Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Quantitative Assessment of Cortical Auditory-tactile Processing in Children with Disabilities
09:38

Quantitative Assessment of Cortical Auditory-tactile Processing in Children with Disabilities

Published on: January 29, 2014

11.3K

Autistic Children Are More Responsive to Tactile Sensory Stimulus

Asmika Asmika1, Lirista Dyah Ayu Oktafiani2, Kusworini Kusworini3

  • 1Laboratory of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Jalan Veteran Malang 65145, East Java, Indonesia.

Iranian Journal of Child Neurology
|October 4, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) exhibit heightened sensitivity to tactile stimuli and pain compared to neurotypical children. This difference was evident in direct testing and parent-reported sensory profiles.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Sensory processing differences are common in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
  • Understanding tactile sensory responses is crucial for diagnosing and supporting children with developmental disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate differences in tactile sensory stimulus responses between children with and without ASD.
  • To compare tactile sensitivity using direct testing and parental questionnaires.

Main Methods:

  • Experimental study involving 134 children (67 with ASD, 67 neurotypical controls).
  • Tactile sensory responses assessed via direct palpation and the Short Sensory Profile (SSP) questionnaire.
  • Statistical analysis using Fisher's Exact Test and Mann-Whitney U Test.

Main Results:

  • Autistic children demonstrated significantly higher sensitivity to palpation and pain.
  • Autistic children scored significantly higher on the SSP questionnaire, indicating broader sensory responses.
  • P-values were <0.05, confirming statistical significance.

Conclusions:

  • Children with ASD exhibit heightened sensitivity to tactile sensory stimuli compared to neurotypical children.
  • The Short Sensory Profile (SSP) effectively differentiates sensory responses in children with ASD.
Abstract

Keywords:
Autistic ChildrenShort Sensory ProfileTactile Sensory

More Related Videos

Acute and Chronic Tactile Sensory Testing after Spinal Cord Injury in Rats08:57

Acute and Chronic Tactile Sensory Testing after Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

Published on: April 4, 2012

24.3K
Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder09:13

Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Published on: April 22, 2015

17.2K

Related Concept Videos

What is a Sensory System?01:31

What is a Sensory System?

Sensory systems detect stimuli—such as light and sound waves—and transduce them into neural signals that can be interpreted by the nervous system. In addition to external stimuli detected by the senses, some sensory systems detect internal stimuli—such as the proprioceptors in muscles and tendons that send feedback about limb position.
101.1K
Tactile and Chemical Senses01:27

Tactile and Chemical Senses

Tactile senses encompass touch, temperature, and pain, each mediated by specific receptors. Touch receptors detect mechanical energy or pressure against the skin. Sensory fibers from these receptors enter the spinal cord and relay information to the brain stem. Here, most fibers cross over to the opposite side of the brain. The touch information then moves to the thalamus, which projects a map of the body's surface onto the somatosensory areas of the parietal lobes in the cerebral cortex.
805
Sensory Modalities01:15

Sensory Modalities

Sensation typically is the process by which the sensory receptors and sense organs detect stimuli from the internal and external environment and transmit this information to the central nervous system for processing.
General senses refer to the broad category of sensory information detected by receptors in the body and can be further grouped into somatic and visceral senses. Somatic sensations include touch, pressure, temperature, and pain and are essential for navigating our environment and...
3.9K
Sensory Memory01:14

Sensory Memory

Sensory memory captures information from the environment in its original form for a very brief duration, just long enough to be exposed to visual, auditory, and other senses. This type of memory is detailed and rich but quickly lost unless certain strategies are employed to transfer it into short-term or long-term memory. Sensory information is continuously bombarding the human brain, yet only a small fraction is absorbed, as most of it does not significantly impact daily life. For instance,...
693
Responses to Gravity and Touch02:26

Responses to Gravity and Touch

Gravitropism: Plant Responses to Gravity
41.9K
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
302