Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sensory Impairment in Autism

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders

  • 272 Accesses

Definition

Sensory impairments are used in two ways in the context of autism. They may indicate a dual disability of autism plus a sensory impairment as, for example, autism and visual impairment, autism and hearing loss, or autism and a sensory-motor impairment. There is nothing in the etiology of autism that protects against comorbidities, and clearly the sensory impairment will interact with the autism to produce a person-specific range of difficulties and a particular developmental path. Individuals with dual or even multiple diagnoses of this kind will not only have more difficulties to overcome but may have fewer compensatory strategies available to them. In addition, it will be harder to find appropriate support in education, social care, and vocational training, where key staff need to be knowledgeable about autism as well as the sensory impairment.

However, a separate sensory disorder is fairly uncommon in autism. The term “sensory impairment” is more commonly used to apply to...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References and Readings

  • Baranek, G. T. (1999). Autism during infancy: A retrospective video analysis of sensory-motor and social behaviors at 9–12 months of age. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 29, 213–224.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Sasson, A., Cermak, S. A., Orsmond, G. I., Tager-Flusberg, H., Carter, A.S., Kadlec, M.B., & Dunn, W. (2007) Extreme sensory modulation behaviors in toddlers with autism spectrum disorders. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61(5), 584–592.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bogdashina, O. (2003). Sensory perceptual issues in autism and Asperger syndrome. London: Jessica Kingsley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crane, L., Goddard, L., & Pring, L. (2009). Sensory processing in adults with autism spectrum disorders. Autism: The International Journal of Research & Practice, 13(3), 215–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dawson, G., & Watling, R. (2000). Interventions to facilitate auditory, visual and motor integration in autism: A review of the evidence. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 30(5), 415–421.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, W. (1999). The sensory profile manual. San Antonio: The Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, W., & Daniels, D. B. (2002). Initial development of the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile. Journal of Early Intervention, 25(1), 27–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, G., & Jordan, R. (2008). Research base for interventions in autism spectrum disorders. In E. Mcgregor, M. Núñez, K. Williams, & J. Gómez (Eds.), An Integrated View of Autism. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 281–302.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jordan, R. (2011). Special education. In G. O’Brien & M. Bax (Eds.), Evidence-based therapy in childhood neurodisability. London: McKeith Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maro, E. J., Hinkley, L. B., Hill, S. S., & Nagarajan, S. S. (2011). Sensory processing in autism: A review of neurophysiological findings. Pediatric Research, 69(2), 48R–54R.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nader, R., Oberlander, T. F., Chambers, C. T., & Craig, K. D. (2004). Expressions of pain in children with autism. Clinical Journal of Pain, 20(2), 88–97.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pring, L. (Ed.). (2004). Autism and blindness: Research and reflections. Chichester: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, S. J., & Ozonoff, S. (2005). Annotation: What do we know about sensory dysfunction in autism? A critical review of the empirical evidence. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46, 1255–1268.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shanker, S. G. (2004). Autism and the dynamic developmental model of emotions. Philosophy, Psychiatry & Psychology, 11(3), 219–233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Emeritus Professor in Autism Studies, School of Education, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK

    Rita Jordan

Authors
  1. Rita Jordan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rita Jordan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

    Fred R. Volkmar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer Science+Business Media LLC

About this entry

Cite this entry

Jordan, R. (2017). Sensory Impairment in Autism. In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_413-3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_413-3

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6435-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6435-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation