AUTISM-Brain sciences-Panerai et al-raw data

The aim of this study is to better understand the relationship between sensory and feeding problems in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by comparing sensory responsiveness of ASD children with (ASD-W) and without (ASD-WO) feeding problems. The feeding and sensory characteristics of 111 children with ASD (37 ASD-W and 74 ASD-WO) were assessed by using two questionnaires tapping on feeding problems and two on sensory problems. A comparative study was carried out with between-group as well as intra-group comparisons design; a correlation analysis was also added. A statistically significant correlation was found between sensory and feeding problems. ASD-W children showed more severe and extensively impaired sensory responses than ASD-WO, with lower sensory adaptation and more generalized and severe deficits in all subdomains. Taste/Smell sensitivity was strongly impaired only in ASD-W, whereas in ASD-WO it was found to be a point of strength. Both groups showed a Hyporesponsive profile, though it was more marked in ASD-W. Both groups showed strengths in Visual/Auditory sensitivity, Low-Energy/Weak, and Movement sensitivity, again more marked in ASD-WO. These results might prove to be particularly useful for sensory training and psychoeducational treatment.

本研究旨在通过对比伴进食问题的自闭症谱系障碍（Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD）儿童（ASD-W）与不伴进食问题的ASD儿童（ASD-WO）的感觉反应特征，深入解析ASD患者感觉功能与进食问题之间的关联。本研究共纳入111名ASD儿童，其中ASD-W组37例，ASD-WO组74例；采用两份进食问题问卷与两份感觉问题问卷，分别评估受试者的进食与感觉特征。研究采用组间及组内比较的对照设计，并补充了相关性分析。研究结果显示，感觉功能问题与进食问题之间存在统计学显著相关性。ASD-W组儿童的感觉反应受损程度更严重、波及范围更广泛，具体表现为感觉适应能力更差，且所有感觉亚领域均存在更广泛且严重的功能缺陷。其中，味觉/嗅觉敏感性受损仅在ASD-W组中尤为显著，而ASD-WO组的味觉/嗅觉功能反而为其优势领域。两组儿童均表现出低反应性表型，但ASD-W组的该特征更为突出。此外，两组在视觉/听觉敏感性、低能量/衰弱敏感性以及运动敏感性方面均表现出优势，且该优势在ASD-WO组中更为明显。本研究结果可为ASD患者的感觉功能训练与心理教育治疗提供重要参考依据。