Association Between Sensory Features and High-Order Repetitive and Restricted Behaviors and Interests Among Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

IMPORTANCE: Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often referred to occupational therapy practitioners so their sensory features and their repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests (RRBIs) can be addressed. RRBIs include an insistence on sameness, narrow interests, rigid routines, and rituals. However, there is a paucity of knowledge concerning the association between sensory features-across patterns, modalities, and contexts-and high-order RRBIs among children with ASD who are cognitively able. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between sensory features across sensory patterns, modalities, and contexts and high-order RRBIs in children with ASD. DESIGN: Correlational clinical study based on parent questionnaire responses. SETTING: General education system in Israel. PARTICIPANTS: Parents of 39 cognitively able school-age children with ASD (ages 6-10 yr; 34 boys and 5 girls), recruited by means of convenience sampling. OUTCOMES: High-order RRBIs were assessed with relevant subscales from the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R), and sensory features across patterns, modalities, and contexts were examined with the Sensory Experiences Questionnaire, Version 2.1. The study hypotheses were formulated before data were collected. RESULTS: Significant correlations were observed between the high-order RRBIs of children with ASD and their sensory features across patterns, sensory modalities, and contexts. Fifty-one percent of the total RBS-R scores were predicted by sensory hyperresponsiveness, and an additional 11% were predicted by sensory-seeking behaviors. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The hypotheses concerning the association between sensory features and high-order RRBIs were confirmed. The findings enhance occupational therapy practitioners' understanding of this association and may assist in the planning of more efficient interventions. What This Article Adds: The findings enhance clinical knowledge concerning the association between sensory features and high-order RRBIs and may lay a better foundation for occupational therapy interventions for children with ASD and their families.

Somatosensory Discrimination in People With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Scoping Review.

IMPORTANCE: Sensory symptoms in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are commonly reported by researchers. However, an often overlooked sensory aspect of ASD is sensory discrimination in general, and somatosensory discrimination in particular. OBJECTIVE: To examine what has and what has not yet been learned concerning the somatosensory discrimination abilities of people with ASD and to reveal gaps warranting further research. DESIGN: Scoping review of clinical studies published 1995-2017 located through searches of PsycNET, PubMed, ERIC, and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria were English-language peer-reviewed studies with (1) participants diagnosed with ASD, (2) a specific somatosensory discrimination measure, and (3) a comparison group. No age or intellectual exclusion criteria were established; studies were excluded if they were theoretical or descriptive, did not incorporate a control group, focused only on neurology or genetics, or used simple threshold detection measures or somatosensory measures integrated with other measures. The final search yielded 12 comparative articles discussing tactile and proprioceptive discrimination in people with ASD. RESULTS: Overall, most results showed atypical somatosensory discrimination in people with ASD, especially among young children. The relationship between sensory discrimination abilities and other sensory symptoms and ASD symptoms is briefly discussed. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Heterogeneous findings concerning somatosensory discrimination in people with ASD shed light on underlying mechanisms of these disorders and can contribute to improvement of occupational therapy intervention for this population. WHAT THIS ARTICLE ADDS: The occupational therapy evaluation of people with ASD can benefit from addressing somatosensory discrimination and its contribution to other clinical symptoms. This type of assessment can help improve intervention strategies for people with ASD by promoting a focus on the effect of discrimination deficits on daily function.