Parent reports of sensory symptoms in toddlers with autism and those with other developmental disorders.
Toddlers with autism and fragile X show equal sensory loads, so screen both early and plan sensory supports right away.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Parents filled out the Short Sensory Profile for toddlers with autism, fragile X, general delays, and typical kids.
The team compared scores to see which group had the most sensory quirks.
What they found
Autism and fragile X toddlers both showed high sensory symptoms.
Kids with autism stood out only in taste and smell sensitivity.
Developmental level alone did not explain the differences.
How this fits with other research
Bailey et al. (2000) saw more uneven skills in autism than in fragile X, while Madden et al. (2003) now show equal sensory loads—together they tell us autism brings scattered development plus shared sensory issues.
Lim et al. (2016) followed older autistic kids and linked two sensory patterns to later behavior trouble; the toddler spike seen here may be the start of those same tracks.
Heald et al. (2020) swapped fragile X for Williams syndrome and still found overlapping sensory profiles, proving sensory quirks are not autism-exclusive.
Why it matters
Screen for sensory issues in any toddler with autism or fragile X; do not wait for language or cognitive scores to catch up.
Note taste and smell red flags especially in autism—they may guide first food and feeding plans.
Share findings with OTs early; shared profiles mean similar sensory supports can help both groups.
Want CEUs on This Topic?
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ free CEUs — live every Wednesday. Ethics, supervision & clinical topics.
Join Free →Add a Quick Sensory Check box to your intake form for every new autism or FXS referral.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
The Short Sensory Profile was used to assess parental report of sensory reactivity across four groups of young children (n = 102). Groups were autism (n = 26), fragile X syndrome (n = 20), developmental disabilities of mixed etiology (n = 32), and typically developing children (n = 24). Groups were comparable on overall mental age (x = 22 months), and clinical groups were comparable on chronological age (x = 31 months). Significant differences were detected at alpha <.01 for tactile sensitivity [F(3,99) = 10.01], taste/smell sensitivity [F(3,99) = 11.63], underreactive/seeks stimulation [F(3,99) = 4.56], auditory filtering [F(3,99) = 19.67], and low energy/weak muscles [F(3,99) = 14.21]. Both children with fragile X syndrome and children with autism had significantly more sensory symptoms overall than the two comparison groups, and children with autism did not differ significantly from children with fragile X syndrome. Both groups were more impaired than developmentally delayed and typically developing children in tactile sensitivity and auditory filtering. Children with autism were more abnormal in responses to taste and smell than all other groups. Children with fragile X syndrome were more abnormal than all other groups in low energy/weak muscles. Sensory reactivity of children with developmental delays was comparable to mental age-matched typically developing toddlers. Correlational analyses indicated that neither overall developmental level nor IQ was related to abnormal sensory reactivity in children with autism or general developmental disorders. However, abnormal sensory reactivity had a significant relationship with overall adaptive behavior.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2003 · doi:10.1023/b:jadd.0000006000.38991.a7