Understanding Sensory Function in Autism

In neuroscience, there is a rapidly growing and evolving understanding of sensory function that is important for all occupational therapists to be tracking—and particularly those who work with autistic clients.

In this one hour continuing education course, we’ll dive into a research review, where the authors take three main assumptions that both neuroscientists and occupational therapists make regarding sensory function—and they discuss where the research stands with each one.

You’ll leave this article feeling humbled by how much we still have to learn about sensory function and autism. Yet, also in awe of the advances we have made over the past few decades—one can only imagine what we will learn in future years!

After we look at some specific research on this topic, we’ll be bringing in our expert guest, Bryden Carlson-Giving. Bryden will help us connect this complex topic to your works on the frontlines.

Resources recommended by Bryden

• Autism Level Up

• Autistic OT

• Autistic Self-Advocacy Network

• Just Stimming by Julia Bascom

• Learn Play Thrive

• Spaced Out and Smiling by Jamie Knight

1. Based on the research, you will be able to describe how sensory function differences have been confirmed in people with autism.

2. Based on the research, you will be able to identify how our understanding of the sensory system has evolved over the past decades.

3. Based on the research, you will be able to recognize gaps that remain in our understanding of sensory function in autism.

• Intro

• Breakdown and analysis of journal article

  • Why was this paper written?

  • How the goals, values, and approaches of OT and neuroscience differ

  • 3 shared perspectives—and where the research stands behind each one.

    • Shared perspective #1: atypical behavioral responses to sensory stimuli are a consequence of atypical neural processing.

    • Shared perspective #2: differences in sensory function may explain higher-level deficits in people with autism.

    • Shared perspective #3: sensory function may be malleable with treatment.

  • Authors’ conclusion and recommendations

  • Takeaways for OT practitioners

• Discussion on practical implications for OTs (with guest Bryden Carlson-Giving)

  1. What were your general impressions of the research?

  2. How does this research fit with your current understanding of sensory function in autism?

  3. Sensory function is so complex! What are some strategies you use for explaining it to parents?

  4. Do you talk about sensory function with the kids on your caseload? If so, how do you explain it?

  5. How do you factor sensory function into your treatments?

Original Primary Article

• Toward an interdisciplinary approach to understanding sensory function in autism spectrum disorder

Updated Articles

• Impact of Sensory Activity Schedules on School Performance of Students With Sensory Processing Differences: A Systematic Review

• Family life and autistic children with sensory processing differences: A qualitative evidence synthesis of occupational participation

• Systematic Review of the Relation Between Feeding Problems and Sensory Processing in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Sensory Processing and Participation Across Contexts: Strengthening the Evidence Base

It is the policy of OT Potential to disclose any financial and non-financial interest the provider or instructor may have in a product or service mentioned during an activity. This is to ensure that the audience is made aware of any bias of the speaker.

OT Potential pays guest speakers an honorarium for their participation, either directly or to an institution of the speaker's choosing at their request. We invite guests whose expertise often comes from practices, programs, or building products in their field. Where a speaker has a financial interest in the subject of a course, we disclose it below so you can weigh it for yourself.

OT Potential's interest in this topic: We have no financial stake in this topic.

Speaker interests: Bryden Carlson-Giving has no financial interest in this topic to disclose.