April is Autism Awareness Month, a time to acknowledge the ways that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) impacts people around the globe in a myriad of ways. ASD encompasses a wide range of conditions often characterized by difficulties surrounding social interaction and communication. Individuals with autism may tend to exhibit repetitive behaviors, have atypical reactions to external stimuli, or have fixated personal interests. Some people with ASD may already have a preexisting condition or genetic predisposition, but many causes remain unknown. As such, it appears very differently among cases. For example, some people with ASD may be nonverbal while others may exhibit typical, advanced conversational skills. Some may need caretakers; others can work and live fully independently.
Often, ASD is confused with a similar yet separate condition known as sensory processing disorder (SPD). Up to 90% of children with ASD display symptoms of SPD, but not everyone with sensory processing disorder has autism. Sensory processing disorder is estimated to be present in roughly 16% of the general population, while ASD comprises only 1%. SPD is also more likely to be diagnosed in early childhood, with ASD being more difficult to identify, resulting in later diagnoses.
Sensory processing refers to the way our brains receive and react to sensory information as it enters the nervous system. Someone with SPD may be highly sensitive to the way things feel, look, or sound, as the condition causes irregularities in the sensory processing systems. This may impact motor function involving balance, walking, and coordination, and be reflected in behavior when one responds to stimuli in a socially or emotionally dysfunctional way. Such sensory issues can be grouped into two main types:
Hypersensitivity refers to overstimulation, occurring when an individual is easily stimulated by sensory stimuli. Someone experiencing hypersensitivity may exhibit low pain tolerance, coordination issues, or light and sound sensitivity.
Hyposensitivity occurs when an individual does not experience enough sensory stimulation. This may manifest as a high pain tolerance, inability to perceive force, and constant desire to touch or mouth items.
When diagnosing SPD, it is important to be able to recognize how its symptoms may vary among different people. Sensory irregularities can result in discomfort, avoidances, inappropriate responses, fear, shutdown, emotional dysregulation, refusals, cravings, poor coordination, and learning impairments. Many of these outcomes are also present in ASD, but lack ASD’s key markers of social interaction and communication difficulties. Rather, individuals with other neurodevelopmental or psychiatric conditions may be more likely to have SPD.
Treatment for SPD often includes occupational therapy, sensory integration therapy, and other strategies to help individuals better process sensory input. Therapists may implement sensory diets and activities that ease quality of life for the client. Activities that have been proven effective in treatment include swinging, brushing, deep pressure, or weighted vests. People with SPD may also benefit from environmental changes in the workplace or at home.
When treating ASD, individuals benefit more from behavioral therapy, speech therapy, and interventions focused more on social and communication skills. Sometimes, medication is recommended to manage symptoms stemming from anxiety or attention deficits, which often co-occur with ASD.
Learning how to make the distinction between ASD and SPD is integral for treating every case effectively and ensuring that each individual’s unique needs are met. This Autism Awareness Month, let’s help create better futures for everyone through education and understanding!
