Olfactory Processing in Male Children with Autism: Atypical Odor Threshold and Identification.

Muratori et al. (2017) compared smell skills in boys with high-functioning autism and typical boys.

They used lab tests to measure how faint an odor a child could detect and how well he could name common smells.

All kids could still tell two odors apart, so the nose wires were not broken—just set differently.

The autism group needed stronger smells before they noticed them.

They also named fewer odors correctly when smells were easy to detect.

Parents of boys with weaker smell scores rated their children as having more social and aggression problems.

Watson et al. (2007) interviewed families and found over 90% of people with autism have sensory quirks, including smell. The new lab data extend that parent report by showing exactly how smell is dampened.

Song et al. (2018) ran a similar lab test but for faces: kids with autism needed angrier, more disgusted faces to be extra intense before they could name the emotion. Both studies line up—autistic kids need stronger signals, whether nose or eye.

Schneider et al. (2015) showed adults with autism do not ramp up aggressive behavior when teased more. The odor paper adds a clue: lower smell sensitivity tracks with higher parent-rated aggression, hinting the same "low alert" system may run across senses.

If a client seems unaware of body odor, smoke, or spoiled food, do not assume willful behavior—test smell first.

Add scent cues to social stories only after you check the child can detect them; otherwise the lesson may miss its mark.

A quick smell screen can flag kids who might also miss subtle social cues, letting you pair sensory and social goals in one plan.