A Preliminary Study Characterizing Subcortical and Cortical Auditory Processing and Their Relation to Autistic Traits and Sensory Features

Matsuba, Erin; Prieve, Beth A.; Cary, Emily; Pacheco, Devon; Madrid, Angela; McKernan, Elizabeth P.; Kaplan‐Kahn, Elizabeth A.; Russo, Natalie

doi:10.1007/s10803-022-05773-y

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 97 publications

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“…Sensory processing is crucial for forming reliable environmental precepts upon which other cognitive and adaptive abilities depend. Perturbations in this process may originate from ASD-related differences in low-level processing in sensory-dedicated regions in the brain [ 9 , 10 ] and continue to have ramifications across the lifespan. In effect, difficulty sensing, processing, and integrating the dynamic elements of social stimuli into a stable representation may be etiological in ASD, associating strongly with impaired community functioning, limited independent living capabilities, and reduced quality of life [ 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Auditory Domain Sensitivity and Neuroplasticity-Based Targeted Cognitive Training in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Tseng

DuBois

Biagianti

et al. 2023

JCM

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Sensory processing, along with the integration of external inputs into stable representations of the environment, is integral to social cognitive functioning; challenges in these processes have been reported in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) since the earliest descriptions of autism. Recently, neuroplasticity-based targeted cognitive training (TCT) has shown promise as an approach to improve functional impairments in clinical patients. However, few computerized and adaptive brain-based programs have been trialed in ASD. For individuals with sensory processing sensitivities (SPS), the inclusion of some auditory components in TCT protocols may be aversive. Thus, with the goal of developing a web-based, remotely accessible intervention that incorporates SPS concerns in the auditory domain, we assessed auditory SPS in autistic adolescents and young adults (N = 25) who started a novel, computerized auditory-based TCT program designed to improve working memory and information processing speed and accuracy. We found within-subject gains across the training program and between pre/post-intervention assessments. We also identified auditory, clinical, and cognitive characteristics that are associated with TCT outcomes and program engagement. These initial findings may be used to inform therapeutic decisions about which individuals would more likely engage in and benefit from an auditory-based, computerized TCT program.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Auditory Domain Sensitivity and Neuroplasticity-Based Targeted Cognitive Training in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Tseng

DuBois

Biagianti

et al. 2023

JCM

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How auditory processing influences the autistic profile: A review

Poulsen,

Williams,

Dwyer

et al. 2024

Autism Research

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We need to combine sensory data from various sources to make sense of the world around us. This sensory data helps us understand our surroundings, influencing our experiences and interactions within our everyday environments. Recent interest in sensory‐focused approaches to supporting autistic people has fixed on auditory processing—the sense of hearing and the act of listening—and its crucial role in language, communications, and social domains, as well as non‐social autism‐specific attributes, to understand better how sensory processing might differ in autistic people. In this narrative review, we synthesize published research into auditory processing in autistic people and the relationship between auditory processing and autistic attributes in a contextually novel way. The purpose is to understand the relationship between these domains more fully, drawing on evidence gleaned from experiential perspectives through to neurological investigations. We also examine the relationship between auditory processing and diagnosable auditory conditions, such as hyperacusis, misophonia, phonophobia, and intolerance to loud sounds, as well as its relation to sleep, anxiety, and sensory overload. Through reviewing experiential, behavioral and neurological literature, we demonstrate that auditory processes interact with and shape the broader autistic profile—something not previously considered. Through a better understanding of the potential impact of auditory experiences, our review aims to inform future research on investigating the relationship between auditory processing and autistic traits through quantitative measures or using qualitative experiential inquiry to examine this relationship more holistically.

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