Sensory integration disorders in children with autism spectrum disorder—A review study
Abstract
In this article, we examine the diagnostic process for children on the autism spectrum, paying particular attention to the importance of sensory diagnosis as a key tool in identifying therapeutic needs and establishing intervention strategies. We discuss the challenges posed to therapists by difficulties in communication, relationship building, and motivation, as well as the need to flexibly adapt diagnostic tools to each child’s individual needs. Sensory diagnosis not only helps parents understand their children’s behaviors and their underlying causes but also provides concrete knowledge of effective therapeutic strategies that can be used in the day-to-day support of the development of children on the autism spectrum. Our analysis underscores the importance of sensory diagnosis as a tool to help understand and support children in coping with daily challenges and building harmonious relationships with their environment, a key component of effective therapy for children with autism.
References
[1] Rosen NE, Lord C, Volkmar FR. The Diagnosis of Autism: From Kanner to DSM-III to DSM-5 and Beyond. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2021; 51(12): 4253-4270. doi: 10.1007/s10803-021-04904-1
[2] Volkmar FR, McPartland JC. From Kanner to DSM-5: Autism as an Evolving Diagnostic Concept. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology. 2014; 10(1): 193-212. doi: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032813-153710
[3] Hodges H, Fealko C, Soares N. Autism spectrum disorder: definition, epidemiology, causes, and clinical evaluation. Translational Pediatrics. 2020; 9(S1): S55-S65. doi: 10.21037/tp.2019.09.09
[4] Okoye C, Obialo-Ibeawuchi CM, Obajeun OA, et al. Early Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review and Analysis of the Risks and Benefits. Cureus. doi: 10.7759/cureus.43226
[5] Baum SH, Stevenson RA, Wallace MT. Behavioral, perceptual, and neural alterations in sensory and multisensory function in autism spectrum disorder. Progress in Neurobiology. 2015; 134: 140-160. doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2015.09.007
[6] Balasco L, Provenzano G, Bozzi Y. Sensory Abnormalities in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Focus on the Tactile Domain, From Genetic Mouse Models to the Clinic. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2020; 10. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.01016
[7] Mallory C, Keehn B. Implications of Sensory Processing and Attentional Differences Associated With Autism in Academic Settings: An Integrative Review. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2021; 12. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.695825
[8] Marco EJ, Hinkley LBN, Hill SS, et al. Sensory Processing in Autism: A Review of Neurophysiologic Findings. Pediatric Research. 2011; 69(5 Part 2): 48R-54R. doi: 10.1203/pdr.0b013e3182130c54
[9] Gonçalves AM, Monteiro P. Autism Spectrum Disorder and auditory sensory alterations: a systematic review on the integrity of cognitive and neuronal functions related to auditory processing. Journal of Neural Transmission. 2023; 130(3): 325-408. doi: 10.1007/s00702-023-02595-9
[10] Sanz-Cervera P, Pastor-Cerezuela G, González-Sala F, et al. Sensory Processing in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in the Home and Classroom Contexts. Frontiers in Psychology. 2017; 8. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01772
[11] Wuang YP, Huang CL, Tsai HY. Sensory Integration and Perceptual-Motor Profiles in School-Aged Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. 2020; Volume 16: 1661-1673. doi: 10.2147/ndt.s253337
[12] Passarello N, Tarantino V, Chirico A, et al. Sensory Processing Disorders in Children and Adolescents: Taking Stock of Assessment and Novel Therapeutic Tools. Brain Sciences. 2022; 12(11): 1478. doi: 10.3390/brainsci12111478
[13] Lord C, Elsabbagh M, Baird G, Veenstra-Vanderweele J. Autism spectrum disorder. Lancet. 2018; 392(10146): 508-520. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31129-2.
[14] Randell E, Wright M, Milosevic S, et al. Sensory integration therapy for children with autism and sensory processing difficulties: the SenITA RCT. Health Technology Assessment. 2022; 26(29): 1-140. doi: 10.3310/tqge0020
[15] Kimball JG. The Southern California Sensory Integration Tests (Ayres) and the Bender Gestalt: A correlative study. Am J Occup Ther. 1977; 31(5): 294-299.
[16] McAtee S, Mack W. Relations Between Design Copying and Other Tests of Sensory Integrative Dysfunction: A Pilot Study. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 1990; 44(7): 596-601. doi: 10.5014/ajot.44.7.596
[17] Mailloux Z, Parham LD, Roley SS, et al. Introduction to the Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration® (EASI). The American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2017; 72(1): 7201195030p1-7201195030p7. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2018.028241
[18] Tenorio M, Campos R, Karmiloff-Smith A. What standardized tests ignore when assessing individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. Estud Psicol. 2014; 35(2): 426-437. doi: 10.1080/02109395.2014.922264
[19] CLASI. About the EASI. Available online: https://www.cl-asi.org/easi (accessed on 7 October 2023).
[20] Abdel Ghafar MA, Abdelraouf OR, Abdelgalil AA, et al. Quantitative Assessment of Sensory Integration and Balance in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Cross-Sectional Study. Children. 2022; 9(3): 353. doi: 10.3390/children9030353
[21] Jorquera-Cabrera S, Romero-Ayuso D, Rodriguez-Gil G, et al. Assessment of Sensory Processing Characteristics in Children between 3 and 11 Years Old: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Pediatrics. 2017; 5. doi: 10.3389/fped.2017.00057
[22] Blank R, Barnett AL, Cairney J, et al. International clinical practice recommendations on the definition, diagnosis, assessment, intervention, and psychosocial aspects of developmental coordination disorder. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology. 2019; 61(3): 242-285. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.14132
[23] McCormick C, Hepburn S, Young GS, et al. Sensory symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder, other developmental disorders and typical development: A longitudinal study. Autism. 2015; 20(5): 572-579. doi: 10.1177/1362361315599755
[24] Thabtah F, Peebles D. Early Autism Screening: A Comprehensive Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019; 16(18): 3502. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16183502
[25] Mughal S, Faizy RM, Saadabadi A. Autism Spectrum Disorder. Available online: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525976/ (accessed on 7 October 2023).
[26] Pfeiffer BA, Koenig K, Kinnealey M, et al. Effectiveness of Sensory Integration Interventions in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Pilot Study. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2011; 65(1): 76-85. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2011.09205
[27] Elbeltagi R, Al-Beltagi M, Saeed NK, et al. Play therapy in children with autism: Its role, implications, and limitations. World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics. 2023; 12(1): 1-22. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v12.i1.1
[28] Botha M. Evaluation of the Tests of Sensory Integration Function Used with Infants [Master’s thesis]. University of the Witwatersrand; 2015.
[29] Mackie TI, Schaefer AJ, Ramella L, et al. Understanding How Parents Make Meaning of Their Child’s Behaviors During Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Longitudinal Qualitative Investigation. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2020; 51(3): 906-921. doi: 10.1007/s10803-020-04502-7
[30] Zwaigenbaum L, Bauman ML, Stone WL, et al. Early Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Recommendations for Practice and Research. Pediatrics. 2015; 136(Supplement_1): S10-S40. doi: 10.1542/peds.2014-3667c
[31] Zhai J, Li X, Zhou Y, et al. Correlation and predictive ability of sensory characteristics and social interaction in children with autism spectrum disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2023; 14. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1056051
[32] Bar-Shalita T, Granovsky Y, Parush S, et al. Sensory Modulation Disorder (SMD) and Pain: A New Perspective. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience. 2019; 13. doi: 10.3389/fnint.2019.00027
[33] Srinath S, Jacob P, Sharma E, Gautam A. Clinical Practice Guidelines for Assessment of Children and Adolescents. Indian J Psychiatry. 2019; 61(Suppl 2): 158-175. doi: 10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_580_18
[34] Kołat N. The sensory processing disorders of children—diagnostic a proceeding. Borgis—Nowa Pediatria. 2014; 3: 97-102.
[35] May-Benson T. Incidence of pre-, peri-, and post-natal birth and developmental problems of children with sensory processing disorder and children with autism spectrum disorder. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience. 2009; 3. doi: 10.3389/neuro.07.031.2009
[36] Demartini B, Nisticò V, Limonta S, et al. Long-term Memory of Sensory Experiences from the First Pregnancy, its Peri-partum and Post-partum in Women with Autism Spectrum Disorders without Intellectual Disabilities: A Retrospective Study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Published online November 15, 2023. doi: 10.1007/s10803-023-06189-y
Copyright (c) 2023 Karolina Krupa-Kotara, Matylda Kosiorz, Katarzyna Barylska, Mateusz Grajek
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.