How are Sensory Features associated with seven anxiety disorders in boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder?

A review of decreased sound tolerance in autism: Definitions, phenomenology, and potential mechanisms

Atypical behavioral responses to environmental sounds are common in autistic children and adults, with 50-70 % of this population exhibiting decreased sound tolerance (DST) at some point in their lives. This symptom is a source of significant distress and impairment across the lifespan, contributing to anxiety, challenging behaviors, reduced community participation, and school/workplace difficulties. However, relatively little is known about its phenomenology or neurocognitive underpinnings. The present article synthesizes a large body of literature on the phenomenology and pathophysiology of DST-related conditions to generate a comprehensive theoretical account of DST in autism. Notably, we argue against conceptualizing DST as a unified construct, suggesting that it be separated into three phenomenologically distinct conditions: hyperacusis (the perception of everyday sounds as excessively loud or painful), misophonia (an acquired aversive reaction to specific sounds), and phonophobia (a specific phobia of sound), each responsible for a portion of observed DST behaviors. We further elaborate our framework by proposing preliminary neurocognitive models of hyperacusis, misophonia, and phonophobia that incorporate neurophysiologic findings from studies of autism.

The Role of Sensory Features in Mediating Associations Between Autism Symptoms and Anxiety in Boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder

To investigate possible correlates of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) in young males with ASD, a test of the mediation effects of sensory features (SF) upon the association between ASD symptoms and GAD was conducted with 150 males aged 6 to 18 years. GAD data were obtained from parents of the boys and from the boys themselves; SF and ASD data were obtained from parents. Symptoms of ASD were found to influence elevated levels of parent-rated GAD indirectly through greater levels of sensory avoiding, and auditory-specific sensory behaviours correlated with parent-rated anxiety more strongly than other sensory modalities. There were no significant effects for the boys' self-rated GAD.

A review of the use of EEG connectivity to measure the neurological characteristics of the sensory features in young people with autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting about 1 in 100 children and is currently incurable. ASD represents a challenge to traditional methods of assessment and diagnosis, and it has been suggested that direct measures of brain activity and connectivity between brain regions during demanding tasks represents a potential pathway to building more accurate models of underlying brain function and ASD. One of the key behavioural diagnostic indicators of ASD consists of sensory features (SF), often characterised by over- or under-reactivity to environmental stimuli. SF are associated with behavioural difficulties that impede social and education success in these children as well as anxiety and depression. This review examines the previous literature on the measurement of EEG connectivity and SF observed in individuals with ASD.

Relationship Among Sensory Over-Responsivity, Problem Behaviors, and Anxiety in Emerging Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

INTRODUCTION

Despite the highly prevailing rate of sensory over-responsivity, problem behaviors, and anxiety among emerging adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), little is known about the nature of their experiences. While previous studies have indicated potential relationships among these conditions, their connections still need to be clarified. This study aimed to examine the relationships between sensory over-responsivity, problem behaviors, and anxiety.

METHODS

Fifty-seven emerging adults with ASD (M_age = 21.4, SD = 2.5; males = 80.7%) were recruited. The Adult Sensory Profile - Chinese version, Problem Behavior Scale of Scales of Independent Behavior - Revised, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 - Chinese version (GAD-7) were used.

RESULTS

The percentage of emerging adults with ASD who scored more than most people in the two quadrants were sensation sensitivity = 33.3% and sensation avoiding = 26.3%. Approximately 66.7%, 27.5%, and 50.9% of participants had internalizing behaviors, externalizing behaviors, and asocial behaviors, respectively. Approximately, 64.9% of the participants scored on or above the cut-off score of 6 on the GAD-7. Sensation sensitivity and sensation avoiding were significantly correlated to problem behaviors; and anxiety was a mediating variable that accounts for the relationships between sensory over-responsivity and problem behaviors.

CONCLUSION

These results indicated that emerging adults with ASD showing problem behaviors might also report more exaggerated responses toward sensory inputs and experience more anxiety symptoms. The results indicate that sensory over-responsivity, problem behaviors, and anxiety may have common underlying mechanisms. Findings can be useful to understand the impacts of such difficulties for emerging adults with ASD.

Sensory Over-Responsivity: An Early Risk Factor for Anxiety and Behavioral Challenges in Young Children

Anxiety disorders are prevalent and significantly impact young children and their families. One hypothesized risk factor for anxiety is heightened responses to sensory input. Few studies have explored this hypothesis prospectively. This study had two goals: (1) examine whether sensory over-responsivity is predictive of the development of anxiety in a large prospective sample of children, and (2) identify whether anxiety mediates the relationship between sensory over-responsivity and behavioral challenges. Children's sensory and anxiety symptoms were assessed in a community sample of 917 at 2-5 and again in 191 of these children at 6 years old. Parents also reported on a number of additional behavioral challenges previously found to be associated with both sensory over-responsivity and anxiety separately: irritability, food selectivity, sleep problems, and gastrointestinal problems. Forty three percent of preschool children with sensory over-responsivity also had a concurrent impairing anxiety disorder. Preschool sensory over-responsivity symptoms significantly and positively predicted anxiety symptoms at age six. This relationship was both specific and unidirectional. Finally, school-age anxiety symptoms mediated the relationship between preschool sensory over-responsivity symptoms and both irritability and sleep problems at school-age. These results suggest sensory over-responsivity is a risk factor for anxiety disorders. Furthermore, children who have symptoms of sensory over-responsivity as preschoolers have higher levels of anxiety symptoms at school-age, which in turn is associated with increased levels of school-age behavioral challenges.

[Sensory modulation disorders and impairments in adaptative skills in autism spectrum disorders]

INTRODUCTION

People suffering from autism spectrum disorders (ASD) provide atypical responses to sensorial stimulations, indicating specific sensory processing. These responses vary from one another and within the same individual with ASD, resulting in maladaptive functional capacities in everyday life. Factors explaining those specificities are poorly defined and need to be better identified.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the relationship between sensory modulation symptoms (SMSs) and maladaptive behaviors in a group of children with ASD. To study how the sensory processing patterns in ASD are related to chronological age, intensity of autistic symptoms, and associated intellectual disability.

METHOD

A transversal observational study of a group of children with ASD was conducted for 1 year in an Autism Resource Centre in Marseille, France. The SMSs were assessed using the Dunn short sensory profile. The adaptive behaviors and social quotient were assessed using the Vineland adaptive behavior scale.

RESULTS

Forty-five children with ASD completed both scales. Significant correlations were found between SMS intensity and the children's adaptive behaviors. Furthermore, chronological age and intellectual disability showed a significant relationship with SMS intensity; chronological age and intellectual disability were also found to be significantly related. However, the severity of autistic symptoms was not associated with the intensity of SMSs.

CONCLUSION

These outcomes give a better understanding of sensory processing in ASD. The analysis of sensory processing is valuable during the diagnostic phase and for the development of individualized/custom-tailored interventions.