title: The relationship between auditory processing and restricted, repetitive behaviors in adults with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: Current views suggest that autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are characterised by enhanced low-level auditory discrimination abilities. Little is known, however, about whether enhanced abilities are universal in ASD and how they relate to symptomatology. We tested auditory discrimination for intensity, frequency and duration in 21 adults with ASD and 21 IQ and age-matched controls. Contrary to predictions, there were significant deficits in ASD on all acoustic parameters. The findings suggest that low-level auditory discrimination ability varies widely within ASD and this variability relates to IQ level, and influences the severity of restricted and repetitive behaviours (RRBs). We suggest that it is essential to further our understanding of the potential contributing role of sensory perception ability on the emergence of RRBs.
authors.affiliation: Autism Research Network, Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, King Henry Building, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 2DY, UK, Niko.Kargas@port.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Niko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kargas
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Vasudevi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior; D055815:Young Adult