Clothes, Sensory Experiences and Autism: Is Wearing the Right Fabric Important?
Chrysovalanto Kyriacou, Rachel Forrester-Jones, Paraskevi Triantafyllopoulou
PMID 34287735WHAT IT FOUND
Ten autistic adults described fabrics as central to their daily comfort, not just aesthetics.
They avoided abrasive textures like hessian and spandex, preferring satin and cotton. These choices helped them manage distress and maintain focus in educational settings.
Key findings
01Participants consistently disliked abrasive fabrics like hessian and spandex, with nine of ten selecting them as the worst samples.
02Seven of ten participants preferred satin, valuing its softness and light-touch feel.
03Discomfort from fabrics such as labels and seams led to distraction, anxiety and, in some cases, self-injurious scratching.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample was small (n=10) and drawn from university students in one region, limiting generalizability to all autistic adults or other age groups. The study did not account for participants' medication use or previous sensory interventions, which could influence tactile sensitivity. Gender balance was unequal (seven female, three male), potentially skewing themes related to clothing and sensory experience. Findings are based on self-report in an interview setting, not real-time observation of daily life.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study received ethical approval from the University of Kent Tizard Ethics Committee.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the preference for satin or dislike of hessian as universal rules for all autistic patients. Individual sensory profiles vary widely, and this study describes the experiences of ten university students, not the entire autistic population.