Sensory Over-Responsivity as an Added Dimension in ADHD

Abstract

Years of research have added to our understanding of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). None-the-less there is still much that is poorly understood. There is a need for, and ongoing interest in, developing a deeper understanding of this disorder to optimally identify risk and better inform treatment. Here, we present a compilation of findings examining ADHD both behaviorally and using neurophysiologic markers. Drawing on early work of McIntosh and co-investigators, we examined response to sensory challenge in children with ADHD, measuring HPA activity and electrodermal response (EDR) secondary to sensory stressors. In addition, we have examined the relationship between these physiologic measures, and reports of behavioral sensory over-responsivity and anxiety. Findings suggest that sensory responsivity differentiates among children with ADHD and warrants consideration. We link these findings with research conducted both prior to and after our own work and emphasize that there a growing knowledge supporting a relationship between ADHD and sensory over-responsivity, but more research is needed. Given the call from the National Institute of Health to move toward a more dimensional diagnostic process for mental health concerns, and away from the more routine categorical diagnostic process, we suggest sensory over-responsivity as a dimension in the diagnostic process for children with ADHD.

Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome—A Disorder of Action-Perception Integration

“…As to ADHD, sensory over-responsivity has been reported (119), which translated into TEC might point toward alterations in the formation, or composition, of objects files. This might also be true for patients with autism spectrum disorders, in whom increased sensitivity to external stimuli is a very characteristic feature (120).…”

Effect of the Brain Balance Program® on Cognitive Performance in Children and Adolescents with Developmental and Attentional Issues

“…For example, it is plausible that the cognitive improvements observed in this study may have occurred, in part, through an indirect effect on improvements in sensory regulation and/or in motor skills. There is a significant positive correlation between the number of ADHD traits and the frequency of reported sensory processing problems [56], and children with ADHD exhibit more sensory processing problems than children without ADHD [57,58,59], suggesting that sensory difficulties could be part of the ADHD phenotype [60]. Interestingly, adding a sensory-stimulation intervention to psychostimulant treatment in children with ADHD produces significant gains in reading recognition and comprehension and in math calculations and problem solving [61].…”

Vestibular Stimulation May Drive Multisensory Processing: Principles for Targeted Sensorimotor Therapy (TSMT)

“…Multisensory processing, a fundamental mechanism for disambiguating complex environmental signals [2], if impaired may be implicated in a multitude of diseases and disorders. Previous reports have established compromised multisensory integration (MSI) in delayed motor development [1], moderately severe to severe cerebral palsy [3,4], intellectual disability [5,6], autism spectrum disorder [7,8], problems with attention including diagnosed attention deficit, hyperactivity disorder [9], sensory organ dysfunction [10] and presence of sensory processing disorders [11]. Furthermore, as MSI seems necessary for language development [12,13] its disruption leads to learning disabilities e.g., dyslexia [14].…”