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Sensory Processing Problems and Comorbidities in Chinese Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Abstract

Little is known about the relationship between sensory processing problems and sleep disturbances, emotional and behavioral problems and mealtime behavioral problems in Chinese children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). This study examined those relationships in Chinese preschool children with ASD using a case–control design. Atypical sensory processing was associated with increased risks of sleep disturbances, emotional and behavioral problems, and abnormal mealtime behaviors in the children with ASD, whereas sensory processing problems were significantly correlated with abnormal mealtime behaviors only in the typically developing children. Based on our findings, clinicians must collect information about sensory problems when a child with ASD experiences sleep disturbances and emotional and behavioral problems or presents abnormal mealtime behaviors.

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Acknowledgments

The children and their parents involved in this study are gratefully acknowledged.

Funding

This work was supported by grants from the National Nature Science Foundation of China (No. 81773459). We are also grateful for the coordination and support provided by The China Disabled Persons Federation (CDPF) of Tianjin, which enabled us to collect data from special education schools.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, No. 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China

    Geng-fu Wang, Wen-Lei Li, Yu Han, Lei Gao, Wei Dai, Yuan-yuan Su & Xin Zhang

  2. Teaching Management Center of School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China

    Wei Dai

  3. Experimental Teaching Center of Preventive Medicine, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China

    Yuan-yuan Su

Authors
  1. Geng-fu Wang
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  2. Wen-Lei Li
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  3. Yu Han
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  4. Lei Gao
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  5. Wei Dai
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  6. Yuan-yuan Su
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  7. Xin Zhang
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Contributions

GW participated in developing the idea for the research article, conducted data collection, conducted data analysis, writing the article, revision of edits, and proofing the final manuscript. WL, YH, LG participated in developing the idea for the research article, writing, providing additional edits during revision, and proofing subsequent submissions. WD, YS conducted data collection, participated in writing, providing additional edits during revision. XZ participated in developing the idea for the research article, conducted data collection, participated in data analysis, providing additional edits during revision process, and proofing the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Xin Zhang.

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Wang, Gf., Li, WL., Han, Y. et al. Sensory Processing Problems and Comorbidities in Chinese Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 49, 4097–4108 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04125-7

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