Exploring the effects of age and sex on sensory sensitivities in middle and older aged autistic adults.
Sensory over-responsivity stays high in autistic adults well into later life and rises with trait load.
01Research in Context
What this study did
McQuaid et al. (2024) asked middle- and older-aged adults to fill out a sensory survey online.
Some adults had autism. Some did not. Everyone rated how much sounds, lights, or touch bother them.
What they found
Autistic adults scored much higher on sensory over-responsivity than non-autistic adults.
The more autistic traits a person had, the higher their sensory score, no matter their age or sex.
How this fits with other research
Northrup et al. (2022) found the same pattern in kids. Parents of 2- to 54-year-olds reported six in ten autistic children show auditory over-responsivity. McQuaid et al. (2024) now show the issue lasts into later life.
Eggleston et al. (2018) sorted preschoolers with autism into four sensory-based subtypes. The new study keeps the focus on sensory issues but shows the trait stays strong across the lifespan.
Reynolds et al. (2008) once wondered if sensory over-responsivity could be its own diagnosis using just three case reports. McQuaid et al. (2024) give larger survey evidence that the trait is real and common in autistic adults.
Why it matters
If you work with autistic adults, expect sensory sensitivities to stay on the table. Screen with quick questionnaires during intake. Lower lighting, reduce background noise, or offer noise-canceling headphones during sessions. Small changes keep clients regulated and therapy on track.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Anecdotal reports and empirical evidence suggest that sensory processing issues are a key feature of autism spectrum conditions. This study set out to investigate whether adults with autism spectrum conditions report more sensory over-responsivity than adults without autism spectrum conditions. Another goal of the study was to identify whether autistic traits in adults with and without autism spectrum conditions were associated with sensory over-responsivity. Adults with (n = 221) and without (n = 181) autism spectrum conditions participated in an online survey. The Autism Spectrum Quotient, the Raven Matrices and the Sensory Processing Scale were used to characterize the sample. Adults with autism spectrum conditions reported more sensory over-responsivity than control participants across various sensory domains (visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, gustatory and proprioceptive). Sensory over-responsivity correlated positively with autistic traits (Autism Spectrum Quotient) at a significant level across groups and within groups. Adults with autism spectrum conditions experience sensory over-responsivity to daily sensory stimuli to a high degree. A positive relationship exists between sensory over-responsivity and autistic traits. Understanding sensory over-responsivity and ways of measuring it in adults with autism spectrum conditions has implications for research and clinical settings.
Research in autism spectrum disorders, 2024 · doi:10.1177/1362361313477246