Sensory processing and its relationship to participation among childhood occupations in children with autism spectrum disorder: exploring the profile of differences

Loh, Siew Yim and Ee, Su Im and Marret, Mary Joseph (2023) Sensory processing and its relationship to participation among childhood occupations in children with autism spectrum disorder: exploring the profile of differences. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 69 (2). pp. 226-237. ISSN 20473869, DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/20473869.2021.1950484.

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Abstract

Autism is a condition manifested by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, and, sensory processing difficulties may further affect childhood-occupation and hinders their overall development. This study examines the sensory-processing and childhood participation of children with autism (6 to 10 years), and `age/gender-matched typical children as control. The Sensory Processing (SSP) and the Participation of childhood-occupation (PICO) measures were used to collect data from 93 parents of children with autism and 95 parents of typically-developing' children, recruited from hospitals, school and care centres. This study had 74 percent (n = 72) male participants (i.e. 4:1 male to female ratio) in the autism group, and found sensory processing difficulties were associated with specific childhood-participation limitation. Children with autism had lower participation (across level, frequency and enjoyment) than the typical children. Sensory-processing' difficulties for the children with autism (n = 93) were at 68.8 percent, compared to 21.5 percent in the typical group (n = 95), and were significantly different (p < 0.001). The differences in sensory-processing difficulties were significant (p < 0.05) between groups, across all domains, except for movement sensitivity (p > 0.28). Auditory filtering was the sole sensory-processing difficulty with significant correlations with all three dimensions of participation i.e. difficulty (r = 0.36, p < 0.01), frequency (r = 0.22, p < 0.05) and enjoyment (r = 0.27, p < 0.01)]. Our finding highlighted that auditory-filtering difficulties is a key sensory processing difficulty, and it significantly lower the childhood-participation in the autism group. Adding to a growing body of literature on assessment in autism, there is a need for early screening, and to engage parents in early intervention to improve specific sensory processing deficits but also to focus on the child's strengths, for a comprehensive supportive care.

Item Type: Article
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords: Autism; Sensory processing difficulties; Childhood-occupation participation; Assessment; Case control
Subjects: R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics
R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > Child health. Child health services
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine > Paediatrics Department
Depositing User: Ms Zaharah Ramly
Date Deposited: 05 Nov 2024 01:42
Last Modified: 05 Nov 2024 01:42
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/39629

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