Increased Sensory Processing Atypicalities in Parents of Multiplex ASD Families Versus Typically Developing and Simplex ASD Families.

The study used online self-report, so parents had to recognise and describe their own sensory reactions. ASD diagnoses in children and relatives were reported by participants, not confirmed by clinicians in this study. Mental disorder diagnoses were also self-reported, and mental disorders affected sensory scores in preliminary tests. The multiplex family definition was broader than some past studies, and some simplex families may have included relatives with undiagnosed ASD traits. The study cannot show that sensory differences are caused by inherited ASD genes, because it did not perform genetic testing or follow families over time. The extreme score percentages were descriptive and were not adjusted for gender or mental disorder. The typically developing and multiplex parent groups differed in age, though the authors noted prior studies found age unrelated to AASP scores. The sample was recruited through organisations and websites, so it may not represent all families.

Do not conclude that parents of children with ASD have a sensory disorder or that sensory differences explain ASD inheritance. The study compared questionnaire scores by family history and did not diagnose parents or test any treatment.