Exploring the prevalence and phenomenology of repetitive behaviours and abnormal sensory processing in children with Williams Syndrome.
Kids with Williams Syndrome often show sensory hypersensitivities and repetitive behaviors—screen for these during assessment.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Van Hanegem et al. (2014) talked to 28 parents of school-age kids with Williams Syndrome. They asked open questions about daily repetitive actions and how the children reacted to sounds, lights, and touch.
Parents gave real-life examples. The team wrote down every mention of rocking, hand-flapping, strict routines, and sensory triggers.
What they found
Almost every parent said their child hated loud or sudden sounds. Many kids covered their ears when a vacuum started or a dog barked.
Repetitive habits were just as common. Parents saw lining up toys, insisting on the same TV song, or repeating phrases many times each day.
How this fits with other research
Ahlborn et al. (2008) watched toddlers with Williams Syndrome in a quiet lab. Nine out of ten kids jumped or cried when they played a soft beep. The lab data back up the parent stories.
Barton et al. (2019) later showed the same link in autistic and typical kids: more sensory pain equals more repetitive movements. The pattern seen in Williams Syndrome looks like a wider child phenomenon.
Kocher et al. (2015) asked the same parents one year later. They added attention and anxiety problems but still found high rates of repetitive and sensory issues. The new survey widens the list, it does not cancel the earlier findings.
Why it matters
If you assess a child with Williams Syndrome, ask about vacuum fears, food textures, and bedtime rituals. These clues open the door to helpful supports like noise-canceling headphones, visual schedules, or sensory breaks. Target sensory discomfort first and repetitive habits may drop on their own.
Want CEUs on This Topic?
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ free CEUs — live every Wednesday. Ethics, supervision & clinical topics.
Join Free →Add two quick parent questions: 'What sounds bother your child?' and 'What does your child do over and over each day?'
02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: A small amount of research with individuals who have Williams Syndrome (WS) suggests that children with the condition may be vulnerable to sensory processing abnormalities and present with repetitive and restricted behaviours. METHODS: Parents of 21 children with WS aged 6-15 years completed a semi-structured interview designed to elicit the form, frequency, impact and developmental course of a range of sensory processing abnormalities and repetitive behaviours. RESULTS: Findings indicate that sensory processing difficulties are predominantly characterised by hypersensitivities, particularly in relation to vestibular, auditory, gustatory and proprioceptive functioning. Parents also reported the presence of a range of restricted and repetitive behaviours, which were often associated with their child's sensory symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This study makes a significant contribution to our understanding of sensory functioning and repetitive behaviours in WS. It also highlights the need for a multidisciplinary assessment of the difficulties experienced by children with the disorder.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2014 · doi:10.1111/jir.12086