Sensory Profiles in School-Aged Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Descriptive Study Using the Sensory Processing Measure-2 (SPM-2)

Antonio Narzisi, Maddalena Fabbri-Destro, Giulia Crifaci, Stefano Scatigna, Federica Maugeri, Stefano Berloffa, Pamela Fantozzi, Adriana Prato, Rosy Muccio, Elena Valente, Valentina Viglione, Edoardo Pecchini, Susanna Pelagatti, Renata Rizzo, Annarita Milone, Rita Barone, Gabriele Masi, Antonio Narzisi, Maddalena Fabbri-Destro, Giulia Crifaci, Stefano Scatigna, Federica Maugeri, Stefano Berloffa, Pamela Fantozzi, Adriana Prato, Rosy Muccio, Elena Valente, Valentina Viglione, Edoardo Pecchini, Susanna Pelagatti, Renata Rizzo, Annarita Milone, Rita Barone, Gabriele Masi

Abstract

Background: Sensory reactivity is considered one of the diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and has been associated with poorer functional outcomes, behavioral difficulties, and autism severity across the lifespan. The characterization of the sensory processing in ASD has thus become crucial to identify the sensory and motor features influencing the development of personal autonomy. Objectives: The present study has two aims: (1) to compare the sensory processing between school-aged children with ASD and typically developing peers (TD); (2) to evaluate whether, within the ASD sample, the cognitive level and reported sensory symptoms explain the scores exhibited at the Sensory Processing Measure (SPM-2). Methods: The SPM-2 test was administered to the parents of 105 children with ASD and 70 TD. The ASD group was further subdivided into two groups, namely high and low functioning based on their cognitive level (High Functioning (HF), IQ > 80; Low Functioning (LF), IQ < 80). Results: ASD children exhibited higher scores throughout the SPM-2 total score and its multiple subscales. Within ASD, while HF and LF children did not differ in terms of the SPM-2 total score, a significant difference was found for the hearing, social participation, and balance and motion subscales. Conclusions: Aside from classical knowledge that the ASD population suffers from sensory processing disorders, we revealed that different sensory patterns are associated with high or low cognitive functioning. Beyond its neurobiological interest, such knowledge may be of fundamental importance for individualizing psychoeducational interventions in preschool- and school-aged children and later developmental stages.

Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorders; Sensory Processing Measure; children; sensory profile.

Conflict of interest statement

G.M. has received institutional research grants from Lundbeck and Humana, was on an advisory board for Angelini, and has been a speaker for Angelini, FB Health, Janssen, Lundbeck, and Otsuka. All the other authors do not have conflict of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Workflow of the study. Boxes refer to the procedures performed by experimenters. Solid arrows indicate the connection between boxes; the dashed arrows connect the box where an input is generated with the box where that input is used.
Figure 2
Figure 2
SPM-2 subscale and total score for TD (grey) and ASD (blue) groups. Bars indicate the standard deviations; asterisks indicate the statistical significance.

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