Relationship between context and sensory processing in children with autism.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between sensory processing and context for children with autism. We examined home and school contexts using the Sensory Profile (Dunn, 1999) and the Sensory Profile School Companion (Dunn, 2006a) questionnaires.


METHODS
Teachers of 49 students with autism completed the Sensory Profile School Companion, and parents completed the Sensory Profile. We conducted correlational analyses using the avoiding and seeking quadrant scores from the School Companion and corresponding avoiding and seeking quadrant scores from the Sensory Profile.


RESULTS
The avoiding quadrant score coefficient (.59) and the seeking quadrant score coefficient (.45) were statistically significant (p = .01) with good and fair correlations, respectively, suggesting that sensory processing patterns have both universal qualities and context-specific qualities in children with autism.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings from this study provide initial evidence that sensory processing and context for children with autism are related.
Brown
Natalie Bennett
NB
University of Kansas, USA. tallybennett@yahoo.com
Dunn
Winnie
W
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D012574:Schools; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012931:Social Environment