First Hand Accounts of Sensory Preferences

The Australian Occupational Therapy Journal published research on three adolescent males with autism using a semi-structured interview protocol supplemented with visual cues to enhance the understanding of the way people with autism spectrum disorder experience sensory input. 

The results indicated the following: 

• preferences for expected, predictable and controllable sensory input
• unexpected, unpredictable and uncontrollable sensations were perceived as unpleasant
• a heightened awareness of and difficulty filtering extraneous sensory input, high levels of movement seeking and an over-focus on salient sensory input were also described
• strategies used to manage sensory challenges included avoiding, increasing predictability and control and meta-cognitive adaptations.

Reference: Jill Ashburner PhD et al. Understanding the sensory experiences of young people with autism spectrum disorder: A preliminary investigation. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal Volume 60, Issue 3, pages 171–180, June 2013 DOI: 10.1111/1440-1630.12025   

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