Sex-Related Specificities of Sensory Profiles in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Impact on Clinical Functioning

Background and Objectives: Sensory anomalies are a distinctive feature of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) individuals and appear to differ in intensity, frequency, and subtype between male and female subjects. According to the diagnostic framework of the DSM-5-TR, these sensory patterns are key clinical indicators. The objectives of this study were to investigate sensoriality in ASD, to compare sensory profiles in ASD subjects of both sexes and evaluate potential correlations with clinical profiles. Materials and Methods: A total of 94 ASD participants were enrolled at the Children and Adolescents Neuropsychiatry Department of the University of Naples Federico II. The population was assessed through psychometric (cognitive and adaptive levels, and intensity of autism symptoms) and sensory characterization (using the Short Sensory Profile questionnaire). Subsequently, a Mann-Whitney U test was performed to evaluate differences in sensory profiles between males and females. Spearman's correlation was used to assess significant associations between the sensory profile and cognitive level, adaptive level, and ASD symptom intensity. Subsequently, for the correlations that emerged as significant, an analysis was performed using a General Linear Model (GLM), including age and Intelligence Quotient (IQ) as covariates in the model. Results: No statistically significant differences in the sensory profile emerged between male and female subjects. Sensory anomalies do not appear to be correlated with cognitive level. Although some statistically significant correlations emerged between the sensory profile, the AQ, and the ADOS-2 comparison score, these results were not confirmed after a GLM analysis was performed using the participants' age and IQ as covariates. Conclusions: The observed results appear partially in line with the existing literature. Following the GLM analysis, it was further observed that variables such as age and IQ play a crucial role in interpreting the functional profile of individuals with ASD. At present, the study has several limitations (the exclusive use of parent-report instruments, an observational design, the lack of a control group) which could affect the robustness of the observed findings. Therefore, further studies are deemed necessary to better define the sex-specific sensory characteristics of ASD individuals.