Factors influencing the sensory profile in patients with autism spectrum disorder from 16 months to 14 years: results of an observational study

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The study involved 159 subjects with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), aged 16 months to 14 years, to assess sensory processing abnormalities.
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Adaptive functioning was identified as the most consistent predictor of sensory outcomes, with higher functioning linked to reduced atypical sensory patterns.
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Age was found to modify sensory profiles, showing distinct trends: sensory seeking behaviors in preschoolers and hypersensitivity in children aged 8 to 12.
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Autism severity and sex generally had no significant impact on sensory profiles, though higher cognitive functioning correlated with increased sensory avoiding behaviors.
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The study's limitations include its retrospective design and the need for further prospective longitudinal studies to explore sensory profile dynamics.

Frontiers In Psychiatry

by Nadia Marani, Davide di Gennaro, Raffaele Garotti, Valeria Maffettone, Rosamaria Siracusano, Maria Pia Riccio, Simone Pisano, Carmela Bravaccio
May 25, 2026

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