Lane Alison E, Simpson Kate, Masi Anne, Grove Rachel, Moni Mohammad Ali, Montgomery Alicia, Roberts Jacqui, Silove Natalie, Whalen Olivia, Whitehouse Andrew J O, Eapen Valsamma
Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology & Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
Autism Centre of Excellence, School of Education and Professional Studies, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Autism Res. 2022 Oct;15(10):1840-1854. doi: 10.1002/aur.2762. Epub 2022 Jun 6.
Sensory modulation symptoms form a diagnostic criterion for autism spectrum disorder and are associated with significant daily functional limitations. Utilizing caregiver report on Short Sensory Profile-2 (SSP-2) for 919 autistic children (3-14.11 years), we examined the expression of sensory modulation symptoms by age and sex and investigated the existence of specific sensory modulation subtypes. Sensory modulation symptoms appeared to peak in frequency during middle childhood, particularly in sensory sensitivity and avoidance. Symptoms associated with sensory hypo-reactivity and seeking tended not differ between age cohorts. Males and females demonstrated similar overall sensory modulation profiles, however, females showed elevated symptoms relating to sensory sensitivity. Model-based cluster analysis revealed five interpretable sensory modulation subtypes which related to symptom severity (low, mid-range, high). Subtypes demonstrating mid-range symptom severity differed in focus on sensory hyper-reactivity or seeking symptoms. The findings of this study report for the first time that age-related differences in sensory modulation symptoms may be associated with sensory hyper-reactivity only. The subtyping results also suggest that sensory modulation symptom severity is a reliable means of classifying variance within autistic children, however, consideration of differences in the behavioral strategies employed by individuals to manage sensory modulation symptoms may inform tailored supportive strategies. LAY SUMMARY: We studied sensory symptoms such as over-responding, under-responding and sensation seeking behaviors in 919 autistic children and adolescents. We found that 6-12-year-olds and females displayed the most sensory over-responding symptoms. Autistic children could be grouped into mild, moderate, and severe levels of sensory symptoms, however, children differed in the type of strategies used to cope with their sensory symptoms meaning that they may require different intervention approaches.
感觉调节症状是自闭症谱系障碍的一项诊断标准，且与显著的日常功能受限相关。利用照顾者对919名自闭症儿童（3至14.11岁）的《简短感觉概况量表-2》（SSP-2）报告，我们按年龄和性别考察了感觉调节症状的表现，并调查了特定感觉调节亚型的存在情况。感觉调节症状在童年中期出现的频率似乎达到峰值，尤其是在感觉敏感和回避方面。与感觉反应低下和寻求相关的症状在不同年龄组之间差异不大。男性和女性总体感觉调节概况相似，然而，女性在感觉敏感相关症状方面表现出更高的症状水平。基于模型的聚类分析揭示了五种可解释的感觉调节亚型，它们与症状严重程度（低、中等、高）相关。症状严重程度为中等的亚型在关注感觉反应过度或寻求症状方面存在差异。本研究结果首次报告，感觉调节症状的年龄相关差异可能仅与感觉反应过度有关。亚型分类结果还表明，感觉调节症状严重程度是对自闭症儿童差异进行分类的可靠方法，然而，考虑个体用于管理感觉调节症状的行为策略差异可能有助于制定量身定制的支持策略。通俗总结：我们研究了919名自闭症儿童和青少年的过度反应、反应不足和寻求感觉行为等感觉症状。我们发现6至12岁的儿童和女性表现出最多的感觉过度反应症状。自闭症儿童可分为轻度、中度和重度感觉症状水平，然而，儿童在用于应对感觉症状的策略类型上存在差异，这意味着他们可能需要不同的干预方法。
