Psychological Correlates of Sensory Processing Patterns in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

Existing evidence suggests that there is a relationship between sensory processing difficulties and the clinical and non-clinical features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current review aimed to evaluate evidence of the psychological correlates of sensory processing patterns in individuals with ASD. Primary studies investigating sensory processing patterns in children and adolescents with ASD were identified through systematic searches of electronic databases and evaluated for methodological rigor and reporting quality. In 21 studies, associations between sensory processing patterns and psychological correlates were found. Sensory hyporesponsiveness was correlated with core features of ASD. Social awareness difficulties and affective disorders were associated with hyperresponsiveness. Mixed results were found for repetitive behaviours. Further research is needed to confirm, clarify and extend these findings.