, , , , , , , ,

Neurobiology of Sensory Overresponsivity in Children with Autism

JAMA Psychiatry published research on the neurobiological basis of sensory overresponsivity (an extreme negative reaction to sensory stimuli) in youth with autism.  Since more than half of youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have sensory overresponsivity (SOR)  the researchers wanted to use functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the differences in brain responses, habituation, and connectivity during […]

, , , , , ,

Sensory Based Problem Behaviors and Suggested Interventions

School based occupational and physical therapists play a key role in suggesting therapeutic interventions for students with sensory based behaviors.  It is our job to educate teachers, parents and students as to why a child’s behaviors may be sensory based and what sensory strategies can be used to help that child better navigate the educational […]

, , , , , , , ,

Infant Responses to Tactile Input

Psychological Science has published research on 9 month old infants reaction to tactile input. The parents sat the infant on their lap while the experimenter stroked the back of the infant’s arm with a paintbrush. The experimenter varied the rate of the brushstrokes among three defined velocities: slow, medium and fast (0.3, 3, or 30 […]

, , , , , , ,

Sensory Based Phenotypes for Autism?

Autism Research recently published research examining whether sensory differences can be used to classify subgroups of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).  The Short Sensory Profile was completed on 228 children with ASD ages 2-10 years old.  The results indicated the following: 1.  four distinct sensory subtypes were identified – (a) sensory adaptive (b) taste smell […]