Abstract
This study explores the differences in the profile of relationships between sensory processing and attention abilities among children with sensory processing disorder (SPD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and typically developing (TD) children. The Test of Everyday Attention for Children (TEA-Ch), a performance-based measure of attention, was administered to 69 children (TD: n = 24; SPD: n = 21; ASD: n = 24), ages 6–10 years. All participants’ parents completed the Short Sensory Profile (SSP), a standardized parent-report measure of sensory-related behaviors. Discriminant analyses using the TEA-Ch and the SSP domains revealed two classification functions; the first revealed that both clinical groups significantly differed from the TD group with greater sensory processing challenges in the categories of auditory filtering, under-responsive/seeks sensation, low energy/weak, and taste/smell sensitivity subscales of the SSP. The second function discriminated between the two clinical groups, indicating that children with ASD had significantly greater control and sustained attention deficits and less sensory issues than did children with SPD. Together, the two functions correctly classified 76.8% of the participants as to their group membership. The different profiles of sensory processing and attention abilities in children with SPD and ASD may provide guidance in identifying appropriate individualized therapeutic strategies for these children.
Highlights
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction as well as restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities (American Psychiatric Association, 2013)
For the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) group, 70.8% scored as having definite difference and 25% as probable difference, and one participant scored as being in the typical performance category
The study findings indicated that children with ASD and children with sensory processing disorder (SPD) have different sensory processing and attention profiles
Summary
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction as well as restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The DSM-5, the diagnostic criteria for children with ASD, includes deficits in sensory processing, namely, hyperreactivity or hyporeactivity to sensory input. Another clinical condition that manifests with sensory issues is sensory processing disorder (SPD; Miller et al, 2007). Children with either SPD or ASD can have difficulties with processing sensation from tactile, auditory, visual, gustatory, olfactory, proprioceptive, and/or vestibular systems. Such children are often considered to have challenges in sensory integration (SI), which is the ability of the nervous system to process and organize sensory stimuli in the environment for adaptive functioning (Ayres’, 1972). The current study sought to build on these studies to better differentiate the groups
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