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Hyporesponsiveness to social and nonsocial sensory stimuli in children with autism, children with developmental delays, and typically developing children

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 April 2013

Grace T. Baranek ,
Linda R. Watson ,
Brian A. Boyd ,
Michele D. Poe ,
Fabian J. David  and
Lorin McGuire
Grace T. Baranek*
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Linda R. Watson
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Brian A. Boyd
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Michele D. Poe
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Fabian J. David
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Lorin McGuire
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Grace T. Baranek, Division of Occupational Science (CB 7122), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7122; E-mail: gbaranek@med.unc.edu.
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Abstract

This cross-sectional study seeks to (a) describe developmental correlates of sensory hyporesponsiveness to social and nonsocial stimuli, (b) determine whether hyporesponsiveness is generalized across contexts in children with autism relative to controls, and (c) test the associations between hyporesponsiveness and social communication outcomes. Three groups of children ages 11–105 months (N = 178; autism = 63, developmental delay = 47, typical development = 68) are given developmental and sensory measures including a behavioral orienting task (the Sensory Processing Assessment). Lab measures are significantly correlated with parental reports of sensory hyporesponsiveness. Censored regression models show that hyporesponsiveness decreased across groups with increasing mental age (MA). Group differences are significant but depend upon two-way interactions with MA and context (social and nonsocial). At a very young MA (e.g., 6 months), the autism group demonstrates more hyporesponsiveness to social and nonsocial stimuli (with larger effects for social) than developmental delay and typically developing groups, but at an older MA (e.g., 60 months) there are no significant differences. Hyporesponsiveness to social and nonsocial stimuli predicts lower levels of joint attention and language in children with autism. Generalized processes in attention disengagement and behavioral orienting may have relevance for identifying early risk factors of autism and for facilitating learning across contexts to support the development of joint attention and language.

Type
Regular Articles
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 25 , Issue 2 , May 2013 , pp. 307 - 320
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013

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