Sensory Responsiveness Research Articles

The Potential Effect of Na v 1.8 in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence From a Congenital Case With Compound Heterozygous SCN10A Mutations.

Apart from the most prominent symptoms in Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), namely deficits in social interaction, communication and repetitive behavior, patients often show abnormal sensory reactivity to environmental stimuli. Especially potentially painful stimuli are reported to be experienced in a different way compared to healthy persons. In our present study, we identified an ASD patient carrying compound heterozygous mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) Nav1.8, which is preferentially expressed in sensory neurons. We expressed both mutations, p.I1511M and p.R512∗, in a heterologous expression system and investigated their biophysical properties using patch-clamp recordings. The results of these experiments reveal that the p.R512∗ mutation renders the channel non-functional, while the p.I1511M mutation showed only minor effects on the channel’s function. Behavioral experiments in a Nav1.8 loss-of-function mouse model additionally revealed that Nav1.8 may play a role in autism-like symptomatology. Our results present Nav1.8 as a protein potentially involved in ASD pathophysiology and may therefore offer new insights into the genetic basis of this disease.

The association between sensory traits and daily parenting challenges of typical mothers and their children

Introduction Sensory modulation impacts daily family life; however, parents’ sensory traits are rarely considered and analysed together with their child’s. This study aimed to: (1) determine the association between healthy child and mother sensory modulation traits and (2) examine how these traits interact in predicting daily parenting challenges. Method Seventy-three healthy mothers of typically developing 3–6-year-old children completed the Short Sensory Profile, Adult/Adolescent Sensory Profile and Parenting Daily Hassles questionnaires. Mother and child sensory over-responsivity (SOR), under-responsivity (SUR) and seeking traits were entered as predictors of frequency of daily hassles. Results Mother and child’s SOR and SUR traits were significantly associated ( r = .33 and .25, respectively). The frequency of parenting challenges was significantly associated with both mother and child’s sensory seeking ( r = .25 and .26, respectively). A mediation model demonstrated a significant indirect effect of mother SOR on the frequency of daily hassles ( β = .26, p < .05), with the child’s SOR ( β = .33, p < .01), and seeking behaviours ( β = .48, p < .001) mediating this effect. Conclusion Mothers with elevated sensory traits of children with elevated sensory traits are likely to experience higher frequencies of daily parenting burden, even within the typical population. Therapists who wish to practice a developmental and family-centred approach should assess how the mother–child sensory traits interact and how this interaction can influence the family’s well-being.

In Our Own Words: The Complex Sensory Experiences of Autistic Adults

Autistic adults commonly experience sensory reactivity differences. Sensory hyperreactivity is frequently researched, whilst hyporeactivity and seeking, and experiences across domains, e.g., vision, are often neglected. Therefore, we aimed to understand more about the sensory experiences of autistic adults. We conducted a mixed-methods study, co-produced with stakeholders; recruiting 49 autistic adults who completed an online survey. Firstly, quantitative results and content analysis enhanced our understanding of sensory input/contexts associated with sensory hyperreactivity, hyporeactivity, and seeking across modalities. Secondly, thematic analysis developed themes relating to ‘Outcomes’, ‘Control’, ‘Tolerance and management’, and ‘The role of other people’, informing a theoretical model of sensory reactivity differences in autistic adults. These findings have implications for support services and improving quality of life for autistic adults.

Sleep Duration and Quality and Sensory Reactivity in School-Aged Children: The Spanish Cross-Sectional InProS Study.

Background: The relationship between children's sleep and health has been widely examined; however, research focused on the link between sleep and sensory reactivity in children without medical conditions is relatively new and based on studies with small samples. Hence, we aimed at exploring the association between sleep duration and quality and prevalence of sensory reactivity in a population-based sample of children aged 3–7.Methods: We examined data on 579 school-age children from the InProS project, a cross-sectional population-based study. Children's sleep duration was classified as <10 vs. ≥10 h/day, and sleep quality was measured using the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire, defining poor quality sleep as a score of ≥0.33. The Short Sensory Profile (SSP) was used to classify children with or without sensory reactivity using the cut-off points proposed by W. Dunn for SSP total score and each SSP subscale. Prevalence ratios (PR) using Poisson multiple regression models with robust variance were estimated to examine main associations.Results: Around a third (32.6%; n = 189) slept <10 h/day and 10.4% presented poor sleep quality. The prevalence of sensory reactivity was 29.5% for total SSP (<155), 11.4% for tactile sensitivity (<30), 15% for taste/smell sensitivity (<15), 22.5% for movement sensitivity (<13), 49.1% for under-responsive/seeks sensation (<27), 44.4% for auditory filtering (<23), 12.4% for low energy/weak (<26), and 25.4% for visual/auditory sensitivity (<19). Main findings indicated that poor sleep quality was significantly associated with a greater prevalence of sensory reactivity for SSP total score (PR = 1.27; IC 95%: 1.18; 1.38), tactile sensitivity (PR = 1.09, IC95%: 1.00–1.19), taste/smell sensitivity (PR = 1.18, IC95%: 1.08–1.30), under-responsive/seeks sensation (PR = 1.28, IC95%: 1.20–1.37), auditory filtering (PR = 1.31, IC95%: 1.23–1.39), low energy/weak (PR = 1.14, IC95%: 1.04–1.25) and audiovisual sensitivity (PR = 1.15, IC95%: 1.05–1.26) scores after adjusting for potential confounders.Conclusions: In this study, we observed that poor sleep quality was statistically significantly associated with a higher prevalence of sensory reactivity as measured by the total SSP and almost all SSP subscales. To our knowledge, this is the first time that this association has been explored and reported. Further research from prospective studies is required to confirm these findings.

Posttraumatic stress symptom dimensions and brain responses to startling auditory stimuli in combat veterans.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is marked by alterations in emotional functioning, physiological reactivity, and attention. Neural reactivity to acoustic startle stimuli can be used to understand brain functions related to these alterations. Investigations of startle reactivity in PTSD have yielded inconsistent findings, which may reflect the heterogeneity of the disorder. Furthermore, little is known of how the common co-occurrence of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI; i.e., concussion) may influence neural reactivity. We examined the event-related potentials (ERPs) of combat veterans (n = 102) to acoustic startle probes delivered during viewing of pleasant, neutral, unpleasant, and combat-related pictures. Interview-based assessments yielded dimensional characterizations of PTSD and mTBI. The P3 ERP response to startle probes was reduced during all affective relative to neutral pictures but failed to be associated with a PTSD diagnosis. However, two separable domains of PTSD symptomatology were associated with startle ERPs regardless of the picture conditions. Maladaptive avoidance was associated with smaller N1, P2, and P3 amplitudes, while intrusive reexperiencing was associated with larger P2 amplitudes. There were no main effects of mTBI. Findings suggest that level of symptomatology rather than a formal diagnosis of PTSD better explains alterations in neural reactivity after traumatic events, while mild brain injuries have little impact. Avoidance symptoms of PTSD may dampen neural functions that facilitate reorientation to threat while intrusive reexperiencing of traumatic events appears to heighten sensory reactivity. Considering specific aspects of symptomatology provides insight into the neural basis of trauma-related psychopathology and may help guide individualization of clinical interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Sensory Reactivity Phenotype in Phelan–McDermid Syndrome Is Distinct from Idiopathic ASD

Phelan–McDermid syndrome (PMS) is one of the most common genetic forms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While sensory reactivity symptoms are widely reported in idiopathic ASD (iASD), few studies have examined sensory symptoms in PMS. The current study delineates the sensory reactivity phenotype and examines genotype–phenotype interactions in a large sample of children with PMS. Sensory reactivity was measured in a group of 52 children with PMS, 132 children with iASD, and 54 typically developing (TD) children using the Sensory Assessment for Neurodevelopmental Disorders (SAND). The SAND is a clinician-administered observation and corresponding caregiver interview that captures sensory symptoms based on the DSM-5 criteria for ASD. Children with PMS demonstrated significantly greater hyporeactivity symptoms and fewer hyperreactivity and seeking symptoms compared to children with iASD and TD controls. There were no differences between those with Class I deletions or sequence variants and those with larger Class II deletions, suggesting that haploinsufficiency of SHANK3 is the main driver of the sensory phenotype seen in PMS. The syndrome-specific sensory phenotype identified in this study is distinct from other monogenic forms of ASD and offers insight into the potential role of SHANK3 deficiency in sensory reactivity. Understanding sensory reactivity abnormalities in PMS, in the context of known glutamatergic dysregulation, may inform future clinical trials in the syndrome.

The Effectiveness of Bilateral Alternating Tactile Stimulation for Improving Sleep in Children with Sensory over-Responsivity

The objective of this study was to explore the effectiveness of Touchpoints™ on improving sleep in children with sensory over-responsivity, specifically, whether wearing Touchpoints™ on the sleep setting before bed would improve children’s sleep. Using three study phases (baseline, intervention, and withdrawal), eight young children with sensory over-responsivity and sleep deficits wore Touchpoints™ on their ankles before bed during the intervention phase. Data was collected using an activity tracker to measure sleep latency, sleep duration, number of nighttime awakenings and sleep efficiency as well as parent report. Results indicated that participants did not demonstrate any significant changes in sleep efficiency, sleep duration, or number of awakenings but demonstrated a significant improvement in sleep latency. Parents also reported improvement in their child’s sleep quality. Results suggest Touchpoints™ before bedtime may decrease the time it takes for children with sensory over-responsivity to fall asleep and improve parental perceptions of children’s sleep quality.

Social and non-social sensory responsivity in toddlers at high-risk for autism spectrum disorder.

Empirical evidence concerning sensory responsivity in young children who later develop autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains relatively limited. It is unclear whether specific patterns or aspects of sensory responsivity underlay the emergence of the disorder. The goals of this study were to (a) examine whether social versus non-social context impacted the expression of sensory responsivity in infants at high risk for ASD, and (b) examine if sensory responsivity in social or non-social contexts was associated with severity of ASD symptoms. The Sensory Experiences Questionnaire 2.1 was collected for 338 infants (131 females, 207 males) at high-risk for ASD at 12 and/or 24 months of age. High-risk toddlers meeting diagnostic criteria for ASD (n= 75) showed elevated sensory responsivity in both social and non-social contexts at 12 months of age and differences widened over the second year of life. Individuals with ASD demonstrate higher responsivity in both contexts suggestive of generalized atypical sensory responsivity in ASD. LAY SUMMARY: Behaviors such as avoiding or noticing sensory input (e.g., sounds, touches) are often different in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than those without. The reason for this is widely unknown. The findings from this study show that in toddlers, sensory responsivity increased in both social and non-social situations. Therefore, the setting of sensory input does not explain these differences.

Parent responsiveness mediates the association between hyporeactivity at age 1 year and communication at age 2 years in children at elevated likelihood of ASD.

Studies suggest that higher parent responsiveness is associated with higher child language abilities. Infants and toddlers later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often display hyporeactivity to sensory stimuli, which has also been associated with lower child communication abilities and lower parent responsiveness. Yet, whether parent responsiveness mediates the relationship between child hyporeactivity and later communication outcomes remains unexplored. This study is a secondary data analysis which includes children (n= 83; 56 males) identified as at elevated likelihood of later ASD. Children completed an observational measure of sensory reactivity and a standard developmental assessment at 14 (Time 1) and 23 months old (Time 2). At each time point, parents reported on the child's adaptive communication behaviors and sensory behaviors, and Parent Verbal Responsiveness (AvgPVR) was coded from parent-child free-play videos. Results indicated that the association between child sensory hyporeactivity at Time 1 (observed and parent-reported) and communication at Time 2 (observed and parent reported) was significantly mediated by AvgPVR. Although child hyporeactivity predicts poorer communication outcomes, increased parent verbal responsiveness may attenuate this negative impact. Parent responsiveness, a focus of many parent-mediated interventions, may be an important mechanism of treatment response that should be directly tested in future research. LAY SUMMARY: Toddlers at elevated likelihood of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often under-reactive (hyporeactive) to sensory stimuli. This hyporeactivity slows learning of communication skills and provides parents with fewer opportunities to respond to their children. In this study, children with hyporeactivity at 14 months generally had poorer communication at 23 months; however, the more responsive their parents were, the weaker the relationship between early hyporeactivity and later communication. Thus, increasing parent responsiveness may lead to better communication outcomes for toddlers with the early ASD symptom of hyporeactivity.

Associations between brain and behavioral processing of facial expressions of emotion and sensory reactivity in young children.

The ability to decode and accurately identify information from facial emotions may advantage young children socially. This capacity to decode emotional information may likewise be influenced by individual differences in children's temperament. This study investigated whether sensory reactivity and perceptual awareness, two dimensions of temperament, as well as children's ability to accurately label emotions relates to the neural processing of emotional content in faces. Event related potentials (ERPs) of 4 to 6 year-old children (N=119) were elicited from static displays of anger, happy, fearful, sad, and neutral emotion faces. Children, as a group, exhibited differential early (N290) and mid-latency (P400) event-related potentials (ERPs) in response to facial expressions of emotion. Individual differences in children's sensory reactivity were associated with enhanced P400 amplitudes to neutral, sad, and fearful faces. In a separate task, children were asked to provide an emotional label for the same images. Interestingly, childrenless accurately labeled the same neutral, sad, and fearful faces, suggesting that, contrary to previous work showing enhanced attentional processing to threatening cues (i.e., fear), children higher in sensory reactivity may deploy more attentional resources when decoding ambiguous emotional cues.

Visual Sensory Experiences From the Viewpoint of Autistic Adults.

Although previous research has investigated altered sensory reactivity in autistic individuals, there has been no specific focus on visual sensory experiences, particularly in adults. Using qualitative methods, this study aimed to characterize autistic visual sensory symptoms, contextualize their impact and document any associated coping strategies. A total of 18 autistic adults took part in four focus groups which involved questions around visual experiences, the impact of these on daily life, and strategies for their reduction. Transcripts of each session were thematically analyzed allocating six key themes. Participants described a range of visual hypersensitivities, including to light, motion, patterns and particular colors, which contributed to distraction and were frequently part of a wider multisensory issue. Such experiences had significant negative impacts on personal wellbeing and daily life with participants describing fatigue, stress and hindrances on day-to-day activities (e.g., travel and social activities). However, the degree of understanding that participants had about their visual experiences influenced their emotional response, with greater understanding reducing concern. Participants employed a variety of coping strategies to overcome visual sensory experiences but with varied success. Discussions also highlighted that there may be a poor public understanding of sensory issues in autism affecting how well autistic individuals are able manage their sensory symptoms. In summary, autistic adults expressed significant concern about their visual experiences and there is a need to improve understanding of visual experiences on a personal and public level as well as for developing potential support.

Early differences in auditory processing relate to Autism Spectrum Disorder traits in infants with Neurofibromatosis Type I

BackgroundSensory modulation difficulties are common in children with conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and could contribute to other social and non-social symptoms. Positing a causal role for sensory processing differences requires observing atypical sensory reactivity prior to the emergence of other symptoms, which can be achieved through prospective studies.MethodsIn this longitudinal study, we examined auditory repetition suppression and change detection at 5 and 10 months in infants with and without Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), a condition associated with higher likelihood of developing ASD.ResultsIn typically developing infants, suppression to vowel repetition and enhanced responses to vowel/pitch change decreased with age over posterior regions, becoming more frontally specific; age-related change was diminished in the NF1 group. Whilst both groups detected changes in vowel and pitch, the NF1 group were largely slower to show a differentiated neural response. Auditory responses did not relate to later language, but were related to later ASD traits.ConclusionsThese findings represent the first demonstration of atypical brain responses to sounds in infants with NF1 and suggest they may relate to the likelihood of later ASD.

The relationship between sensory reactivity, intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety subtypes in preschool-age autistic children

This study found links between greater sensory hyperreactivity (e.g., over-sensitive to sensory input), intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety, including separation anxiety, in autistic pre-schoolers. Sensory hyperreactivity may predict both anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty, and anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty may both be mutually important, mediating factors. These findings have implications for early anxiety interventions. But there is a pressing need for objective assessments that can be used with preschool-age autistic children.

Sensory Responsiveness Is Linked With Communication in Infant Siblings of Children With and Without Autism.

Purpose Differences in communication development impact long-term outcomes of children with autism. Previous research has identified factors associated with communication in children with autism, but much of the variance in communication skill remains unexplained. It has been proposed that early differences in sensory responsiveness (i.e., hyporesponsiveness, hyperresponsiveness, and sensory seeking) may produce "cascading effects" on communication. Evidence for this theory is limited, however, as relations between sensory responsiveness and communication in the earliest stages of development have not been well established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate (a) whether infants with a heightened likelihood of autism diagnosis (i.e., infants with an older sibling with autism) differ from infants at general population-level likelihood of autism (i.e., infants with an older, nonautistic sibling) on patterns of sensory responsiveness, (b) whether early sensory responsiveness is correlated with concurrent communication, and (c) whether the aforementioned between-groups differences and associations are moderated by age. Method Participants were 40 infants (20 infants with an older sibling with autism, 20 infants with an older, nonautistic sibling) aged 12-18 months. A series of observational and parent report measures of sensory responsiveness and communication skill were administered. Results Group differences in sensory responsiveness across the 12- to 18-month period were limited (i.e., only observed for one measure of hyporesponsiveness), though selected differences in sensory responsiveness (i.e., parent-reported hyperresponsiveness and sensory seeking) emerged between groups over this developmental window. Parent-reported hyporesponsiveness was unconditionally, negatively associated with communication skills. Associations between expressive communication and (a) parent-reported sensory seeking and (b) an observational measure of hyperresponsiveness were moderated by age. Conclusions This study provides new insights into the nature of sensory responsiveness and theorized links with communication skill in infants at elevated and general population-level likelihood of autism diagnosis. Further work is needed to better characterize the effects of interest in a larger sample spanning a wider age range. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.14515542.

The relationship between sensory reactivity differences and mental health symptoms in preschool‐age autistic children

There is growing evidence for an association between sensory reactivity and mental health in autism. This study set out to explore the relationship between sensory reactivity and mental health in preschool-aged autistic children. In total 54 preschool-aged children with an Autism Spectrum Condition took part. Sensory and mental health symptoms were obtained from the Sensory Processing Scale Inventory, Sensory Assessment of Neurodevelopmental Differences and the Behavioral Assessment System for Children-3. Correlational analyses showed a relationship between sensory reactivity and mental health symptoms in autistic preschool-aged children. Results also indicate divergence in sensory-mental health profiles between autistic preschool-aged children who are verbal and those who use few to no words. For the first time this study has revealed a relationship between sensory hyper-reactivity, as well as sensory seeking, and mental health symptoms outside of anxiety in autism. Of note, this relationship between sensory hyper-reactivity and internalizing symptoms appears to be driven by those with few to no words. This has implications for both research and clinical interventions, in particular for our understanding of the factors underlying mental health symptoms in different autistic phenotypes, as well as the possible role of functional communication in mitigating the development of mental health symptoms. LAY SUMMARY: The present study found that in autistic preschoolers, externalizing mental health symptoms, such as hyperactivity, are related to sensory seeking (seeking out or being fascinated with sensory stimuli), and internalizing mental health symptoms, such as depression, are related to sensory hyper-reactivity (sensitivity to sensory stimuli). Our results also show that whilst the relationships between externalizing symptoms and sensory seeking is seen across participants, the relationship between internalizing symptoms and sensory hyper-reactivity was only seen in autistic preschoolers who used few to no words. This has important implications for the assessment of sensory differences as part of more rigorous mental health assessments, especially in autistic people who use few to no words.

Early life neuroimmune interactions modulate neonatal nociceptive priming

Young children perceive nociceptive stimuli and experience pain differently than adults, but the underlying mechanisms that cause these differential effects are unknown. The result of this uncertainty can lead to incomplete pain management for these patients. Further, a vulnerable period occurs during early life whereby aversive stimuli can be biologically encoded possibly through altered neuroimmune and endocrine interactions that influence sensory responsiveness later in life. We evaluated the role of neuroimmune and endocrine interactions in early life, and explored the effects on “neonatal priming.” We assessed pain-like behaviors, sensory neuron response properties with ex vivo electrophysiology, and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and macrophage specific gene expression under normal and/or genetically altered conditions in both uninjured mice and in animals that experienced surgical hindpaw incisions. We first found that sensory neuron deletion of the receptor for the endocrine signaling molecule growth hormone (GH), induced pain-like behaviors in neonates. Acute peripheral sensitization after incision injury was prevented by local GH treatment, and macrophage ablation of GH receptor also prevented incision-related effects. Macrophages appear to sequester injury-site GH, which releases a tonic inhibition on the sensory neurons and drives primary afferent sensitization. Manipulations in GH signaling or ablating neonatal macrophages was found to be critical for the development of neonatal priming. New ATAC-seq data indicates differences in chromatin accessibility in immature macrophages that may underlie how early life neuroimmune interactions modulate neonatal priming effects. Results demonstrate that the periphery has unique modulators of neonatal nociception that often require distinct immune cell and endocrine signaling activities that influence sensory neuron function. We are currently investigating how altering this process may affect neonatal priming through epigenetic modifications in macrophages. R01NS105715.

Curative Effects of Dhatryadi ghrita Bioactive Extracts on Ethanol Withdrawal Syndrome in Wistar Rats

Background: Alcohol withdrawal syndrome leads to irritability, aggressiveness, body posture and motor abnormalities, sensory hyper reactivity and changes in various enzyme levels. Dhatryadi ghrita penetrates the blood-brain barrier to decrease the cravings for alcohol in this syndrome. Objective: To evaluate the effect of alcoholic extract of Dhatryadi ghrita on alcohol withdrawal syndrome in Wistar rats. Material &amp; Methods: A liquid diet with 7.2%, v/v ethanol was administered to the Wistar rats for 21 days. Control group animals received saline and normal diet. After alcohol withdrawal, rats were examined at 6th and 24th hour for anxiety and hyper locomotor activity as major withdrawal signs. Anxiety due to ethanol withdrawal was tested with the help of elevated plus maze, light and dark models. The hyper locomotor activity was assessed using Actophotometer. The hepatic enzymes level was determined with the help of the Bio-chemical Analyzer. ghrita extracts (100, 200,300 mg/kg, oral) were administered to different groups and diazepam as standard (2 mg/kg, i.p) was administered to the treatment group animals 30 minutes before alcohol withdrawal estimation. Drug treatment was administered 30 minutes before the second observation at the 24th hour. Results: Findings from the present study revealed that Ghrita extract treatment at doses 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg, oral in ethanol-dependent rats had a significant protective effect on signs and symptoms of ethanol withdrawal in alcohol-dependent rats. Conclusion: Dhatryadi extract acts effectively for the treatment of alcohol abstinence syndrome. The extract treatment has beneficial effects on ethanol withdrawal depressive-like behavior in rats.

Brief Report: Prevalence and Severity of Auditory Sensory Over-Responsivity in Autism as Reported by Parents and Caregivers.

Auditory sensory over-responsivity (aSOR) is a frequently reported sensory feature of autism spectrum disorders (ASD); however, there is little consensus regarding its prevalence and severity. This cross-sectional study uses secondary data from the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R; Item72: undue sensitivity to noise) housed in the US National Institute of Mental Health Data Archives to identify prevalence and severity of aSOR. Of the 4104 subjects with ASD ages 2-54 (M = 9, SD = 5.8) who responded to item 72, 60.1% (n = 1876) had aSOR currently (i.e., point prevalence) and 71.1% (n = 2221) reported having aSOR ever (i.e., lifetime prevalence). aSOR prevalence and severity were affected by age, but there were no associations with sex.

Tactile cortical responses and association with tactile reactivity in young children on the autism spectrum

BackgroundUnusual behavioral reactions to sensory stimuli are frequently reported in individuals on the autism spectrum (AS). Despite the early emergence of sensory features (< age 3) and their potential impact on development and quality of life, little is known about the neural mechanisms underlying sensory reactivity in early childhood autism.MethodsHere, we used electroencephalography (EEG) to investigate tactile cortical processing in young children aged 3–6 years with autism and in neurotypical (NT) children. Scalp EEG was recorded from 33 children with autism, including those with low cognitive and/or verbal abilities, and 45 age- and sex-matched NT children during passive tactile fingertip stimulation. We compared properties of early and later somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) and their adaptation with repetitive stimulation between autistic and NT children and assessed whether these neural measures are linked to “real-world” parent-reported tactile reactivity.ResultsAs expected, we found elevated tactile reactivity in children on the autism spectrum. Our findings indicated no differences in amplitude or latency of early and mid-latency somatosensory-evoked potentials (P50, N80, P100), nor adaptation between autistic and NT children. However, latency of later processing of tactile information (N140) was shorter in young children with autism compared to NT children, suggesting faster processing speed in young autistic children. Further, correlational analyses and exploratory analyses using tactile reactivity as a grouping variable found that enhanced early neural responses were associated with greater tactile reactivity in autism.LimitationsThe relatively small sample size and the inclusion of a broad range of autistic children (e.g., with low cognitive and/or verbal abilities) may have limited our power to detect subtle group differences and associations. Hence, replications are needed to verify these results.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that electrophysiological somatosensory cortex processing measures may be indices of “real-world” tactile reactivity in early childhood autism. Together, these findings advance our understanding of the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying tactile reactivity in early childhood autism and, in the clinical context, may have therapeutic implications.

Occupational Therapy Assessment and Intervention of a 22 Month Old Girl with Feeding Refusal

Feeding difficulties, resulting from refusal to eat certain foods, are a frequent complaint in pediatric clinical practice. In many instances the initial situation is not necessarily serious but ongoing issues around feeding may lead to the adoption of inappropriate feeding practices that can have long lasting consequences. An extremely selective food choice, or picky eating, has been linked to sensory reactivity difficulties. In the general population it is estimated that between 5-10% of children experience sensory reactivity issues. Understanding how this can affect participation in feeding and mealtime is critical. This article presents a case report of a 22-month year old girl with selective food choices and feeding refusal. Occupational Therapy intervention based on Ayres Sensory Integration®, in the context of collaboration with the child’s pediatrician, was used to address the sensory issues underlying this child’s feeding and mealtime participation difficulties. From the results of the assessment, the following hypothesis were made; a) over-reactivity to oral and tactile sensory input was affecting acceptance of new foods and textures, b) vestibular processing difficulties and tactile over-reactivity were impacting this child´s ability to regulate level of alertness and the ability to stay sitting at the table during appropriate periods of time. Following the Occupational Therapy intervention this child showed improved feeding and mealtime participation and was also able to adequately sit at the table for the duration of the meal.