Brief report: exploring the relationship between sensory processing and repetitive behaviours in Williams Syndrome.
In Williams Syndrome, more sensory problems go hand in hand with more repetitive habits, a link now seen in other syndromes too.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Parents of 21 children with Williams Syndrome filled out two checklists. One tracked unusual sensory reactions. The other listed repetitive habits like hand flapping or strict routines.
The team then looked for a link between the two sets of scores.
What they found
Kids who scored high on sensory oddities also scored high on repetitive acts. The relationship was strong enough to show up in a small sample.
The authors think both sets of behaviors may stem from trouble keeping an even arousal level.
How this fits with other research
Saima et al. (2022) saw the same sensory-repetition link in adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome. The pattern crosses syndromes and ages, so it may be a general genetic risk pathway.
Hirai et al. (2025) compared Williams and autism groups. Only sensory sensitivity, not every sensory quirk, differed between the two. Their finer lens shows the original finding is real but not the whole story.
Mammarella et al. (2022) widened the lens further by adding repetitive thoughts, not just visible acts. They kept the Williams group but brought in autism and typical peers. Together the three papers build a staircase: first find the link, then test who it separates, then ask what forms the behaviors take.
Why it matters
If you assess a child with Williams Syndrome, score sensory issues right alongside repetitive behaviors. A high score on one should put the other on your radar. Use sensory diets, environmental tweaks, or arousal-based strategies as first-line options before trying to stamp out the repetition. The same rule may apply to other genetic syndromes, so share data across diagnostic labels in your clinic.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
This study explored the relationship between sensory processing abnormalities and repetitive behaviours in children with Williams Syndrome (WS; n = 21). This is a novel investigation bringing together two clinical phenomena for the first time in this neuro-developmental disorder. Parents completed the Sensory Profile (Short Form; Dunn in The sensory profile manual. San Antonio: The Psychological Corporation, 1999) and the Repetitive Behaviour Questionnaire (Turner 1995). A significant correlation was evident between the total scores on each of these measures; suggesting that children with WS who exhibit increased sensory processing abnormalities also display a higher number of repetitive behaviours. Further exploratory analyses of subscales of the measures indicated potentially important relationships that suggest a role for arousal regulation in the relationship between sensory processing abnormalities and repetitive behaviours in WS.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2013 · doi:10.1007/s10803-012-1557-1