Increased Prevalence of Unusual Sensory Behaviors in Infants at Risk for, and Teens with, Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The team looked at two age groups. One group was babies who had an older sibling with autism. The other group was teenagers already diagnosed with autism.

They counted how often each child showed odd sensory habits. These habits include staring at lights, flicking fingers near eyes, or rubbing objects repeatedly.

They compared the counts to same-age kids with no autism risk.

Both the high-risk babies and the teens with autism scored far higher on unusual sensory behaviors. The babies showed more mixed patterns, while the teens kept the same quirks for years.

In plain numbers, unusual sensory habits were the rule, not the exception, in the autism groups.

Ozonoff et al. (2008) first spotted this in 12-month-olds who later got an autism label. They saw lots of spinning and rotating toys. The new study widens the lens and shows the same jump in sensory quirks across both babies and teens.

Fahmie et al. (2013) surveyed 679 youth and found 70 % had unusual sensory interests. Laposa et al. (2017) echo that big number, giving us a second snapshot that says “yes, this is common.”

Barton et al. (2019) add a twist. They show that sensory hypersensitivity predicts repetitive behaviors in both autistic and typical kids. So the sensory issues we see are not just odd; they drive other behaviors we target in treatment.

Höfer et al. (2017) remind us that many families also use special diets or vitamins. Always ask what else the child is getting, because sensory signs may push parents toward these extras.

If you see a toddler who stares at ceiling fans or a teen who still sniffs every new object, flag it. Add a quick sensory checklist to your intake. Early notes help you pick goals like “replace visual staring with functional play” or “teach request for break when overwhelmed.” The data say these behaviors are common, stable, and linked to later repetitive habits, so catching them early gives you a head start.