sensitivity, Inattention/Distractibility, Poor Registration, Fine Motor/Perceptual, and Other. CONCLUSION: Findings from the study suggest that young children with autism have deficits in a variety of sensory processing abilities as measured by the Sensory Profile. Further research is needed to replicate these findings, to examine the possibility of subgroups on the basis of sensory processing, and to contrast the sensory processing abilities of children with other disabilities to those of children with autism.
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Sensory atypicalities have also been observed in individuals with intellectual disability and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
“it is worth noting that sensory atypicalities have also been observed in individuals with intellectual disability and other neurodevelopmental disorders (Green et al., 2003, 2016; Lane et al., 2012; Tomchek and Dunn, 2007; Watling et al., 2001)”
From Atypical interoception as a common risk factor for psychopathology: A review (2021) · cites this paper as Watling et al., 2001
Structured questionnaires consistently identify processing challenges in multiple sensory domains in ASD.
“structured questionnaires invariably identify the presence of processing challenges in a number of sensory domains (Baranek et al., 2006; Rogers et al., 2003; Watling et al., 2001)”
From Behavioral, Perceptual, and Neural Alterations in Sensory and Multisensory Function in Autism Spectrum Disorder (2015) · cites this paper as Watling et al., 2001
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- Authors
- Watling, R. L., Deitz, J., & White, O.
- Affiliations
- University of Washington (US)
- Corresponding author
- Watling, Renee L.
- Venue
- American Journal of Occupational Therapy
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2001-07
- Volume
- 55
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 416-423
- ISSN
- 0272-9490 (ISSN-L)
- 1943-7676
- OpenAlex
- W2134881909
- Cited by
- 296
- References
- 18
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 0.87
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Occupational Therapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Public Health Service (MCJ 539159-08-0)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Therapy Practice and Research
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing, sensory profile, young children, sensory seeking, emotional reactivity, oral sensitivity, distractibility, sensory registration
- MeSH terms
- Autistic Disorder, Child, Child Development, Developmental Disabilities, Child, Preschool, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Humans, Occupational Therapy, Sensation Disorders
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