Self-reported Sensory Hypersensitivity Moderates Association Between Tactile Psychophysical Performance and Autism-Related Traits in Neurotypical Adults.
Lauren K Bryant, Tiffany G Woynaroski, Mark T Wallace and 1 others
PMID 31073751WHAT IT FOUND
Tactile sensitivity alone did not predict autism traits in 42 adults.
But among those reporting high sensory hypersensitivity, a narrow dynamic range for detecting vibrations was associated with increased communication difficulties and broader autism-related traits.
Key findings
01Neither tactile detection threshold nor dynamic range independently predicted autism-related traits in the primary analysis.
02Self-reported sensory hypersensitivity moderated the relationship between tactile dynamic range and autism traits, such that a narrow dynamic range was associated with increased traits in individuals with above-average hypersensitivity.
03Tactile detection threshold was not related to outcomes of interest, regardless of the level of self-reported sensory hypersensitivity.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted on neurotypical adults with subclinical autism traits, so findings may not generalize to individuals with a diagnosed ASD. The significant findings emerged from post-hoc moderation analyses after primary results were null, requiring replication. Eight participants were excluded because their dynamic range could not be calculated, potentially biasing the sample. The tactile task was complex and lengthy (40 minutes), which may limit its applicability to younger or less cognitively able individuals.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the association between narrow tactile dynamic range and autism traits as causal or diagnostic. This finding was unexpected, emerged only in a subgroup with high self-reported hypersensitivity after primary null results, and was measured in neurotypical adults rather than those with diagnosed autism.