Mothers of Children with Autism Share Their Sensory Problems

Published May 2, 2014 in Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative

A small study published 3 April in Molecular Autism found that 98 percent of mothers of children with autism have unusual responses to sensory stimuli, including light, sound and touch. Up to 90 percent of children with autism show sensory problems, fixating on or avoiding certain smells, sounds or textures. As a result, the newest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders lists abnormal sensitivity in one or more of the five senses as a core diagnostic feature of autism. Its unclear whether genetics contributes to these sensory patterns, but a larger study examining the relationship between unusual sensory response, autism traits and additional disorders in family members may clarify the link.

https://sfari.org/news-and-opinion/blog/2014/mothers-of-children-with-autism-share-their-sensory-problems

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