Sensory Processing Patterns Predict Problem Behaviours in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Objectives Sensory processing is the ability to discern and understand information from one’s sensory organs. Understanding sensory processing patterns in different clinical groups could elicit evidence that sensory processing patterns are a transdiagnostic mechanism in neurodevelopmental disorders. Furthermore, there is little evidence of how sensory processing patterns relate to behaviours, such as attention, social, and mood difficulties in autism and ADHD. The goals of this study were to directly compare sensory processing patterns in autism, ADHD, and typical development and to explore the association between sensory processing and behavioural outcomes. Methods Data were collected through the Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Network. The parents of 805 children with typical development, ADHD, or ASD completed measures of sensory processing and behavioural outcomes with the Short Sensory Profile and the Childhood Behaviour Checklist, respectively. Sensory processing was compared across groups and regression analyses were conducted to determine if behavioural patterns could be predicted by sensory processing patterns in the clinical sample. Results Overall, the results identified significant differences in sensory processing patterns between the diagnosed and undiagnosed participants. Autism and ADHD differed on all Sensory Profile subscales except auditory filtering and under-responsivity/sensory seeking. All behavioural outcomes were predicted by sensory processing patterns over and above the variance accounted for by the diagnostic group, suggesting that understanding sensory processing patterns is an important piece of a comprehensive understanding of the behavioural patterns observed across multiple clinical populations. Conclusions There is evidence that sensory processing is different in ASD and ADHD but that specific patterns of sensory processing are related to behavioural outcomes in both disorders. Better understanding sensory processing as a mechanism for behaviour can help to identify simple interventions across neurodevelopmental disorders.