Abstract
Sensory Processing Disorders (SPDs) define dysfunctions in modulating, organising, and using information from several sensory channels for regulating motor, behavioural, emotional and attention responses. Although SPD can be identified also as an isolated condition in young children, its presence in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) population is really frequent. The study purpose is to explore the SPD clinical expression and the putative correlation with several behavioural aspects both in children with ASD and in those with isolated SPD. Therefore, 43 preschool-aged children (25 ASD vs. 18 SPD) were recruited, and their parents completed three questionnaires (Developmental Profile-3, Sensory Processing Measure–Preschool, Repetitive Behaviour Scale-Revised) to evaluate behavioural alterations and developmental levels. The main result is that both ASD and SPD groups had significantly sensory-related behavioural symptoms, although ASD children seem to be more impaired in all areas. Several significant correlations were found between sensory processing difficulties and repetitive behaviours, but in the SPD group a specific relationship between Body Awareness and Ritualistic/Sameness Behaviour was found. Conversely, in the ASD group, more diffuse interlinks between sensory processing difficulties and motor behaviours were significant. In conclusion, the present study confirms the key role of sensory–motor skills in early diagnosis and intervention among children at risk for neurodevelopmental disorders.
Highlights
Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD) are a group of dysfunctions in modulating, organising and using information from several sensory channels to regulate motor, behavioural, emotional and attentional responses for environment adaptation [1,2]
The independent T-test between groups showed a significant difference in the Sensory Processing Measure-Preschool (SPM-P)-Total Score (p < 0.001), in the Repetitive Behaviour Scale-Revised (RBS-R)-Total Score (p < 0.001), in the RBS-R-Total Number-Endorsed, and in the Developmental Profile 3 (DP-3)-general development standard score (GDS) (p = 0.003), showing a bigger deficit in all investigated domains in the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) group
As regards sensory processing abilities, it is evident that the mean scores of the SPD group are near or into the borderline range (t-point scores from 60 to 69) for the Italian normative data, while for the ASD group, the scores are for the most part in the range of disorder (t-point scores from 70)
Summary
Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD) are a group of dysfunctions in modulating, organising and using information from several sensory channels to regulate motor, behavioural, emotional and attentional responses for environment adaptation [1,2]. Children with SPD can show several and early behavioural problems, such as irritability, abdominal colic, sleep–wake cycles disorders, and difficulties in social communication development. Children with SPD tend to cry and to manifest exaggerated emotive reactions [3]. According to the Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood (DC:0-5) [4], SPDs can be diagnosed when the infant/young child shows abnormalities in regulating input in one or more sensory domains (e.g., tactile, visual, auditory, vestibular, olfactory, taste, proprioceptive and interoceptive), in the absence of other major physical, neurological or psychiatric conditions. Mulligan [7] suggested that adaptive behaviour can be frequently altered by sensory processing impairment during childhood and that the severity of SPD seems to be negatively correlated with adaptive skills
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