Abstract
Sensory reactivity is a new DSM-5 criterion for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current study aims to validate a clinician-administered sensory observation in ASD, the Sensory Processing Scale Assessment (SPS). The SPS and the Short Sensory Profile (SSP) parent-report were used to measure sensory reactivity in children with ASD (n = 35) and typically developing children (n = 27). Sixty-five percent of children with ASD displayed sensory reactivity symptoms on the SPS and 81.1 % on the SSP. SPS scores significantly predicted SSP scores. We next identified the five SPS tasks that best differentiated groups. Our results indicate that a combination of parent-report and at least the five most differentiating observational tasks may be most sensitive in identifying the presence of sensory reactivity issues.
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Acknowledgments
Thanks to all participants for taking part in our research. Special thanks to the Seaver Autism Center team; especially Sarah Soffes, B.A., Lauren Bush, B.A., Jesslyn Jamison, B.A., Lilly Schwartz, B.A., Stacey Lurie, B.A. and John Servinskas, B.A. Also thanks to Michael Parides, Lucy Miller and Sarah Schoen. This work was supported by Grants from the Beatrice and Samuel A. Seaver Foundation. T.T. received funding from the Wallace Research Foundation, the Seaver Foundation and the Autism Science Foundation during the period of this work. A.K. received research support from the NIH, the Autism Science Foundation, the Seaver Foundation, Seaside Therapeutics, and Hoffmann-La Roche Pharmaceuticals.
Author Contributions
TT designed the study, analyzed the data, wrote the initial draft of the paper, and participated in revising the manuscript and addressing the reviewers’ comments. KB, AK and JDB helped with designing the study. TT, KB, PS, ATW, DH, MG, DG and AK helped with testing and data acquisition. All authors assisted with manuscript development and participated in revising the manuscript and addressing the reviewers’ comments.
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Tavassoli, T., Bellesheim, K., Siper, P.M. et al. Measuring Sensory Reactivity in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Application and Simplification of a Clinician-Administered Sensory Observation Scale. J Autism Dev Disord 46, 287–293 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2578-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2578-3