Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 29, 2025
09:13
Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 22, 2015
16.7K
In Our Own Words: The Complex Sensory Experiences of Autistic Adults.
K MacLennan1, S O'Brien2, T Tavassoli2
1School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Earley, Reading, RG66BZ, UK. kerenmaclennan@gmail.com.
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|July 13, 2021
Summary
Autistic adults experience diverse sensory reactivity, including hyperreactivity, hyporeactivity, and sensory seeking. Understanding these differences is crucial for improving support and quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Sensory Processing
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
Background:
- Autistic adults frequently exhibit sensory reactivity differences.
- Research often overlooks sensory hyporeactivity, seeking, and cross-domain experiences, particularly in vision.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively understand the sensory experiences of autistic adults.
- To explore sensory hyperreactivity, hyporeactivity, and seeking across various sensory modalities.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods study co-produced with stakeholders.
- Recruited 49 autistic adults who completed an online survey.
- Employed quantitative analysis and thematic analysis.
Main Results:
- Identified sensory inputs and contexts linked to hyperreactivity, hyporeactivity, and seeking across modalities.
- Developed themes on outcomes, control, tolerance, management, and social roles.
- Informed a theoretical model of sensory reactivity in autistic adults.
Conclusions:
- Findings highlight the multifaceted nature of sensory reactivity in autistic adults.
- Results have implications for enhancing support services.
- Improved understanding can contribute to a better quality of life for autistic adults.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
499
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
499
01:27Synesthesia
250
Synesthesia is a remarkable condition where stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. People with synesthesia experience a blending or crossing of their senses, such as sight and sound, leading to cross-modal sensations. In this condition, the stimulation of one sense, such as hearing a number or musical note, triggers an experience of another sense, like sensing a specific color, taste, or smell. People...
250
01:26Introduction to Special Senses
6.4K
Sensory receptors play an integral part in comprehending our external and internal environments. They receive diverse stimuli, converting them into the nervous system's electrochemical signals. This conversion occurs as the stimulus alters the sensory neuron's cell membrane potential, instigating the generation of an action potential. This action potential is subsequently transmitted to the central nervous system (CNS), which integrates with other sensory data or higher cognitive...
6.4K
01:33Somatosensation
41.1K
The somatosensory system relays sensory information from the skin, mucous membranes, limbs, and joints. Somatosensation is more familiarly known as the sense of touch. A typical somatosensory pathway includes three types of long neurons: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary neurons have cell bodies located near the spinal cord in groups of neurons called dorsal root ganglia. The sensory neurons of ganglia innervate designated areas of skin called dermatomes.
41.1K
01:15Sensory Modalities
2.5K
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...
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...
2.5K
01:11Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System
8.9K
The somatosensory system is the central and peripheral nervous system component that senses and processes touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and body position or proprioception. The process of sensation takes place at three levels:
The receptor level:
The receptor level is the first stage of sensation. It involves the detection of a stimulus by specialized sensory receptors. The stimulus must arrive within the receptor's receptive field. Next, the receptor converts the energy of the...
The receptor level:
The receptor level is the first stage of sensation. It involves the detection of a stimulus by specialized sensory receptors. The stimulus must arrive within the receptor's receptive field. Next, the receptor converts the energy of the...
8.9K