Year: 2012
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Difficulties and peculiarities of sensory and perceptual experiences in autism have been acknowledged since long, autism research, however, has greatly focused on problems of cognitive processing, such as difficulties in using mind reading skills.Research generated by major theories of autism has concentrated on the cognitive side, but it has become clear that gaps in explanations for autism spectrum disorder still exist.A line of new research calls for a better understanding of the so far neglected role of sensoryperceptual difficulties in autism (Bogdashina, 2003;Robinson & Johnson, 2010).In this paper we briefly review theories of autism, emphasizing the role of sensory -perceptual processes in understanding autism spectrum disorder.Then, we present findings of an exploratory study in which we compared the way typically developing children and children with autism perceive the world and select information.We used Bogdashina's Sensory Profile Checklist Revised (SPCR) in a sample of 30 healthy children (age 2-7) and 17 children diagnosed with autism (age 2-7.5).The questionnaires surveying the current and retrospective sensory profiles of children were filled out by the parents.Results suggest that autistic individuals' sensory -perceptual patterns are different from the control group in several respects.We suggest that perceptual differencies in autism need to be studied further so we can provide efficient therapies and also because understanding sensory-perceptual processes in autism will contribute to theoretical develoment in the field.
Author: Ágnes Szokolszky
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2187040800