The Influence of Sensory Processing on Executive Function in Young Autistic Children.
Jamie L Courtland, Grace T Baranek, Lauren DeMoss and 4 others
PMID 42455471WHAT IT FOUND
In young autistic children, more sensory seeking and less responding to input were linked with greater caregiver-reported executive function difficulties, especially working memory, even after anxiety and ADHD were considered.
Key findings
01Caregiver-reported sensory seeking and lower responding to input were linked with global executive function difficulty after anxiety and ADHD were considered.
02Observational sensory seeking was linked with global executive function difficulty, while observed hyperreactivity and hyporeactivity were not.
03Sensory seeking was linked with working memory difficulty, whether measured by caregiver report or observation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study analysed 63 of 70 autistic children because 7 children did not have completed executive function scores. The study measured children at one time point, so it cannot show which came first. Executive function was measured only by caregiver report. Caregiver-reported sensory and executive function measures may share rater variance. The study did not measure the neural processing that could explain the link. Autistic and non-autistic groups differed in age and developmental quotient, though analyses controlled for these factors. The sample excluded children with genetic disorders, vision or hearing problems, significant motor impairment, chronic or acute medical illness, and seizure conditions. The paper says larger studies are needed.
Declared interests
The supplied text does not state who funded the study. Dr. Dawson reported Scientific Advisory Board roles with the Nonverbal Learning Disability Project and Tris Pharma, Inc., book royalties from Guilford Press, Oxford University Press, and Springer Nature Press, and technology, data, or products licensed to Cryocell, Inc., with Dawson and Duke University benefiting financially. Dr. Carpenter and Dr. Dawson reported technology, data, or products licensed to Apple, Inc., with Carpenter, Dawson, and Duke University benefiting financially.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that reducing sensory seeking will improve executive function. This study only found an association in preschool autistic children and did not test treatment.