Sensory theory in autism makes sense: A brief review of the past and present research

Bogdashina, O

doi:10.13172/2052-7810-1-1-391

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Participants spoke about experiencing some difficulties during sex which included finding it “awkward” or needing to accommodate for sensory difficulties experienced during the sexual interaction. This is perhaps to be expected given that sensory sensitivities are common to this population (Bogdashina, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Autistic women’s experience of intimate relationships: the impact of an adult diagnosis

Kock

Strydom

O’Brady

et al. 2019

AIA

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the experience of intimate relationships of women who have been diagnosed with Autism in adulthood. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were used to interview eight participants. The data were transcribed and analysed using the interpretative phenomenological analysis method. Findings Four overall themes were identified. These included “Response to the diagnosis and receiving more information about Autism”, “Factors influencing dating behaviour”, “Sex and sexual experiences” and “Experience of intimate relationships as a person with Autism”. Research limitations/implications The results of this study have implications for both research and clinical practice as it highlights the areas in which women newly diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) could benefit from support. Practical implications The study hopes to add to the limited existing research on adult women with ASD. Originality/value To date no similar research has investigated the same phenomenon through a similar method.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Autistic women’s experience of intimate relationships: the impact of an adult diagnosis

Kock

Strydom

O’Brady

et al. 2019

AIA

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“…Following extensive research reporting that atypical sensory processing is a specific, universal and unique symptom of ASC [7], atypical sensory processing is now included within the latest diagnostic criterion of ASC [1]. Sensory processing involves the effective reception, organisation, integration, and interpretation of bodily and environmental sensory input [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revised scored Sensory Perception Quotient reveals sensory hypersensitivity in women with autism

et al. 2020

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Background: Previous research using the Sensory Perception Quotient (SPQ) has reported greater sensory hypersensitivity in people with autism spectrum condition (ASC) compared to controls, consistent with other research. However, current scoring of the SPQ does not differentiate between hyper and hyposensitivity, making it uncertain whether individuals with ASC might also show differences in hyposensitivity. Furthermore, no research to date has focused on sensory differences in females, and whether differences in sensory sensitivity extend to the broader autism phenotype (BAP). The present study aimed to fill these gaps. Methods: The present study developed and validated a Revised Scoring of the Sensory Perception Quotient (SPQ-RS) in order to investigate self-reported hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity in three groups of adults: a female ASC group (n = 152), mothers of children with ASC (BAP mothers group; n = 103), and a control mothers group (n = 74). All participants completed the SPQ as a self-report measure of sensory processing and the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) as a measure of the degree of autism traits. Results: The female ASC group reported significantly more hypersensitivity, but not more hyposensitivity, compared to the control female and BAP mothers groups. The BAP mothers group did not differ from the control mothers group in either reported hypersensitivity (p = .365) or hyposensitivity (p = .075), suggesting atypical sensory sensitivity is not a BAP trait within females. SPQ-RS hypersensitivity scores positively correlated with autistic traits in the female ASC (r = .266) and BAP mothers groups (r = .350). Conclusions: The present findings revealed greater sensory hypersensitivity, but not hyposensitivity, in females with ASC compared to BAP and control female groups, and that a greater degree of autism traits relates to higher hypersensitivity in ASC females. The results offer support for the enhanced perceptual functioning model using large samples of females, who are an understudied population, and demonstrate the validity of the SPQ-RS as a valuable new research tool for exploring self-reported hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity.

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“…Therapeutic interventions may reroute this drive by providing alternative strategies for stimulation [45]. Sensory stimulation as a function of NSSI is highly relevant for autistic people, as different sensory-perceptual experience of the world is very common in autism (see [46, 47]). Some individuals show a pattern of low registration or under-responsivity (a weak response to stimulation due to a high neurological threshold [47]); some seek sensation for stimulation; others show sensory sensitivity or over-responsivity, a low neurological threshold leading to exaggerated and uncomfortable sensory experiences [47]; heterogeneous sensory symptoms are modulated by age, IQ and severity of autism, and individuals may show more than one pattern in different sensory modalities [48].…”

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confidence: 99%

A ‘choice’, an ‘addiction’, a way ‘out of the lost’: exploring self-injury in autistic people without intellectual disability

et al. 2019

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Background Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) describes a phenomenon where individuals inflict deliberate pain and tissue damage to their bodies. Self-injurious behaviour is especially prevalent across the autism spectrum, but little is understood about the features and functions of self-injury for autistic individuals without intellectual disability, or about the risk factors that might be valuable for clinical usage in this group. Methods One hundred and three autistic adults who responded to an online advertisement were classified as current, historic or non-self-harmers in accordance with responses to the Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Assessment Tool (NSSI-AT). Multinomial regression aimed to predict categorisation of participants in accordance with scores on tests of autistic traits, alexithymia, depression, anxiety, mentalising and sensory sensitivity. Linear regression examined relationships between these predictors and the range, frequency, lifetime occurrence and functional purposes of NSSI. Qualitative analysis explored the therapeutic interventions that participants had found helpful, and what they wished people understood about self-injury. Results Current, historic and non-self-harming participants did not differ in age, age at diagnosis, male-to-female ratio, level of employment or education (the majority qualified to at least degree level). The most common function of NSSI was the regulation of low-energy affective states (depression, dissociation), followed by the regulation of high-energy states such as anger and anxiety. Alexithymia significantly predicted the categorisation of participants as current, historic or non-self-harmers, and predicted use of NSSI for regulating high-energy states and communicating distress to others. Depression, anxiety and sensory-sensitivity also differentiated participant groups, and sensory differences also predicted the range of bodily areas targeted, lifetime incidence and frequency of NSSI. Sensory differences, difficulty expressing and identifying emotions also emerged as problematic in the qualitative analysis, where participants expressed the need for compassion, patience, non-judgement and the need to recognise diversity between self-harmers, with some participants perceiving NSSI as a practical, non-problematic coping strategy. Conclusions Alexithymia, depression, anxiety and sensory differences may place some autistic individuals at especial risk of self-injury. Investigating the involvement of these variables and their utility for identification and treatment is of high importance, and the voices of participants offer guidance to practitioners confronted with NSSI in their autistic clients. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13229-019-0267-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Sensory theory in autism makes sense: A brief review of the past and present research

Cited by 6 publications

References 38 publications

Autistic women’s experience of intimate relationships: the impact of an adult diagnosis

Autistic women’s experience of intimate relationships: the impact of an adult diagnosis

Revised scored Sensory Perception Quotient reveals sensory hypersensitivity in women with autism

A ‘choice’, an ‘addiction’, a way ‘out of the lost’: exploring self-injury in autistic people without intellectual disability

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