The Impact of Atypical Sensory Processing on Adaptive Functioning and Maladaptive Behaviors in Autism Spectrum Disorder During Childhood: Results From the ELENA Cohort

Florine Dellapiazza; Cécile Michelon; Marie-Joelle Oreve; Laurence Robel; Marie Schoenberger; Clarisse Chatel; Stéphanie Vesperini; Thierry Maffre; Richard Schmidt; Nathalie Blanc; Christelle Vernhet; Marie-Christine Picot; Amaria Baghdadli; ELENA study group

doi:10.1007/s10803-019-03970-w

The Impact of Atypical Sensory Processing on Adaptive Functioning and Maladaptive Behaviors in Autism Spectrum Disorder During Childhood: Results From the ELENA Cohort

J Autism Dev Disord. 2020 Jun;50(6):2142-2152. doi: 10.1007/s10803-019-03970-w.

Authors

Florine Dellapiazza^{1

2

3}, Cécile Michelon¹, Marie-Joelle Oreve⁴, Laurence Robel⁵, Marie Schoenberger⁶, Clarisse Chatel⁷, Stéphanie Vesperini⁸, Thierry Maffre^{9

10}, Richard Schmidt¹¹, Nathalie Blanc³, Christelle Vernhet^{1

2

3}, Marie-Christine Picot¹², Amaria Baghdadli^{13

14

15}; ELENA study group

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry and Autism Resources Center, University Research and Hospital Center (CHU) of Montpellier, 34000, Montpellier, France.
² Centre de Recherche en Épidémiologie et Santé des Populations, U1178, INSERM, Paris, France.
³ Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Univ. Montpellier, EPSYLON EA 4556, 34000, Montpellier, France.
⁴ Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier de Versailles, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Le Chesnay, France.
⁵ Service de Pédopsychiatrie, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, AP-HP, Paris V, Paris, France.
⁶ Autism Resources Center, CHU Nancy, Nancy, France.
⁷ Autism Resources Center, APHM Marseille, Marseille, France.
⁸ Autism Resources Centre, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, University Hospital CHU-Lenval, Nice, France.
⁹ Service Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, CHU de Toulouse, Hôpital La Grave, Toulouse, France.
¹⁰ Centre de Ressources Autisme Midi-Pyrénées, Hôpital La Grave, Toulouse, France.
¹¹ Department of Psychology, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA, USA.
¹² Department of Medical Information, University Hospital, Montpellier, France.
¹³ Department of Psychiatry and Autism Resources Center, University Research and Hospital Center (CHU) of Montpellier, 34000, Montpellier, France. rech-clinique-autisme@chu-montpellier.fr.
¹⁴ Centre de Recherche en Épidémiologie et Santé des Populations, U1178, INSERM, Paris, France. rech-clinique-autisme@chu-montpellier.fr.
¹⁵ School of Medicine, Montpellier University, Montpellier, France. rech-clinique-autisme@chu-montpellier.fr.

PMID: 30868365
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-03970-w

Abstract

Atypical sensory processing is common in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), but their role in adaptive difficulties and problem behaviors is poorly understood. Our aim was to determine the prevalence and type of atypical sensory processing in children with ASD and investigate its impact on their adaptive functioning and maladaptive behaviors. We studied a subsample of 197 children rigorously diagnosed with ASD from the ELENA cohort. Children were divided into atypical and typical sensory processing groups and several independent variables were compared, including adaptive functioning and maladaptive behaviors. Overall, 86.8% of the children had at least one atypical sensory pattern and all sensory modalities were disturbed. Atypical sensory processing explained a significant part of the variance of behavioral problems.

Keywords: Adaptive functioning; Autism spectrum disorders; Children; Maladaptive behaviors; Sensory processing.

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Physiological*
Autism Spectrum Disorder / psychology*
Child
Cognition
Cohort Studies
Female
Humans
Male
Problem Behavior
Sensation*

Grants and funding

13-0232/Direction Générale de l'offre de Soins