Sensory Over-Responsivity: Parent Report, Direct Assessment Measures, and Neural Architecture

BackgroundSensory processing differences are common across neurodevelopmental disorders. Thus, reliable measures are needed to understand biologic underpinnings of these differences. This study aims to define a scoring methodology specific to tactile (TOR) and auditory (AOR) over-responsivity. Second, using MRI Diffusion Tensor Imaging, we seek to determine whether children with AOR show measurable differences in their white matter integrity.\n\nMethodsThis study includes children with AOR and TOR from a mixed neurodevelopmental disorders cohort including autism and sensory processing dysfunction (n= 176) as well as neurotypical children (n= 128). We established cut-off scores for over-responsivity using the parent report: Short Sensory Profile (SSP), and the direct assessment: Sensory Processing-Three Dimensions:Assessment (SP-3D:A). Group comparisons, based on AOR phenotype, were then conducted comparing the white matter fractional anisotropy in 23 regions of interest.\n\nResultsUsing the direct assessment, 31% of the children with neurodevelopmental disorders had AOR and 27% had TOR. The Inter-test-agreement between SSP and SP-3D:A for AOR was 65% and TOR was 50%. Children with AOR had three white matter tracts showing decreased fractional anisotropy relative to children without AOR.\n\nConclusionsThis study identified cut scores for AOR and TOR using the SSP parent report and SP-3D:A observation. A combination of questionnaire and direct observation measures should be used in clinical and research settings. The SSP parent report and SP-3D:A direct observation ratings overlapped moderately for sensory related behaviors. Based on these initial structural neuroimaging results, we suggest a putative neural network may contribute to AOR.