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Transdiagnostic Patterns of Sensory Processing in Autism and ADHD
Nichole E Scheerer1,2, Anahid Pourtousi3, Connie Yang3
1Wilfrid Laurier University, 75 University Ave West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3C5, Canada. nscheerer@wlu.ca.
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|October 28, 2022
Summary
Sensory processing abilities are similar in autistic people and those with ADHD, suggesting these differences are not unique to one diagnosis. This highlights the transdiagnostic nature of sensory experiences across autism and ADHD.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Sensory processing research
- Transdiagnostic studies
Background:
- Sensory processing abilities vary significantly in autism and ADHD.
- Existing research often treats these conditions separately, potentially overlooking shared characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the transdiagnostic nature of sensory processing.
- To examine the association between sensory processing and autism/ADHD features across diagnostic groups.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed sensory processing data from a large sample of autistic individuals (n=495) and individuals with ADHD (n=461).
- Utilized data-driven approaches to identify sensory phenotypes.
- Assessed the association of these phenotypes with autism and ADHD features.
Main Results:
- Identified five distinct sensory processing phenotypes that were consistent across both diagnostic groups.
- Observed similar patterns of association between these sensory phenotypes and features of autism and ADHD in both populations.
- These findings underscore the overlapping nature of sensory experiences.
Conclusions:
- Sensory processing abilities exhibit a transdiagnostic character, extending across autism and ADHD.
- The findings challenge the distinct explanatory power of current autism and ADHD diagnostic labels.
- Further research into shared neurobiological mechanisms underlying sensory processing in these conditions is warranted.
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