title: Brief report: sensory abnormalities as distinguishing symptoms of autism spectrum disorders in young children.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore the sensory profile of young children with ASD compared to young children with other developmental delays (DD) at first ASD assessment. Results found that young children with ASD had more tactile and taste/smell sensitivities and difficulties with auditory filtering than young children with other DD. Moreover, sensory scores were significantly correlated with stereotyped interests and behaviors. These findings support the hypotheses that young children with ASD show more sensory impairments than young children with other DD and that sensory symptoms are significantly related to stereotyped interests and behaviors. Results also suggest that sensory abnormalities are distinguishing symptoms of ASD that should be considered in diagnostic algorithms for younger cohorts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. lwiggins@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Lisa D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Wiggins
authors.forename: Diana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Robins
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bakeman
authors.forename: Lauren B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Adamson
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012677:Sensation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012903:Smell; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior; D013649:Taste; D014110:Touch