Revised scored Sensory Perception Quotient reveals sensory hypersensitivity in women with autism.

The study only included high-functioning, verbal females with autism who could self-report, so results do not apply to non-verbal individuals or males. Participants were recruited online and were self-selecting, which may bias the sample. The control group consisted entirely of mothers, while the autism group included both mothers and non-mothers, though the authors found no difference between these subgroups in the autism group. A high rate of comorbid psychiatric disorders was present in the autism group, which the authors controlled for statistically but which may still influence sensory reporting. The study used self-report measures, which rely on the participants' insight and honesty.

The authors declared no competing interests. Funding was provided by the Autism Research Trust, the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme, Autism Speaks, the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, the National Institute for Health Research, and the Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care.

Do not assume that females with autism have a general 'sensory processing disorder' involving both over- and under-sensitivity. This study found that the difference from controls was strictly in hypersensitivity; hyposensitivity scores were similar across all groups. Interventions aimed at increasing sensory threshold (hyposensitivity) may be inappropriate for this population.